23 Best Chicken Base And Broth Substitutes!
Don’t have any chicken base, but your recipe calls for it? Have no fear! Here are the best chicken base and broth substitutes!
Isn’t chicken base the best?? It adds such a rich flavor to any dish.
But what if you run out?! This always happens to me when I’m in the middle of cooking. It’s such a pain to run to the grocery store in the middle of making a recipe.
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Well, I have good news for you! I’ve come up with the best list of chicken base substitutes you can find.
Chicken Base
But before we get to the substitutes, let’s talk about chicken base.
Chicken base is a concentrated base made from chicken stock. So, naturally there’s a lot more flavor in chicken base than in chicken stock.
Chicken base is made from real chicken meat and chicken bones. It simmers for hours, cools, and then is made into a base. It has an amazingly rich flavor and tons of nutrients.
Chicken base is the same as chicken stock, but it’s cooked longer. This makes it thicker and richer than chicken broth.
Chicken base is typically used when you want all the yummy flavor of chicken stock, but you don’t want all the liquid. You can easily add it to soups or other recipes to give it great flavor.
Plus, it’s SO easy to use! Just take as much chicken base as you need for the recipe and add it. Seriously, it can’t be easier than that!
Another amazing thing is that chicken base is usually less expensive than regular chicken stock. It also has consistent flavor which is always a plus.
Chicken Base Substitutes
Here is a list of the best chicken base substitutes!
The best thing to do is look at what you’re using the substitute for and choose your substitute based on what would work the best for the recipe. For most of these, you’ll still get a great chicken flavor.
1. Chicken Broth
Chicken broth is the EASIEST substitute by far. All you do is dump it in and it’s ready.
You can buy it in cans or cartons, or you can also make it from scratch. To make it from scratch, simmer chicken in a big pot for an hour. It’s perfect for recipes like chicken noodle soup.
It has tons of protein and can help your immune system. Add one cup of chicken broth to every cup of chicken base in your recipe.
Chicken broth is already seasoned, so don’t have to season it. Chicken broth doesn’t have quite as much flavor as chicken base does, so you might need to use a little more.
For the record, I had a medical procedure done and I was on an all liquid diet. While at the hospital, my nurse asked if I’d like chicken broth. I’ve never drank just chicken broth by itself before, so I told her no.
A little while later, I was so hungry that I told her I’d try some. AND IT WAS AMAZING! It tasted sooo good and it warmed my soul. I loved it!
2. Chicken Stock
Chicken stock is a great chicken broth substitute or chicken base substitute. It’s made by boiling just bones of the chicken, onions, celery, and water.
Chicken stock has a richer flavor then chicken broth. It isn’t made with chicken and it isn’t seasoned like chicken broth is.
3. Chicken Broth Paste
Some people think chicken broth paste is a fresher option than the cubes or powder. It’s stronger than Chicken Bouillon, so keep that in mind. This is a good option if you don’t have chicken base!
4. Chicken Bouillon Cubes
I LOVE Chicken Bouillon Cubes! All you do to use them is to drop one small cube into a cup of hot water or boiling water and let it dissolve. And now you have chicken broth!
Add an equal amount of chicken bouillon and water as you would chicken base. I got a big jar of chicken bouillon cubes and it lasted me for a few years.
5. Chicken Bouillon Powder
My favorite thing about chicken bouillon cubes and powder is that it will last forever on your shelf! I think that’s so convenient. Chicken bouillon will last for years and years.
Chicken Bouillon Powder is the same as the cubes, but it dissolves quicker than the cubes do. It will be ready to use sooner, which is so nice!
Just add one teaspoon of granules to a cup of water. Once it dissolves, you have chicken broth. Add less water to get a better chicken base flavor.
Make sure you buy Bouillon Powder with great ingredients in it, because not all of them do.
6. Better Than Bouillon Chicken
Better Than Bouillon IS MY FAVORITE!!! Of all the substitutions I’ve tried, it’s by far the best.
I LOVE not having to store tons of chicken broth on my shelves. Better Than Bouillon saves me so much space in my food storage!
It comes in a jar that you keep in the fridge once it’s opened. Add a teaspoon of it to hot or boiling water and whisk it together. And that’s it!
I always have one of the chicken and beef in my fridge at all times. I also have multiple backups in my cold food storage.
7. Beef Stock
Beef stock is delicious and it’s a good substitute for chicken base in some recipes. It has a different flavor than chicken stock, so it won’t be a perfect substitute in every recipe.
It’s easy to store in cans and so easy to use. Just dump it in!
Keep in mind that beef broth is darker then chicken base or chicken broth. It might change the look of the dish you’re adding it too.
