Slow Cooker Turkey Bone Broth: Simple Homemade Recipe

If you’ve roasted a turkey for Thanksgiving or any other occasion and now have a carcass and scraps left over, Turkey Bone Broth is an excellent and economical way to use them. This article explains why bone broth is so useful and how to make it in a slow cooker. (There’s also a mention of making bone broth in an Instant Pot if you’re short on time.)

Versatile Turkey Bone Broth

Turkey bone broth is a versatile pantry staple. Use it as the base for soups and stews—Turkey Barley Soup, for example—or swap it for water when cooking grains and legumes for richer flavor and nutrition. Many people enjoy a warm cup of broth as a protein-rich, collagen-packed beverage that soothes the stomach. Collagen from bone broth also supports skin, hair, and nail health, offering an easily digestible source of the proteins these tissues favor.

Why Use the Slow Cooker to Make Turkey Bone Broth?

The slow cooker is my preferred method for making bone broth because it’s low-fuss and reliable. You can set it up and let it simmer for hours without constant attention. The stovetop method works well too but requires more monitoring.

If you need a faster option, the Instant Pot produces good results and is a great choice for speed. In my experience, broth made in a slow cooker or on the stovetop often becomes more gelatinous, but the most important thing is to make broth however works best for you—any bone broth is better than none.

• Instant Pot Bone Broth Series playlist

Using the Fat Separator

A fat separator is a useful tool when you want to remove fat from chilled or warm broth before storing. It makes decanting cleaner and easier than skimming by hand.

More Bone Broth Videos and Recipes

If you enjoy making turkey bone broth, there are many more recipes and videos to explore that cover different bones, methods, and tips for getting a rich, gelatinous result. Below are links to additional guides and recipes for beef, chicken, fish, and Instant Pot broth techniques.

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My goal is to help cooks bring traditional, nourishing techniques into modern kitchens. My cookbooks—The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry—include many from-scratch recipes and preservation methods to help you build a well-stocked, nourishing pantry.

These books offer seasonal recipes, straightforward techniques, and practical guidance for anyone wanting to cook more traditionally at home.

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To help you get started, there’s a free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List available that includes recipes, video links, and pantry-building tips. It’s a useful resource for stocking your kitchen with staples that support traditional cooking and food preservation.

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