Ever found yourself wandering aimlessly through grocery store aisles, desperately searching for chicken broth? I’ve been there too! It’s one of those ingredients that seems like it should be easy to find, but somehow ends up being a frustrating treasure hunt. Well, today I’m gonna solve this mystery once and for all.
As a home cook who uses chicken broth in practically everything from soups to risottos, I’ve learned exactly where to look in virtually any grocery store. Let’s dive into the most common locations where you’ll find this versatile cooking staple!
The Main Places to Find Chicken Broth
Most grocery stores keep chicken broth in predictable locations Here are the primary places to check
1. The Soup Aisle
This is your best bet! The soup aisle is typically where you’ll find chicken broth in most supermarkets. Look for the section that has:
- Canned soups
- Broths and stocks
- Bouillon cubes
Chicken broth is usually grouped with other broths like beef, vegetable, and bone broth. Brands like Swanson, College Inn, and Great Value are commonly found here.
2. Canned Goods Section
If your store doesn’t have a dedicated soup aisle, check the canned goods section. Chicken broth is often shelved alongside:
- Canned vegetables
- Canned beans
- Other liquid cooking ingredients
3. Health Food or Natural Foods Section
Some stores place certain types of chicken broth in their health food or natural foods section, especially:
- Organic chicken broths
- Low-sodium options
- Bone broths (which have become trendy for health benefits)
Brands like Pacific Foods and Kettle & Fire are often found in these sections.
4. International Foods Aisle
Occasionally, chicken broth might be in the international foods section, particularly:
- Near Asian ingredients (as broth is commonly used in many Asian dishes)
- Mediterranean food sections
Different Forms of Chicken Broth
When searching, remember that chicken broth comes in several different forms:
Liquid Broth
- Cartons (32 oz is most common)
- Cans (typically 14.5 oz)
- Glass jars (less common)
Concentrates
- Bouillon cubes
- Paste (like Better Than Bouillon)
- Powder packets
Each form might be in slightly different locations, with bouillon cubes sometimes placed on higher shelves in the soup aisle.
Store-Specific Locations
Different grocery chains sometimes organize their aisles differently:
Walmart
At Walmart, chicken broth is reliably found in the soup aisle. According to their website, they have a dedicated section for “Chicken Broths & Stocks” within the soup category. Popular brands at Walmart include:
- Great Value (Walmart’s store brand)
- Swanson
- College Inn
- Kitchen Basics
Whole Foods & Health Food Stores
These stores often have chicken broth in both:
- The soup aisle
- A separate section for natural or organic broths
Trader Joe’s
Look in:
- The soup section
- Near their boxed stocks and cooking wines
Can’t Find the Soup Aisle?
If you’re in an unfamiliar store and can’t locate the soup aisle, here’s what to do:
- Check near the pasta – Many stores place soups and broths near pasta and rice
- Look by the canned vegetables – They’re often in the same general area
- Ask a store employee – Sometimes the quickest solution!
Alternative Names to Look For
Chicken broth sometimes goes by other names, which can add to the confusion:
- Chicken stock
- Chicken bouillon
- Chicken cooking base
- Liquid chicken base
While there are technical differences between broth and stock (stock is typically made with bones and has a richer flavor), many stores and shoppers use these terms interchangeably.
Refrigerated Chicken Broth?
Some stores do carry fresh chicken broth in their refrigerated section. This is less common but worth checking if you prefer a fresher option or can’t find shelf-stable versions. Look near:
- Prepared soups
- Fresh pasta
- Deli section
These refrigerated versions typically have a shorter shelf life but often have a fresher flavor.
Special Varieties and Where They Might Be
If you’re looking for specific types of chicken broth, they might be in specialized locations:
Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
- Usually with regular broths but look for “low-sodium” or “reduced sodium” on the label
- Brands like Swanson Natural Goodness and Great Value offer these options
Organic Chicken Broth
- May be in the natural foods section
- Often in the regular soup aisle but grouped with other organic products
- Pacific Foods is a popular organic brand
Bone Broth
- Sometimes in a separate section for “superfood” type products
- Health food section
- With regular broths but often at a premium price point
- Kettle & Fire is a well-known bone broth brand
Online Options
Can’t find what you need in-store? Chicken broth is widely available online through:
- Amazon
- Walmart.com
- Grocery delivery services like Instacart
This is especially helpful if you’re looking for specialty broths or want to buy in bulk.
