Let’s face it – we’ve all been there. It’s 6:30 PM, you’re halfway through a recipe, and suddenly realize you’re completely out of chicken broth. Panic mode activated!
As someone who cooks almost daily, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to make emergency chicken broth runs. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide on where to buy chicken broth, what types to look for, and which brands won’t leave your soup tasting like dishwater.
Where to Buy Chicken Broth: The Quick Answer
If you’re in a hurry, here’s the TL;DR version:
- Major Grocery Stores: Walmart, Target
- Specialty Food Retailers: BROTH Inc (online at welovebroth.com)
- Online Retailers: Amazon, Instacart
- Local Options: Farmers markets, butcher shops, health food stores
But don’t click away just yet! There’s a lot more to choosing the right chicken broth than just knowing where to buy it.
Best Places to Buy Chicken Broth in 2025
1. Walmart
Walmart is honestly my go-to for affordable chicken broth options Their selection is impressive with over 500 chicken broth products available Here’s what you’ll find
- Great Value Chicken Broth ($1.50 for 32 oz) – Their store brand is surprisingly good and significantly cheaper than name brands
- Swanson Chicken Broth ($2.52 for 32 oz) – The classic option most recipes are tested with
- Better Than Bouillon ($4.48 for 8 oz jar) – My personal favorite for deep flavor
- Kettle & Fire and Pacific Foods organic options
Walmart also offers various sizes from individual 14.5 oz cans to family-size 48 oz cartons, which is super convenient depending on your cooking needs.
2. Target
Target’s chicken broth selection is a bit more limited than Walmart’s, but they do carry most major brands While their website doesn’t show specific products (just loading indicators), I’ve frequently purchased chicken broth there and can confirm they stock
- Swanson varieties
- Pacific Foods organic options
- College Inn broths
- Their Good & Gather store brand
Target’s prices tend to be slightly higher than Walmart’s, but if you’re already there picking up other items, it’s a perfectly good option.
3. BROTH Inc (welovebroth.com)
If you’re looking for premium chicken broth options, BROTH Inc offers some unique products you won’t find at regular grocery stores. Their speciality is organic chicken essence, which is more concentrated than regular broth.
Their site currently features:
- Original Organic Chicken Essence (available in 5, 30, 60, or 90 packs)
- Chicken Essence Combination packs
- Jujube Goji Chicken Essence (great for postpartum recovery)
- Monthly subscription options
The downside? Premium quality comes with premium pricing. But if you’re looking for high-quality, specialty broths for health purposes or specific recipes, this is a fantastic option.
4. Local Options
Don’t forget about:
- Farmers Markets: Often have small-batch, locally made broths
- Butcher Shops: Some butchers make their own broth from their meat scraps
- Health Food Stores: Places like Whole Foods or local health markets often carry unique brands
Types of Chicken Broth: What’s the Difference?
When shopping for chicken broth, you’ll encounter several terms that can be confusing:
Chicken Broth vs. Stock vs. Bone Broth
- Chicken Broth: Made by simmering chicken meat (sometimes with vegetables) for 1-2 hours. Lighter flavor, lower collagen content.
- Chicken Stock: Made by simmering chicken bones (usually with vegetables) for 3-4 hours. Richer flavor, higher collagen content.
- Chicken Bone Broth: Made by simmering chicken bones for 10+ hours. Highest collagen content, richest flavor, often used for health benefits.
Regular vs. Low Sodium vs. Unsalted
Most brands offer several sodium options:
- Regular: Contains 800-900mg sodium per cup
- Reduced Sodium: Contains 500-600mg sodium per cup
- Low Sodium: Contains 140mg or less sodium per cup
- Unsalted: Contains minimal sodium (usually under 50mg per cup)
I usually buy unsalted or low sodium versions so I can control the salt level in my dishes.
Best Chicken Broth Brands (According to Our Taste Tests)
After years of cooking and way too many taste tests, here are my top picks:
Best Budget Option
Great Value Chicken Broth ($1.50 for 32 oz at Walmart)
- Surprisingly good flavor for the price
- Available in regular and reduced sodium versions
- Consistent quality
Best All-Around
Swanson Chicken Broth ($2.52 for 32 oz at Walmart/Target)
- The standard most recipes are tested with
- Clean, classic chicken flavor
- Widely available in multiple varieties
Best Premium Option
BROTH Organic Chicken Essence (Available at welovebroth.com)
- Intense, pure chicken flavor
- USDA Organic certified
- Great for health-focused cooking
Best Concentrated Option
Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base ($4.48 at Walmart)
- Incredible flavor depth
- Space-saving jar format
- Makes exactly how much you need
How to Choose the Right Chicken Broth
When I’m standing in the soup aisle trying to decide, here’s what I consider:
- Recipe needs: Simple soup? Any broth will do. Complex sauce? Go premium.
