SaurabhChicken broth can be used in several soups and stews to add that chicken flavor that many people love. It goes great with different ingredients such as vegetables and even different types of meat besides chicken.
However, if your recipe calls for chicken broth and you don’t have this ingredient, there is no need to panic. We gathered alternatives that you can use instead of chicken broth and your dish will still turn out to be delicious!
Keep reading to find out not less than 15 chicken broth substitutes that can enrich the flavor of your dish with no hassle!
Best Chicken Broth Substitutes
Use the next substitutes instead of chicken broth as you have them available. You might even be able to combine two or more substitutes to get a richer taste so allow yourself to get creative!
1. Chicken broth concentrate
Chicken broth concentrate can be found in stores and it is one of the best solutions if you need to replace chicken broth in your recipe.
This product comes in a form of a powder so you can easily dissolve it in hot water before adding it to soups or stews. The quantity of water you add depends on how concentrated you want your chicken taste to be.
If you want a strong taste, just add less water and if you just want a mild chicken flavor, you can add a bit more water to dilute it properly.
2. Chicken base
Chicken base is easy to find in stores and is usually sold in a jar. You can add a teaspoon or more of it to your dish to get that chicken flavor that a chicken broth would give you.
Take into account that the chicken base usually contains plenty of salt so you don’t want to add too much. Check for flavor before you add any extra salt as you might not need to do that if you use this substitute.
3. Water
Water is a substitute for chicken broth that everyone has handy and you can add as much of it as you wish.
However, keep in mind that adding water to any recipe will dilute the taste and you might want to complete it with more herbs and seasoning to give it the flavor you want it to have.
Even so, water can save many of your recipes that call for chicken broth.
4. Salted butter and water mix
If you mix one cup of water with 1 tablespoon of salted butter and add it to your soup or stew, you will be able to enrich its flavor even without chicken broth.
However, this won’t be the best substitute for recipes that call for chicken broth as their main ingredient since it won’t add any chicken flavor to your dish. Even so, you can count on this mix as one of the substitutes for chicken broth when nothing else is available.
5. Vegetable broth
Vegetable broth can also be one of your best substitutes for chicken broth. You can make this broth at home or purchase it already made from different stores.
Use the type of vegetables you prefer and make sure to store the extra broth you have left in a container and freeze it as it can come in handy many other times in the future.
6. White wine
Using white wine instead of chicken broth might come as a surprise but this can actually be a great substitute. You can use wine when the recipe calls for a smaller quantity of chicken broth such as a cup or less.
The white wine will give acidity to your dish that you will love as it mixes with the other ingredients. You can use any white wine you have available and your food will turn out tasty.
7. Chicken bouillon cubes
Chicken bouillon cubes have a rich chicken flavor and they dilute easily in water. One cube should be enough for your dish as they are very concentrated.
You can find chicken bouillon cubes in most grocery stores and use them in recipes that call for chicken broth. Take into account that these cubes also have salt in their list of ingredients so you might not need to add any extra salt to your dish.
8. Chicken seasoning
When no other option is available, you can use chicken seasoning to add your dish the chicken flavor you want. They will provide the chicken flavor that you want and you can use the quantity you want.
There are different mixes of seasonings that are meant for chicken soup or chicken stew and you can even try those that are made for chicken roast or barbecue.
9. Chicken soup
Chicken soup can be purchased at most grocery stores and it is very resemblant to chicken broth. Use any type of chicken soup and you will be able to add it to your recipes instead of the chicken broth that you are lacking.
It is important to taste the soup before you add it to your dish to see if it has salt or other seasonings so that you can adjust the rest of the seasonings accordingly.
10. Bean liquid
If you get canned beans, you will want to use the liquid they come with as a chicken broth substitute that you can add to soups or stews.
This liquid is flavorful and salty so you will definitely increase the taste of your final dish. Try adding other seasonings to bring your bean liquid more flavor and get it closer to the taste that you prefer.
11. Chickpea liquid
Chickpea liquid is just as suitable as a substitute for chicken broth.
When you open a can of chickpeas, store the liquid in the fridge or in the freezer until you have to use it instead of chicken broth or you can use it right away.
