Nothing feels better than a hot bowl of chicken soup in winter! But did you realize you ran out of chicken bouillon, and now you are wondering about the best substitutes? Fear not! Here is a whole article that provides you with the best possible alternatives you can use to overcome these situations. 

Some of the best chicken bouillon substitutes are chicken broth, vegetable broth, chicken stock, Italian seasoning mix, beef stock, bone broth, stock concentrate, bouillon powder, dry white wine, herbs, soy sauce, tomato paste, marmite, miso paste, and water. 

Chicken bouillon is made by simmering chicken stock, veggies, and salt. It is an excellent addition to making pasta, soups, curries, casseroles, and sauces. Chicken bouillon has a perfect nutritional profile, filling your body with nutrients and minerals. 

In this blog post, I will tell you about various chicken bouillon substitutes, including plant-based and meat-based! Let’s dive right in to know them briefly. 

16 Best Chicken Bouillon Substitutes

Here is a list of the best chicken bouillon substitutes that you should have a look at!

1. Chicken Broth

Well, using chicken broth is a no-brainer. This one is the simplest and readily available substitute for chicken bouillon. You can prepare this from the comfort of your kitchen or buy the canned one at your nearby grocery store. 

When it comes to flavors, the chicken broth has rich flavors and is much more flavorful than the chicken bouillon. Swap one cube of chicken bouillon cubes with 1 cup of chicken stock. 

However, it is rich in sodium, but you can easily find a pack of chicken broth with low sodium content or no salt. In addition to this, it is filled with the flavors of chicken and herbs. 

You can use it for making soups, casseroles, rice dishes, and other dishes. Moreover, chicken broth has excellent nutritional value and fills your body with vitamins and minerals.

2. Chicken Stock

If you don’t have chicken broth, try using chicken stock instead! Chicken stock is another excellent substitute for the rich flavors of chicken. Well, chicken broth and chicken stock somewhere have the same taste and flavors. 

Therefore, adding this does not alter the flavors of the original dish. Chicken stock is prepared when chicken bones, veggies, and herbs are combined. 

All these ingredients add rich flavors and nutrition to the recipe. Regarding the substitution ratio, you can use a standard percentage of 1:1. 

3. Italian Seasoning Mix

Check the shelf of your pantry, and you can find an Italian seasoning mix. Adding this substitute is one of the easiest and simplest ways to boost the recipe’s flavors. 

It combines herbs and spices such as basil, rosemary, garlic powder, marjoram, thyme, and sage. Remember that the Italian seasoning mix already has salt content. So you must watch out before adding more salt. 

It is better to check the taste before adding salt. You can easily purchase this substitute in a nearby store or even can be bought online. Adding all the ingredients elevates the taste and flavors of the whole recipe. 

4. Beef Stock

Do you want some meat-flavored substitute for chicken bouillon? Try using beef stock as an alternative to this! Beef broth is known for adding flavors and taste to noodle soups, sauces, and stews meat. 

Beef broth not only adds flavors and taste to the recipe but also fills the body with many vitamins and minerals. Regarding the substitution ratio, go for an equal amount as chicken bouillon. 

5. Vegetable Stock

What else is better than nutrition-enriched veggies? You can use vegetable broth as a substitute for chicken bouillon. You can easily prepare this at home; it is the best alternative for vegan lovers. 

It shares a similar flavor profile and thus can be used in equal quantities. The vegetable stock has a thin texture and adds a savory flavor to the original recipe. In addition to this, it has less amount of sodium and thus serves as an excellent choice for substitution. 

You can use various veggies, including garlic cloves, green beans, stalks, carrots, celery, and onions. Veggies are known for their nutritional value and thus can be an excellent source to load minerals and vitamins into your body. 

6. Bone Broth

Another chicken bouillon substitute on the list is bone broth. Adding the bone broth gives a nice rich flavor to the recipe. 

If you still want to elevate the flavors, add herbs or veggies such as onions, celery, carrots, etc. It will surely boost the taste and flavors of the final recipe. All you have to do is to boil the bones in water to prepare this broth. 

You can add this to various recipes to give rich flavors. Regarding the substitution ratio, you can go for equal amounts. However, you can add salt as per desired taste. 

7. Stock Concentrate 

Concentrated chicken stock can also be an excellent substitute for chicken bouillon. You can quickly get a pack of this one from the nearby market. All you have to do is mix the ingredients with hot water, suitable for further use. 

You can also minimize the quantity of water if you are looking for a flavorful substitute. However, the consistency of the concentrated stock is much more intense than the chicken bouillon. 

Regarding their substitution ratio, replace one cube of chicken bouillon with 1 cup of hot water and one tablespoon of concentrated stock. 

8. Chicken Bouillon Cubes

If you don’t have chicken bouillon powder, substitute it with bouillon cubes. What else is better than this? Check the back of your cupboard; you can find the half-open pack of this. 

Chicken bouillon is the best possible substitute for powdered bouillon. The dehydrated chicken stock with veggies forms a perfect bouillon cube. 

When it comes to taste, it gets mixed easily with water and provides identical taste and flavors. Follow the standard 1:1 ratio for substitution. Make sure you check the taste of seasoning before adding an extra amount of salt. 

