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    » Home » Recipes » Broth Recipes » Turkey Bone Broth

    Turkey Bone Broth

    Posted: Oct 25, 2020 · Updated: Oct 26, 2020 by Jenny McGruther · This site earns income from ads, affiliate links, and sponsorships.

    pinterest pin turkey bone broth garnished with herbs and lemon

    After you've slow-roasted your turkey and picked the bones clean, it's time to make turkey bone broth. Deeply savory with an amber-brown color, it's just about one of the easiest broth recipes you can make. Onions and herbs amplify that flavor. In this version, we've included guidance for making it on the stove, in an electric pressure cooker such as the InstantPot, or in your slow cooker.

    Jump to Recipe | What is it? | What's in it? | Tips | Variations | Common Questions

    Turkey bone broth in a glass jar, garnished with lemon and fresh herbs.

    What is it?

    Bone broth is the liquid that results from simmering bones and joints of meat over time. This version is made from leftover roasted turkey bones, and it has a deeply savory flavor that's enhanced by onion, garic, herbs, and just the right amount of wine (or lemon) for acidity.

    Traditionally broths are sipped on their own as a restorative food, but you can also use turkey bone broth as the foundation for other dishes such as gravy, soups, and stews. It's excellent as the base for this Turkey and Wild Rice Soup and for this sprouted lentil soup with smoked turkey.

    What's in it?

    At its simplest, turkey bone broth needs only two ingredients: 1) the leftover frame of a roast turkey, and 2) water. But, you can enhance the flavor by adding alliums, such as garlic and onion, wine or lemon, and fresh or dried herbs. The additional ingredients, while not strictly necessary, improve the broth's flavor if added judiciously and at the right time.

    • Turkey bones leftover from roasting a turkey. Reserve as many bones, as much of the leftover skin, and any pan drippings for the broth.
    • Yellow onion and garlic give the broth a deeper flavor, with light sweet notes that balance the rich umami flavor left by the turkey.
    • Wine balances out the savory notes of broth with a slight hint of acidity. That acidity also helps to breakdown the protein in the connective tissue of the turkey's frame, producing a silky broth that gels when cold.
    • Herbs give the broth a little brightness.

    Tips for making good broth

    If you can boil water, you can make bone broth. It's painlessly simple and a foundational culinary technique that can help build confidence in the kitchen (while keeping your fridge full of delicious and nourishing foods). But, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make sure it consistently comes out good every time you make it.

    • Use the leftover frame of a roasted turkey. Roasting enhances the development of flavor, especially the savory flavors. If you're using raw bones in this recipe, roast them at 400 F for about 30 minutes first.
    • Let it come to a boil, then immediately turn down the heat when you're cooking this recipe on the stove. Rapid and prolonged boiling can damage the proteins and emulsify the broth, resulting in a greasy texture, off-flavors, and a bone broth that doesn't gel.
    • Onions and garlic work well, but avoid adding other vegetables. Carrots and other sweet root vegetables can make the broth taste too sweet, while cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli can make it taste bitter.
    • Add just enough water to cover the bird by an inch or two. The amount you add will depend on the size of your stockpot but is typically about 3 quarts. For an InstantPot or slow cooker, pour in enough water to meet the max fill line.
    • Add herbs toward the end of cooking. Their flavor will taste brighter, cleaner, without overpowering the broth. For the stovetop and slow cooker methods, that means you should add them in the last 20 to 30 minutes. If you're using n InstantPot or another electric pressure cooker, allow the turkey bones and other ingredients to cook, let the pressure release naturally, and then toss in the herbs and pressure cook again for a few minutes before straining.
    • Salt your broth at the very end. As the broth cooks, its liquid will evaporate and concentrate the flavor of salt. So, if you add salt too early in the process, your turkey bone broth runs the risk of being too salty. Instead, add it to taste at the very end or right before you serve it.
    • To degrease the broth, transfer it to a jar and let it rest in the fridge until the fat rises and the broth gels. When you're ready to serve it, gently lift the fat cap off the gelled liquid and discard it.
    Rate this Recipe
    5 from 4 votes
    2 quarts