8. Beef Bouillon
Beef Bouillon is amazing! Add it to hot or boiling water to get beef broth. It’s so convenient and easy to store.
It has a strong flavor, so add more water than suggested to tone it down a bit when you substitute it for chicken base.
9. Better Than Bouillon Beef
Better Than Bouillon Beef is amazing and I always have it on hand. You add a teaspoon of it to hot or boiling water and whisk it together. And that’s it!
10. Vegetable Stock
Vegetable stock is also so easy to use and store. It’s super healthy and it’s easy to get more vegetables in.
Vegetable stock isn’t as concentrated as chicken base, so you might need to use more than what the recipe calls for.
11. Homemade Vegetable Broth
It’s not hard to make your own broth! Vegetable broth is so easy to make at home. Just add vegetables and water to a big pot and let it simmer it for 6 hours.
Just like store bought vegetable broth, vegetable stock isn’t as concentrated as chicken base. You might need to use more seasonings if you’d like. Use equal parts as the recipe calls for.
12. Better Than Bouillon Vegetable
Just like Better Than Bouillon chicken and beef, you can also substitute Better Than Bouillon vegetable. It will have a slightly different flavor, but it can be a great change.
13. Mushroom Stock
Just like the other three stocks, you can use mushroom stock in place of chicken base. It too has a dark color just like beef broth.
14. Dry White Wine
You can substitute the amount of liquid chicken base would need with white wine. Just substitute it equally.
White wine will give it a deeper flavor than the chicken base. It will also taste a little more acidic. It can be a great addition to your recipe!
Don’t use this as a substitute for recipes that need more than 1/2 cup. The wine will be too strong and it won’t taste good.
15. Homemade Chicken Broth
Chicken stock is super easy to make! Just simmer chicken, the whole chicken bones if you have them, veggies, and water for one to four hours.
This is especially great if you have a rotisserie chicken. It will give you a rich flavor. You can use the bones from it.
16. Homemade Beef Broth
Just like chicken broth, you can make homemade broth with beef. Just simmer beef bones, vegetables, and water for 4-6 hours together. Homemade beef broth is WAY better than store bought broth.
17. Tap Water
Believe it or not, you can substitute plain water for chicken base! Crazy, right?!
It’s the cheapest and easiest substitute by far. Make sure you add a bunch of extra seasonings to make up for the lost flavor chicken base would bring.
18. Water And Butter
Believe it or not, you can totally substitute chicken base for water and butter! Just add one tablespoon of butter to one cup of water for every cup of chicken base a recipe calls for.
19. Coconut Milk
First, coconut milk will definitely not work in some chicken base substitutes. But if you need it for a soup or curry, it can be a fantastic switch.
It will definitely make your dish taste more coconutty. As long as you like coconut, your taste buds with thank you for this substitution. Add water to it to dilute the coconut flavor. Add extra salt and seasonings too.
20. Dashi
Dashi is an Asian broth. Dashi would be a great substitute in any Asian or seafood dishes that calls for chicken base. You might not be able to find it at your local grocery store, but Asian stores should have it.
21. Soy Sauce
You can add soy sauce to recipes in a pinch if you don’t have chicken base. Soy sauce is salty and it can mimic the chicken base flavor.
22. Aquafaba
Aquafaba is the chickpea liquid that drains from a can of chickpeas. Save it next time you need chickpeas.
It’s a great substitute for chicken base! Add seasonings to your liking. Keep in mind it will thicken, so add it to recipes that normally have a thick sauce.
23. Ramen Noodle Packets
If you have ramen noodles on hand, then, believe it or not, you always have a chicken broth substitute! Ramen noodle packets can be substituted for chicken base.
Add small amount of the seasoning and then taste it. Add more if you need to. It’s strong, and you don’t want to over do it. Add water and some seasoning
The Bottom Line
There are many great substitutes you can use for chicken base! You don’t have to race to the store the next time you’re out of chicken base. Just look in your panty!
FAQs
What can i substitute for Better Than Bouillon chicken base?
Chicken broth is definitely the best substitute for Better Than Bouillon or chicken bouillon.
What is chicken base made of?
Chicken base is a concentrated base made from chicken stock.
Is chicken stock the same as chicken soup base?
Chicken base is a concentrated chicken base. There’s a lot more flavor in chicken base than there is in chicken stock.
What can you substitute for the chicken base?
You can substitute Better Than Bouillon chicken, beef, or vegetable for chicken base. You can also substitute chicken stock, chicken broth, homemade chicken broth, homemade chicken stock, soy sauce, coconut milk, water, and white wine.
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Final Thoughts On Substitutes:
I hope you found a chicken base substitute that will work for you! Let me know what you think in the comments.