Making Substitutions
If you still can’t find chicken broth, here are some substitutions:
- Bouillon cubes dissolved in water (usually found in the spice aisle)
- Vegetable broth
- Beef broth (for a stronger flavor)
- Water with herbs and seasonings in a pinch
Tips for Shopping
- Check top and bottom shelves – Sometimes broths are placed on lower shelves due to their weight
- Look for store brands – They’re usually cheaper and work just as well (Great Value at Walmart is a good example)
- Compare prices between cans and cartons – Sometimes the packaging affects the price significantly
- Buy in bulk when on sale – Unopened chicken broth has a long shelf life
Price Ranges to Expect
Chicken broth prices vary based on brand, quality, and size:
- Store brands (like Great Value): $1.50-$2.00 for 32 oz
- National brands (like Swanson): $2.50-$3.00 for 32 oz
- Premium organic/specialty brands: $5.00+ for 32 oz
- Bone broths: Usually $6.50+ for smaller containers (around 16.9 oz)
Final Thoughts
Finding chicken broth in the grocery store shouldn’t be a hassle once you know where to look. Start with the soup aisle, then check canned goods, and finally the natural foods section if you’re seeking something specific.
I’ve learned that most stores follow similar organizational patterns, but don’t hesitate to ask for help if you’re struggling to locate it. Store layouts can change, and sometimes products get moved during reorganizations.
Next time a recipe calls for chicken broth, you’ll know exactly where to head in the store – no more wandering around or settling for substitutes when you don’t want to!
Do you have any other grocery store ingredients that seem impossible to find? Maybe I can help solve those mysteries too! Happy cooking, and may your chicken broth always be easy to locate!
Other good chicken broths
If you want a lighter bone broth with greater ingredients transparency: Pacific Foods Organic Bone Broth Chicken Unsalted (about $5.50 per quart) is a respectable runner-up to the Good & Gather bone broth. Compared with that one, this bone broth is lighter in body and chicken flavor, and it’s more rounded out with vegetables, herbs, and spices. The Pacific Foods bone broth also stands apart from the competition in that the label fully spells out the ingredients, listing water, organic chicken, organic vegetables (onions, carrots, celery), and so on. On most of the broths and stocks we tasted, the labels listed only “chicken broth” or “chicken stock” as the first ingredient. The Pacific Foods bone broth is a good all-purpose choice for most recipes, and it would even make a fine soup base with additional carrots, onions, and fresh herbs.
For a decent and economical supermarket option: The College Inn Unsalted Chicken Stock (about $2.60 per quart) is a solid choice. It got different grades from the testers: I thought it was okay, and Winnie ranked it as her number-two pick. In her notes, Winnie wrote that this stock had “decent chicken flavor” that was “pleasant and clean.” She also found it “surprisingly rich” given the “fairly clear straw color.” I put the College Inn Unsalted Chicken Stock squarely in the middle.
For a supermarket brand with more intense, chicken-y flavor: Swanson Unsalted Chicken Cooking Stock (about $3.20 per quart) is inoffensive and was available at most of the supermarkets I shopped at while researching this guide. Winnie and I were split on the flavors we picked up in this one—she detected a charred onion flavor, whereas I thought it had a pleasant bit of gaminess, like a stock made from a more mature chicken. We think it’s one of the better-tasting big-brand chicken stocks that most folks can find at their local supermarket.
This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested in previous iterations of this guide, just what’s still available.
Swanson Organic Low-Sodium Free-Range Chicken Broth (about $4 per quart) doesn’t taste terrible so much as it doesn’t taste like much of anything. Even though this broth had a “cleaner” flavor than most of the others we dismissed, it was insipid, thin, and described as “weaksauce” by our blind-taster.
The Pacific Foods Organic Free Range Chicken Broth Low Sodium (about $3.30 per quart) was too weak on chicken flavor and aroma for the price. An onion-powder flavor, while not overtly offensive, dominated and lingered on the palate.
Target’s Good & Gather Organic No Salt Added Chicken Broth (about $2 per quart) is very affordable for an organic product, and we think we know why: In our tests it was watery and barely tasted like anything, chicken or otherwise. If buying organic is a priority, you’re better off spending slightly more for a quart of the Imagine organic low-sodium broth.