    Turkey Bone Broth Recipe

    Deeply savory and spiked with onion, garlic, and herbs, this classic turkey bone broth is a favorite way to use up a leftover bird. You can sip the broth on its own, or use it as the foundation for a soup or stew.
    Cook Time6 hrs
    Total Time6 hrs
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    Ingredients

    Ingredients

    • leftover bones from your roasted turkey
    • 1 medium yellow onion (quartered)
    • 4 cloves garlic (smashed)
    • ½ cup white wine
    • ½ cup chopped parsley
    • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
    • finely ground real salt for serving

    Equipment

    • Stock Pot
    • InstantPot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Fine-mesh Strainer

    Instructions

    On the stove.

    • Place the turkey bones, onion, garlic, and wine into a large stockpot. Cover with water by two inches, and then bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Immediately turn down the heat to medium-low, and keep at a bare simmer for 4 to 6 hours.
    • Toss in the parsley and thyme, and then let it continue to simmer about 30 minutes. Strain the broth, and transfer to a jar.

    In an InstantPot.

    • Place the turkey bones, onion, and garlic into the insert of your InstantPot. Pour in the wine, and then fill the insert with water to the max line. Seal, and then pressure cook for 2 hours, Allow the pressure to release naturally.
    • Unseal the InstantPot, and then toss in the parsley and thyme. Seal, and then pressure cook for 5 minutes. Strain the broth, and then transfer it to a jar.

    In a slow cooker.

    • Arrange the turkey bones, onion, and garlic into the insert of your slow cooker. Pour in the wine, and then pour in water to the max fill line. Cook over low heat for 6 hours, and then toss in the herbs. Continue cooking a further 30 minutes.
    • Strain, and then transfer the broth to a jar.

    Storing the broth.

    • Adjust seasoning with salt as you like it. Serve the strained broth immediately, or store it in a mason jar for up to 1 week in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer. If freezing, allow at least 2 inches of headspace.
    Rate this recipe!If you loved this recipe, give it a rating. Let us know what works, what didn't and whether you made any adjustments that can help other cooks.

    Get the Book

    Our best-selling cookbook, Broth & Stock, guides you through making a dozen master recipes (for everything from bone broth to seafood stock) with guidance on how to use them to make amazing soups, stews, risottos, and more. It's everything you need to know about nourishing broths.

    Order the Book Here
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    Variations

    Make it plain. Made with only turkey bones and water, your broth will taste plain, but it will be versatile. And that means you can add seasonings when you're ready to cook, making it super versatile.

    Swap the wine for lemon juice. While some people will add apple cider vinegar to their homemade broth, it can make your broth taste vinegary. Instead, wine gives better flavor. You can also skip the wine and add the juice of half a lemon which gives just the right amount of acidity, without the addition of alcohol.

    Try different herbs and spices. While this version of turkey bone broth gets its flavor from onion, garlic, and herbs, you can also try other variations, too. Garlic, ginger, green onions, and chiles are nice. Black peppercorns and bay leaf also make a nice addition.

    Common Questions

    Can I substitute wine with another ingredient?

    You can add a squeeze of lemon in place of the wine.

    How long do I cook turkey bone broth?

    Keep the broth at a bare simmer over low heat for about 6 hours.

    My broth didn't gel. What did I do wrong?

    Bone broth that doesn't gel has usually been cooked at too high a temperature, for too long, or has too much water. Read more why your broth doesn't gel here.

    How do I use it?

    You can sip turkey broth plain with a little sea salt and chopped fresh herbs, or use it as the base for other dishes, such as Turkey and Wild Rice Soup.


    You might like these broth and soup recipes

    • Chicken Broth
    • Bone Broth
    • Carrot Leek Soup
    • Dilled Potato Leek Soup

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