Have you ever been in the middle of cooking dinner only to realize you’re out of chicken broth? I certainly have! Just last week, I was making my favorite chicken noodle soup and reached into the pantry to find… nothing. Not a single carton or can of broth in sight. Talk about a kitchen emergency!
But don’t worry – you don’t need to abandon your recipe or run to the store. There are actually several simple substitutes you can whip up using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
Why You Might Need a Chicken Broth Substitute
Before we dive into the substitutes, let’s quickly talk about why chicken broth is so important in cooking:
- It adds moisture to recipes
- It provides deep, savory flavor
- It’s a base for soups, stews, and sauces
- It helps deglaze pans for flavorful sauces
The Best Chicken Broth Substitutes
1. Vegetable Broth
Vegetable broth is probably the easiest and most direct substitute for chicken broth. It has a similar flavor profile with the same aromatics like carrots, celery, and onions (that classic mirepoix trifecta!), plus salt, pepper, and herbs.
How to substitute: Use a 1:1 ratio – one cup of vegetable broth for one cup of chicken broth.
2. Water + Seasonings
Plain water might seem too simple, but with the right seasonings, it can work surprisingly well! This is especially true if your recipe calls for just a small amount of broth.
How to substitute For each cup of chicken broth use one cup of water plus
- Extra salt and pepper
- A pinch of dried herbs (thyme, parsley, bay leaf)
- A clove of minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
If you’re making a soup where broth is the main component, water alone probably won’t give you the depth of flavor you need. But for deglazing a pan or thinning a sauce? It works just fine!
3. Chicken Bouillon Cubes or Granules
Check the back of your pantry – you might have some bouillon hiding there! These concentrated flavor bombs dissolve in hot water to create an instant broth substitute
How to substitute Dissolve one bouillon cube or one teaspoon of granules in one cup of hot water. Be careful though – bouillon tends to be saltier than regular broth, so you might want to reduce other salt in your recipe.
4. Chicken Base or Broth Concentrate
Similar to bouillon, chicken base comes in a small jar and chicken broth concentrate often comes in single-serve packets. They dissolve in hot water to create broth.
How to substitute: Follow the package directions, but generally, you’ll mix 1 teaspoon of base with 1 cup of water. Start with less and work your way up to avoid over-salting your dish.
5. White Wine
For recipes that call for a small amount of chicken broth (1/2 cup or less), dry white wine can be an excellent substitute, especially when deglazing a pan or making a sauce.
How to substitute: Use an equal amount of wine in place of broth. Don’t worry about the alcohol – it will cook off, leaving behind a rich, slightly acidic flavor that adds depth to your dish.
6. Salted Butter + Water
This combo adds richness that plain water lacks. The butter helps create a more flavorful base, though you’ll still need to adjust your seasonings.
How to substitute: Mix 1 cup of water + 1 tablespoon of butter for each cup of chicken broth needed. You can add the water and butter together or use water to deglaze and add the butter at the end for richness.
7. Instant Ramen Flavor Packet
This one’s my personal favorite hack! If you’ve got instant ramen in your pantry (and who doesn’t?), you’ve got a chicken broth substitute.
How to substitute: Mix the flavor packet with water according to how much broth you need. Start with less and add more to taste – these packets are pretty potent!
Creative Alternatives for More Complex Flavors
If you want to get a bit more creative, try these options:
Mushroom Broth
Simmer dried or fresh mushrooms (especially shiitakes) in water for 20-30 minutes to create an umami-rich liquid. This works particularly well in vegetarian dishes.
Citrus + Water
Mix citrus juice (lemon, lime, or grapefruit) with water in a 1:2 ratio for a bright, acidic liquid that works well with seafood dishes.
Tea-Based Broth
Steep tea bags in hot water for 10-15 minutes. White tea works well for delicate dishes, while stronger teas like genmaicha add richness to heartier recipes.
Garlic Stock
Simmer two whole heads of garlic in water until the garlic becomes buttery and smooth. The result is surprisingly rich and flavorful!
Tips for Making Your Substitute Taste Better
Whichever substitute you choose, these tips will help enhance the flavor:
- Add fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or bay leaves
- Include aromatics like onion, carrots, celery, or garlic
- A splash of soy sauce or fish sauce adds umami depth
- A teaspoon of tomato paste can add richness
- Don’t forget acid – a splash of lemon juice or vinegar brightens flavors
When to Make Your Own Chicken Broth
While these substitutes work in a pinch, nothing beats homemade chicken broth. If you have time, making your own is surprisingly easy:
Quick Homemade Chicken Broth Recipe:
- Place chicken parts (carcass, wings, necks, etc.) in a large pot
- Add vegetable scraps (onions, carrots, celery)
- Cover with water by a few inches
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer
- Simmer for 2-3 hours, skimming off any foam
- Strain, season with salt and pepper, and use!
Homemade broth has many advantages – you control the ingredients and salt content, it’s economical (especially if using scraps), and the flavor is superior to store-bought.
The Bottom Line
Don’t let a lack of chicken broth stop you from making your favorite recipes! With these easy substitutes, you can create delicious meals without making an emergency grocery run. In my experience, the bouillon cube method has saved dinner more times than I can count, but I’m also partial to the ramen packet hack when I’m in a real bind.
What’s your go-to substitute when you’re out of chicken broth? I’d love to hear your kitchen rescue stories in the comments!
Put your chicken broth to work
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes about 8 cups (2 quarts) homemade chicken broth. You’ll also get 4 cups cooked chicken in the process.
- Refrigerate: Store chicken broth in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.
- Freezer: Divide the broth into freezer-safe containers (I like to use 16-ounce glass jars, but freezer bags work too) and leave 1/2-inch head space for expansion. Label and date, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Leftover roasted chicken carcass: To make chicken broth from a roasted chicken, I recommend adding the leftover roast chicken carcass to a pot with raw chicken. If you boil just a leftover roasted chicken carcass on its own, the broth will be thin and lack body and flavor.
Technically, stock is made with just bones, while broth is made with bones and meat.
You can flavor your broth with vegetables, herbs, and spices. If you don’t have much time or patience, add just a clove of garlic, a sliver of onion, and salt.
Yes, absolutely! Plain chicken broth is an absolutely delicious drink. If you want to spruce up your cup of cozy broth, try hot sauce, fresh lemon juice, and some fresh cilantro sprigs.
If your recipe calls for chicken broth, it’s looking for that extra savory flavor. You could substitute bouillon paste or cubes which will give you the same effect. But in some cases, depending on the recipe, you don’t absolutely need chicken broth and could just substitute water. But, you’ll lose flavor that way. It just depends on what you are cooking.
9 Easy Chicken Broth Substitutes
FAQ
What else can I use if I don’t have chicken broth?
Our go-to chicken broth substitutes, some of which are vegetarian, include garlic stock, mushrooms, citrus, chicken jus, tea, tomatoes, and wine.
How to make broth when you don’t have any?
If you don’t have any kind of broth on hand, you can resort to bouillon cubes or granules to make a broth substitute. To create the equivalent of 1 cup of broth, combine 1 cube or 1 teaspoon of granules with 1 cup of boiling water and mix until the bouillon dissolves.
How to make a quick chicken broth?
- Put chicken carcasses, water, carrots, celery, onion, spinach, and salt into a large pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes.
- Strain broth and discard solids.
Can I make chicken broth with just chicken and water?
Adding Aromatics and Herbs to Your Stock
You can absolutely make chicken stock with just chicken and water, which will give you a pure stock with chicken-forward flavor. But aromatics and herbs are an easy way to add a bit more nuance.