- Sodium level: Choose low-sodium options if you’re watching salt intake or want control over seasoning.
- Ingredient quality: Look for broths with simple ingredients and no MSG or artificial flavors.
- Price point: Balance quality with budget – sometimes the cheapest option works fine!
- Storage considerations: Shelf-stable cartons vs. cans vs. concentrate forms
Buying in Bulk: Is It Worth It?
If you cook as much as I do, buying in bulk makes sense. Here’s what to know:
- Family size options: Both Walmart and Target sell 48 oz cartons for around $3.68
- Multi-packs: Walmart offers 2-packs, 6-packs, and 14-packs of popular brands
- Concentrate forms: Better Than Bouillon gives you 38 cups of broth from one 8 oz jar
Just make sure you’ll use it before the expiration date! Once opened, chicken broth typically lasts 7-10 days in the refrigerator.
Beyond Basic Chicken Broth: Specialty Options
Looking for something special? Here are some specialty options:
- Organic chicken broths: Pacific Foods and Kettle & Fire offer excellent organic options
- Free-range chicken broths: Look for Pacific Foods Free Range versions
- Global flavors: Swanson now offers a Spicy Chicken Broth version
- Chicken bone broth: Kettle & Fire, Swanson, and Zoup! all offer bone broth options
Making Your Own vs. Store-Bought
Let’s be real – homemade chicken broth is amazing, but who has time to make it every week? Here’s my compromise:
- Make homemade broth when I have time (usually once a month)
- Freeze in 1-cup portions for special recipes
- Keep store-bought on hand for everyday cooking
This gives me the best of both worlds without driving myself crazy!
When to Splurge vs. When to Save
Not all recipes need premium broth. Here’s my rule of thumb:
Splurge when:
- The broth is a main component (like chicken noodle soup)
- You’re making a special meal
- The recipe has few ingredients (nowhere to hide bad flavors)
Save when:
- The broth is just one of many ingredients
- You’re adding lots of spices and flavors
- You’re cooking for a crowd and need volume
Final Thoughts: My Personal Chicken Broth Strategy
After years of trial and error, here’s what works for me:
- Keep 2-3 boxes of Swanson Natural Goodness Low Sodium Chicken Broth in the pantry
- Keep a jar of Better Than Bouillon in the fridge for emergencies
- Order BROTH Chicken Essence occasionally for special health-focused cooking
- Make homemade when I can and freeze it
This approach means I’m never out of options, regardless of what I’m cooking!
This post was last updated on September 13, 2025, to reflect current prices and availability at major retailers.
Imagine Free Range Chicken Broth
This broth is quite tasty on its own. The stronger herb and vegetable flavors may dominate in a soup if you plan to cook with it. It’s quite salty, with 31 percent of the RDA of sodium per cup. It has minimal protein compared to the broths marketed as “bone broth.”
The look: This broth is on the lighter side compared to the others I tried. It’s quite cloudy and almost yellow.
The taste: On its own, this stock is savory and salty, but it doesn’t taste of pure salt like the College Inn broth. It has a nice nuanced flavor from onion, celery, and carrots. I found that this broth had the most natural sweetness and green notes from vegetables.
College Inn Chicken Broth
This was the only broth I tried that came in a can. The ingredients and nutrition facts vary slightly between College Inn’s carton chicken broth and its canned version. Most strikingly, the can contains 1,460 mg of sodium, while the carton has a still-high 850 mg per serving.
The look: This was the most watery, pale broth I tried. It had a rather unappetizing slightly yellow-gray color and no texture or body.
The taste: I couldn’t taste anything other than salt in this broth. Though it had visible chicken fat, including a layer of fat stuck to the can lid, the fat added no texture or flavor. It also contains added sugar and yeast extract (possibly further contributing to the sodium levels), which are unnecessary from a nutrition and flavor perspective.
The Best and Worst Supermarket Chicken Broths | The Taste Test
FAQ
What is the best chicken broth?
Of all the broths we tried, the Target house brand has the truest, most robust chicken flavor. We’re confident that this is an excellent all-purpose broth for any braise, soup, or side dish (like rice pilaf). Former Wirecutter editor Winnie Yang, my fellow taster, ranked the Good & Gather broth as her favorite in a blind tasting.
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.
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.
Should you buy organic chicken broth?
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.
How do I choose a good broth & stock?
Broths and stocks that pack more calories tend to be made with added ingredients like oil, chicken fat, or butter. Simple ingredients: Finally, check the ingredient list. “Choosing a broth or stock that is not made with fillers, oils, or anything artificial is ideal,” says Manaker.
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.
Is chicken stock the same as chicken broth?
What aisle is chicken broth usually on?
Is chicken broth actually healthy?