9. Vegetable Bouillon Cubes

Well, another chicken bouillon substitute on the list is vegetable bouillon. It is just similar to chicken bouillon but with a twist of veggies! Thus, it is easy to swap them with equal quantities. 

Moreover, you can find it in both powdered and cube forms. You can use whatever is available. 

However, this one might need more if you want something to add chicken flavors. Vegetable bouillon works well for the roasted vegetable recipe. 

You can add more herbs and spices to add flavors. In addition to this, you can also add white wine or soy sauce to boost the flavors. 

10. Dry White Wine

Some of you might be surprised to find this one on the list of chicken bouillon substitutes. White wine is an excellent option to add rich flavors to the recipe. You might have this one in your pantry, which can easily be used to make soups, salads, and stews. 

Dry white wine can easily be used to incorporate cream and thus elevates the flavors of the whole dish. You can replace one cup of chicken bouillon with half a cup of dry white wine. The final word may end up with some acidic flavors. 

It can easily be used to thin the content of sauces or deglaze the pan. Adding dry white wine to the recipe might give a less salty flavor than chicken bouillon. 

You can use any white wine available at your home. Nevertheless, it would help if you did not give the dish prepared by this alcoholic alternative to the children. 

11. Bouillon Granules

Well, this one is another kind of chicken bouillon. You can have bouillon granules if you still need chicken bouillon powder. It is made with dehydrated chicken stock, veggies, and fat. 

You can find these granules at the grocery store. These share a similar flavor profile and give the same taste to the recipe. In addition to this, you can elevate the flavors by adding herbs and spices. 

12. Soy Sauce

Another substitute for the chicken bouillon is soy sauce. It is made from fermented soya beans, roasted grains, and brine. I instead suggest you use light soy sauces instead of dark. 

This is because the dark soy sauce can result in the addition of extra salt. This will spoil your whole recipe. Soy sauce has salt in it, and thus, using it in limited quantities is suggestable. 

Start by adding small amounts of soy sauce and avoid adding extra salt. If you have dark soy sauce, then combine the two tablespoons with one tablespoon of water as a substitute for chicken bouillon in the recipe.

13. Marmite

Your search for a vegetarian substitute for chicken bouillon ends here! Marmite can be used if you are looking for something vegetarian. It is widely used as a spread and has a savory taste.

You can easily incorporate marmite in most dishes that require chicken bouillon. Since the taste of the chicken bouillon is quite strong, try to use it in a smaller quantity. Feel free to increase the amount of marmite in the recipe if needed. 

14. Miso Paste

Miso paste is quite a staple ingredient in Japanese cooking. It is made with fermented soya beans. You can replace the chicken bouillon with miso paste, elevating the final dish’s full flavor. 

Miso paste can be an alternative to chicken bouillon in most dishes. It not only elevates the taste but also gives a pleasant aroma. If you’re vegetarian, this one is apt for you. 

Miso paste can be used as a thickener in soups or sauces. Nevertheless, when it comes to its substitution quantity, you must start by adding less amount and then gradually increase it as per your desired taste and other ingredients of the recipe. 

15. Tomato Paste

Suppose you do not have marmite but want to have a vegetarian substitute. Well, here it is! Tomato paste can be used as a chicken bouillon substitute. 

It is loaded with the tangy taste of tomatoes with undertones of sweetness. Adding tomato paste with more salt works wonders in a bland recipe. You can use it as a thickening agent. 

Whenever you add this to a dish, start with a minimum quantity and then gradually add it as per your need and taste. 

16. Water 

Everything goes smoothly with this one! You can use water if you do not have any of the abovementioned alternatives. This one is the simplest and the best possible choice you can get in hand! 

You can use water to get the desired consistency of soups, sauces, and stews. However, you must use it in recipes that require a small amount of chicken bouillon. If you want more flavors, add a few seasonings, such as cumin, pepper, salt, or dried herbs. 

Even the addition of melted butter goes well. You must avoid using water as a substitute in recipes that demand a strong chicken flavor. Swap chicken bouillon with water in a standard 1:1 ratio. 

Short Recap Of Best Substitute For Chicken Bouillon 

Suppose you are in a hurry and only have a little time to review the article. Well, here is a quick recap section for you! This section teaches you about the various chicken bouillon alternatives based on different parameters.

Best Chicken Bouillon Substitutes In Terms Of Flavors

• Chicken Stock
• Chicken Broth
• Bouillon Granules 
• Beef Stock 
• Concentrated Stock

Best Chicken Bouillon Substitutes In Terms Of Texture

• Vegetable Broth
• White Wine
• Water
• Chicken Broth

Best Chicken Bouillon Substitutes In Terms Of Availability

• Water
• Tomato Paste
• Soy Sauce
• Chicken Broth
• Vegetable Stock

How To Use Chicken Bouillon Substitutes In A Recipe

Conclusion

You can use any of the chicken mentioned above, bouillon substitutes. You can use vegetable stock to replace chicken bouillon if you are vegetarian.

Water is the most accessible substitute, and if you want to enhance its taste, add some herbs and spices, and you are good to go! I hope all your doubts are clear, see you next time. Till then, take care! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)