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Chicken Broth Substitutes for Soups & Sauces

7 Best Substitutes for Chicken Broth

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This guide covers seven practical substitutes for chicken broth with clear instructions on ratios and uses. Learn to choose the right swap based on your dish's flavor and depth needs, helping you avoid watery or bland results.
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Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Sauces, Substitutes
Cuisine: Worldwide
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 to 1 Vegetable Broth Use 1:1 ratio for volume, mild and earthy flavor, adjust seasoning if needed
  • 1 to 1 Beef Broth Use 1:1 ratio, deep bold flavor suitable for hearty dishes, avoid in delicate recipes
  • Bouillon Mix Use 1 cube per cup of water, high sodium content, reduce salt in dish to prevent oversalting
  • 1 to 1 Mushroom Broth Use 1:1 ratio, earthy and umami-rich flavor good for vegan and vegetarian dishes
  • 0.5 cup White Wine Mix half cup wine and half cup water, cook off alcohol before use to add acidity and brightness
  • 1 to 1 Herb Water Steep herbs in hot water 10 minutes, strain before use to avoid bitterness and keep light flavor
  • 1 to 1 Dashi Use 1:1 ratio, smoky seaweed umami flavor, avoid if mild or seafood-free base is needed

Method
 

  1. Choose your substitute based on the dish’s need for mild background or bold savory depth.
  2. Prepare the substitute as needed, such as dissolving bouillon cubes in water or steeping herbs for herb water.
  3. Use the substitute according to the recommended ratio for volume replacement.
  4. Adjust seasoning after adding the substitute, especially salt, pepper, or umami boosters to maintain flavor balance.
  5. Cook off alcohol in wine mix substitutes before incorporating into recipes.
  6. Taste the dish after adding the substitute to avoid over-salting or overpowering flavors, then adjust as necessary.

Notes

Taste-test bouillon mix slowly to avoid overly salty results that are hard to fix.

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