“Milky white” and “bland” best describe Whole Foods 365 Organic Chicken Broth Low Sodium (about $2.50 per quart).This broth stood out for its lack of both flavor and color. We detected a faint chicken aroma, and that’s about it.
To paraphrase Winnie, our blind-taster, the Progresso Chicken Broth Unsalted (about $2.70 per quart) tasted like the plastic from the carton more than anything else. I also thought this one was plasticky, with a strong onion-powder and yeast aftertaste.
Intense onion flavor dominated Swanson Unsalted Chicken Broth (about $2.50 per quart). The chicken flavor was there, but the yeast extract in the ingredients took over and lingered on the palate for a while. If Swanson broths and stocks are the best option at your local supermarket, skip this one and grab either the Unsalted Chicken Cooking Stock or the Organic Low-Sodium Free Range Chicken Broth.
I don’t like to drag subpar products through the mud, but the Rachael Ray Stock-in-a-Box Low-Sodium Chicken Stock (about $3.00 per quart) was one of the worst we tasted. It had no discernible chicken flavor or aroma. Instead, it was watery and plasticky tasting, with an unidentifiable off-flavor that lingered way too long on the palate. The Rachael Ray stock is the only one we tested that’s made from watered-down chicken stock concentrate, not chicken stock or broth. And the difference was glaringly obvious.
We don’t know which ingredient made Kitchen Basics Unsalted Chicken Stock (about $3.30 per quart) taste so sour. The only clue we could gather from the ingredient list was “natural flavor.” In our tasting notes, we agreed that the strong acidic flavor was the most memorable characteristic. Winnie called it “thin” and mused that it “might be worse” than the Rachael Ray stock.
They Put WHAT in Chicken Broth??
FAQ
Should you buy store-bought chicken broth?
Meanwhile, we stand by our remaining picks. A good-tasting chicken broth can help ensure a better result in your cooking, even when broth is just a bit player in a recipe. And when broth is the star ingredient, as it is in soup, it can make or break the final dish. But store-bought chicken broths range widely in quality and flavor.
Where can I buy organic chicken broth?
BUY IT: The Osso Good Co. Organic Chicken Bone Broth, $30 for 3 (16-ounce) pouches on Amazon. We wanted an all purpose chicken broth that could be used in soups, stews, risottos, and anywhere else chicken broth is needed. It had to have robust chicken flavor; otherwise we could simply rely on water and aromatics.
Are all store-bought chicken broths and stocks the same?
Of course, not all store-bought chicken broths and stocks are equal in taste or nutrition. In particular, sodium levels can vary widely, and you want to avoid grabbing a container of overly salted broth that has nothing else going for it in the flavor department.
What is store-bought chicken broth?
Store-bought chicken broth is a handy staple to keep in your pantry. Whether you’re cooking a cozy soup, tossing a quick stir-fry, or like to sip on warm bone broth for a high-protein, low-carb snack, it is a versatile culinary tool.
What is the difference between chicken stock and broth?
Before you head to the store, it’s worth noting that there is a difference between chicken stock and broth, though the two terms are often used interchangeably. To get technical, stock is made by simmering chicken bones with a mirepoix of onions, celery, and carrots; fresh herbs (typically parsley, bay leaves, and thyme); and black peppercorns.
What is a good bone broth & stock?
On most of the broths and stocks we tasted, the labels listed only “chicken broth” or “chicken stock” as the first ingredient. The Pacific Foods bone broth is a good all-purpose choice for most recipes, and it would even make a fine soup base with additional carrots, onions, and fresh herbs.
What aisle is chicken broth usually on?
Where is chicken broth kept?
Once opened, boxed chicken broth will keep for up to five days in the refrigerator. You should store it directly in the box. Canned chicken broth will keep for up to four days. For the best flavor and freshness, transfer the broth from the can into a food-safe glass or plastic storage container with a lid.
Where can I find chicken broth in Market Basket?
Find it in the Grocery Department.
Which aisle is bone broth in?
You’ll find them in the frozen foods aisle. What is bone broth? To understand bone broth, first you should understand that it’s not quite a broth and it’s not quite a stock. Broth is made by simmering herbs and spices, vegetables and meat for around 45 minutes to two hours.