Chicken Bouillon Granules: Top 5 Substitutes

Chicken bouillon granules are popular in a number of dishes around the world. These include some o four favorite sauces, soups, and casseroles, among others.

They’re packed full of flavor and can turn any dish into something special in moments. 

You don’t have to stop and chicken when it comes to bouillon flavors, though! If chicken isn’t your thing (how?), then there are shrimp, turkey, beef, and of course, vegetable options available! 

If you’re anything like us, then bouillon granules are a must-have in the kitchen. However, what happens when you suddenly run out? 

Chicken Bouillon Granules Top 5 Substitutes

Do you have to drive to the nearest store to get more?

Not necessarily! Truth is, as great as chicken bouillon cubes are, there are also some great alternatives that you can use.

Even if you just want to keep the costs down, since bouillon granules can be a little pricey, we’re here for you. 

So, if you want to find out about some great chicken bouillon granule alternatives to use in your cooking, stick around! We’ll go through everything you need to know. 

What Are Chicken Bouillon Granules?

Simply put, chicken bouillon is made from dehydrated chicken broth, which is turned into a powder. That’s why it is so full of those incredible flavors – broth is packed full of flavor!

Because of how this product is made, it isn’t exactly easy to make it yourself at home. You would need some high-tech stuff to get the job done! Because of this, it’s better to just stick to buying it, or finding alternatives. 

This tasty flavoring agent can be used in so many different dishes. It’s popular in soups, but also gravies, casseroles, soups, and both pasta and rice dishes for added flavor.

Although the flavor is pretty strong, it isn’t overpowering. It also doesn’t really interfere with other flavors in most dishes, so it’s a safe way to enhance most savory dishes. 

You can find this handy stuff at most grocery stores, or you can get it online. The granules typically come in either canisters or jars of a kind. To store, they should be kept in a cool, dry place for up to six months in most cases. 

Chicken Bouillon Granules: Top 5 Substitutes 

Since chicken bouillon granules are a key part of so many dishes, it’s always useful to know any alternatives! Read on to learn what other ingredients you can use in place of chicken bouillon next time you’re in the kitchen.

Chicken Bouillon Cubes

These are basically the same as your trusty chicken bouillon granules! They’re just in a different shape and are packaged differently. Like your granules, you can usually find these cubes in every grocery store. 

These have a lot of salt in them, so be sure to taste-test throughout your cooking to make sure you aren’t overdoing it. To use the cubes, you will usually need to dissolve them in hot water and add them to the dish you’re cooking. 

They work great in soups, stews, casseroles, and any kind of saucy dish. You can also use them when cooking rice to add some extra flavor.

Italian Seasoning Mix

No bouillon cubes in sight? It might be smart to turn your eyes to the Italian seasoning mix to get some great flavors in your dish.

These will add a delightfully complex and robust flavor, and maybe even add something entirely new to your dish. 

Italian seasoning mixes usually include ingredients such as rosemary, oregano, garlic powder, basil, sage, thyme, and marjoram. It also typically contains salt, so be careful when adding other forms of salt!

It’s very easy to over salt your food when you’re using ingredients like this that already have salt added to them. 

You can easily purchase some Italian mix at your local grocery store. If, by some miracle, you can’t then check online. You will definitely be able to order some online and get them delivered to you in no time.

Canned Chicken Broth

If chicken bouillon granules are not available, then canned chicken broth is an amazing substitute. As we mentioned before, the bouillon granules are made out of dehydrated chicken broth, so the base ingredients should be the same!

This means that you will get all those great flavors in your dish in no time, and this canned broth is available in most places!

You can usually find chicken broth in cans, bottles, jars, or cartons, depending on where you are. Sometimes they even come in individual serving packages! 

If you stick with more known brands, you can be sure to get the same great flavors.

Better yet, try and find the same brand that your chicken bouillon granules are! That way, the flavor profile will probably be exactly the same, so you can enjoy every moment of your meal.  

Other Herbs

If you don’t have any chicken bouillon cubes or granules at hand, it’s completely fine to just use some good old herbs! There are lots of delicious herbs that you can use to add that much-needed flavor to any dish.

Most of them would probably be found in an Italian seasoning mix, but you can use a variety of individual herbs, too. 

The herbs you choose for your dish will depend on what you’re cooking. The cuisine will play a huge role, but also the kind of meat you’re working with.

Most herbs work well with most meats, but there might be a few rules that you discover along the way. 

Popular herbs to use for seasoning include the following:

  • Rosemary
  • Parsley
  • Basil
  • Thyme
  • Marjoram
  • Oregano
  • Bay leaf

You can usually purchase these in individual bottles and use as you wish. 

Other Stock

If you can’t find chicken bouillon stock, or you don’t want to use it, we’ve got you covered! It’s super easy to use any kind of stock as a chicken stock substitute. We would recommend thinking about the flavors carefully, though.

If you’re cooking a chicken dish, you probably don’t want to use shrimp or beef stock as a replacement. Turkey or vegetable stock would be a better option.

If you want to play it safe, vegetable stock will go well with basically everything. You can find it in just about every grocery store. These stocks should be safe for everyone, as they don’t contain any MSG, which some people are sensitive to. 

Final Thoughts 

Chicken bouillon cubes are easy to replace if you run out! From some good old herb to canned broth and stock, to chicken bouillon cubes.

You don’t need to worry about your favorite dish being bland just because you have no granules – there is a solution to everything.

Chicken Bouillon Granules: Top 5 Substitutes

Recipe by Jenna

Looking for an alternative for chicken bouillon granules? Check out our top 5 substitutes that you can turn to when you’re fresh out of your go-to.

Course: Substitutes
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Ingredients

  • Chicken Bouillon Cubes

  • Italian Seasoning Mix

  • Canned Chicken Broth

  • Other Herbs

  • Other Stock

Directions

  • Decided on what substitute you need
  • Pick a substitute from the list above
  • Read what you need to substitute with
  • Create the recipe and enjoy

Recipe Video

Jenna
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