How to make your own Turkey Stock - bone broth recipe (2025)

FAQs

Is homemade turkey bone broth good for you? ›

Bone broth combines the richness of a stock with the drinkability of a broth. It can make a healthy addition to your diet and contains nutrients such as collagen, electrolytes, and various amino acids. Consuming bone broth can help reduce inflammation and build muscle when combined with daily exercise.

It's economical and eco-friendly! Bones aren't as cheap as they used to be before the bone broth craze, but they're still a lot cheaper than commercial broth. For the price of a quart of store-bought broth, you can make 4 to 6 quarts at home.

Making turkey stock is a great way to use what you have on hand post-Thanksgiving. It's easy and economical: Almost all leftover parts of the bird can be put to use, including the bones, the skin, and small bits of meat attached to the carcass.

Turkey Stock is made from primarily from bones while broth is made from more meaty pieces.

"Depending on how it's made or what's in it, (bone broth) could have large amounts of sodium. That's the only downside," says Zumpano.

Use the right bones. The best ones are rich in collagen, such as marrow bones, knuckles, and feet. For added flavor, you can incorporate meatier bones such as oxtail and short ribs or use the carcass of a roast chicken with all those little meaty bits still attached (as described in this recipe).

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for at least 10-12 hours, or until reduced by 1/3 or 1/2, leaving you with 6-8 cups of bone broth. The more it reduces, the more intense the flavor becomes and the more collagen is extracted. We find 12 hours to be the perfect cook time.

Bone broth is by far the most nutrient dense of all the broths, and in my opinion, the most delicious. Bone broth simmers for a much longer time than regular broth or stock, and has a higher ratio of meat and bones to liquid, producing a richer, more flavorful liquid.

The bone broth diet has users fast for 2 days and then, eat a low-carb diet for the other five. While the bone broth diet does help people lose weight, it is not sustainable long-term. Instead, focus on a diet of whole foods and limit processed sugar and carbohydrates.

I add a little vinegar to my stocks to help pull the minerals from the bones, creating a nutrient-rich stock. Place all of the ingredients into a very large stainless steel pot, at least 12-quart, if not larger. You will want to add enough water to just cover the turkey and vegetables.

Why does my turkey stock taste bitter? ›

Some people go wrong by not simmering the stock long enough to extract maximum flavor from the turkey bones. Others overdo it and end up with an overly concentrated or bitter stock.

Can you overcook turkey stock? Yes, especially if it's at a rolling boil. To ensure your stock doesn't overcook, make sure it simmers over low heat for an extended amount of time. Cooking over a high heat for a long time emulsifies the fat, making it nearly impossible to separate and remove.

There's a limit to how much flavor a given ingredient will impart—past that, extra time just turns everything to mush. Big beef or lamb bones can be cooked for up to eight hours, or overnight. Chicken bones are more like four to six. Veggies give up all their flavor in about an hour.

However, if you prefer a smooth, lighter gravy, you can leave the giblets out and add the heart to the stock. Don't use the liver in the stock; the taste will be too strong.

Chicken stock can be simmered for as little as 1 hour or up to 8 hours. Most often, you'll see recipes call for somewhere in between, about 3 to 4 hours. The longer the stock simmers, the more concentrated its flavor.

Homemade or café-made bone broths are the most reliable, but even they vary in nutritional quality from batch to batch. “Bone broth is a quality addition to a well-rounded, healthy diet,” says DiMarino. “It's never going to be a silver bullet, but you can add it to your food rotation without having too many concerns.

It contains both essential and non-essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein!). If you're working to up your protein intake or build muscle, we suggest drinking two to six cups of bone broth in addition to your normal meals.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 33 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 89mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.

Leftover turkey bones give the broth its flavor, substance, and nutrition. They're an excellent source of collagen, which breaks down to protein-rich gelatin.