Room temperature chickpea liquid is better than cold chickpea liquid so make sure you bring it to this temperature before adding it to your recipe.
Add as much quantity of chickpea liquid as you want to your recipe in order to replace the chicken broth that your recipe asked for.
12. Turkey broth
Turkey broth is very similar in flavor to chicken broth. And you can make it at home if you have some turkey meat or you can purchase it from your grocery store.
Some turkey broth products you will find in stores come with different herbs and seasonings so check the list of ingredients to make sure they are a good match for your recipe.
13. Coconut milk
Coconut milk, regardless of the fat level you choose, is a very good substitute for chicken broth. The flavor will be slightly different as your dish will acquire a coconut taste that chicken broth doesn’t have, but it will taste delicious.
Coconut milk will taste great in curry dishes. However, it will also offer a very interesting flavor to your stews, even the spicy ones.
This ingredient is often used in African cuisine. However, it is also common in Asia so you should definitely try it. Just make sure that the coconut flavor of this milk will go well with the rest of the ingredients in your dish and it will create a mix that you like.
14. Dashi
Dashi or umami is the specific flavor of Asian dishes and you can find it as a liquid or as a powder. Use both instead of chicken broth and you will get a tasty flavor that you might prefer to the traditional broth.
You might not find dashi in all stores but it is quite a common product in Asian markets. If you do find this substitute, make sure to use it in smaller quantities. Also, taste your food before you add more of it as it can be very concentrated.
15. Beef broth
Beef broth can be a good substitute to use in your recipe if you don’t have chicken broth. It will naturally taste like beef and not like chicken. But you can count on the fact that beef broth will add a meat flavor to your dish and give it a much better taste.
Use homemade beef broth. Or buy some from your local grocery store and you will be amazed by its delicious flavor. Use the same quantity of beef broth as you would use chicken broth.
Cream Of Chicken Vs Chicken Broth
Cream of chicken is not the same as chicken broth. The two can’t be used interchangeably due to the different textures they have.
Chicken cream is much thicker than the broth and it has a stronger chicken taste that might not mix well with the rest of your ingredients. Plus, chicken cream will not be as resistant to cooking and boiling since it is much thicker and can get burned faster.
Try to find a better substitute in the list above and get the mild chicken flavor you want for your food.
Related Questions
Can I substitute milk for chicken broth?
When it comes to dairy products such as cow’s milk, these might not be the best substitutes for chicken broth as they don’t go as good with all the ingredients.
Regular milk acts differently when heated up too much. It can even burn if you let it cook for too long. So, you might ruin your entire recipe.
However, you can successfully add coconut milk which tends to have a similar consistency and color to cow’s milk. And it behaves much better when it is cooked.
Plus, the coconut flavor goes much better with all kinds of ingredients from veggies to meat.
How to make chicken broth at home?
If you still want to use chicken broth in your recipe rather than any other substitute, you will be surprised by how easy it is to make this broth in your kitchen.
You will need 2 pounds of boned chicken pieces such as legs, wings, backbones, or necks, 2 celery ribs that you will cut in chunks, 2 carrots of medium size, also cut in chunks, and 2 onions cut in half.
For seasonings, you want to use 2 bay leaves, half a tablespoon of rosemary, half a tablespoon of thyme, eight peppercorns, and 2 quarts of water or bean broth.
The cooking process is just as simple as the ingredient list. All you will have to do is put all your ingredients in a pot and bring them to a boil.
Once the broth starts to boil, decrease the heat level and let it simmer for up to four hours. Just make sure to skim the foam as necessary and simmer it without adding a lid.
You can use it right away. Or store it in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container so you have it for future recipes.
Conclusion
The chicken broth might be a common ingredient in a variety of dishes but you will have to use it the right way in order to make the most out of it. Besides that, it is never a tragedy if you don’t have this broth as you can easily replace it with one of the alternatives in this guide.
Make sure to check the recipe for homemade chicken broth, too, since it can be a lifesaver in many situations. If you choose to make chicken broth, it would be smart to make more than you need. Then, just store it in the fridge or freezer.
But choosing one of the substitutes from our list will definitely help you obtain a delicious recipe with no struggle. And you will be able to use a combo of them if you have them handy.
