When you are in a pinch or just want a healthy chicken broth substitute this Chicken Bouillon Powder is the ideal staple to keep in the pantry! It is easy to make, keeps for months, and has more flavor than store bought stock.
Chicken Broth Substitute? Make Easy Bouillon Powder
The first time I tried nutritional yeast I couldn’t believe how much flavor it had and how much it tasted like chicken broth. It was uncanny! If you haven’t tried it before you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been testing this natural chicken broth substitute in all the recipes I’d normally use bouillon paste or chicken broth. It works amazingly well!
Last night was one of those nights I was in the kitchen at 5 wondering what on earth I was going to cook for dinner. All of the meat in the house was frozen and my husband was stopping home to pick up a few of the kids for dental check-ups so he wouldn’t be around to help. Thank God for the invention of the electric pressure cooker! I pulled out the Instant Pot, filled it with frozen chicken thighs, and turned to manual high for 15 minutes.
Then I sat down to nurse the toddler who promptly fell asleep on my lap. I heard the Instant Pot beep in the other room at some point but just stayed with my little one enjoying the time with my feet up while I did a little early Christmas shopping via Amazon.
When the baby woke up I took the chicken out of the Instant Pot, added some of this chicken broth powder to the cooking liquid, threw in some baby spinach, and then add back half the chicken (now shredded). The family had the choice between chicken soup and using the rest of the shredded chicken for tacos.
Considering all the soup had in it was cooked chicken, spinach, and this bouillon powder it was delicious. My husband raved about it.
How to make Bouillon Powder
To make bouillon powder you just need some herbs and seasonings, salt, and a nifty ingredient called nutritional yeast. You add all of these to a food processor and blender and blend until you have a fine powder.
What is Nutritional Yeast?
Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast, often a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is sold commercially as a food product. It is sold in the form of flakes or as a yellow powder and can be found in the bulk aisle of most natural food stores. Wikipedia
Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and protein. My mom is a vegetarian and can have trouble getting enough protein in. This is an easy way she can add a little non-animal protein to her foods.
Herbs for Chicken Soup and Chicken Broth
There are dozens of common herbs that taste nice in a chicken broth. You’ll find Rosemary Chicken Soup, Tarragon Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup with Thyme, and dozens of other recipes if you search for them. I used three of my family’s favorite herbs in this chicken broth substitute: rosemary, oregano, and basil. These are all found easily in any grocery store and are generally inexpensive. They give a nice herby taste to the broth when you make it.
How to make chicken broth with bouillon powder
Once you’ve made bouillon powder it just takes a few seconds to turn it into a broth. Simple stir some into hot water. The amount you will want will vary on how you are going to use the broth and your own taste buds. My first few tries at figuring out the ratio of powder to water made a broth that was way too salty. I cut back on the bouillon powder and it was perfect.
Recipes to use this Chicken Broth Powder:
Low Carb Broccoli Cheese Soup with Bacon
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
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Ingredients
- 2 cups nutritional yeast
- 1/3 cup salt ***
- 1/4 cup garlic powder
- 1/4 cup onion powder
- 1/4 cup dried basil
- 1/4 cup dried oregano
- 1/4 cup dried rosemary
- 2 tbsp pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until it is a fine powder.
- To make broth: use 1 tbsp bouillon powder per 8 oz hot water
sara says
AMAZING recipe!! Thanks for taking the time to post this! I’ve been doing the same thing with the chicken in the instant pot. I just boil some hot water and add in frozen rice, chicken, and veggies and then stir this and some collagen or great lakes gelatin for a super fast a nutritious meal!
Daisy says
I just made this and can’t wait to try it out in a recipe. I’ve been using Knorr bouillon for years without bothering to look at the ingredient list. I was very sad to see MSG as the second ingredient on the list… yuck! I’m super excited about replacing with this!!
Doria Sharpe says
I am so happy to come across this recipe and look forward to making it. I use to have a recipe (can’t locate it now) for a gluten free powder mix like this for the “cream of” chicken and “cream of” mushroom soups. I think I will use some of your recipe and add a gf starch or gf flour as a thickening agent. It should work fine (even if the color won’t be the same as the cans). Either way I am sure I will find lots of ways to use this mix of yours.
Karyn says
What exactly is nutritional yeast & where would i find it?
Taryn says
It is a type of yeast with a lot of health benefits. You can read more here: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nutritional-yeast
I buy it from amazon (https://amzn.to/2QwGnkX) but most health food stores should carry it.
Paula says
Congrats on your weight loss. I have last over 270 lbs myself. Stay in there worth all the trouble
Laura says
Do you think you could use this to mimic the powder in instant ramen? I’m looking for some quick soup options to keep in my desk at work.
Taryn says
Yup!
Daniel says
Where would I be able to purchase the cubes without MSG.
I DID BUY some a while ago, but I cannot see in any of the Stores without MSG.
Taryn says
I’d try whole foods or a health food store. I used to buy them at Wegman’s but it’s cheaper to make this recipe.
Brenda M Lyle says
what do you think about adding poultry seasoning to this recipe?
Taryn says
The combination of herbs here mimics the flavors of it already. It would really depend on the ingredients in the specific poultry seasoning you want to use.
Jamie says
Thia is so cool! I can’t wait to make and try this!
TD says
Hi , I cannot have yeast , will it be the same without it. Thanks TD
Taryn says
No, sorry. The nutritional yeast is what gives this a chicken broth type flavor.
Holly says
Thank you for this! Ironically I stumbled across this on the very day I ran out of my powdered bone broth! I’ll use this instead!
Dee says
This is such a welcome addition to my recipe collection, thank you! For this wondering about flavour additions when reducing onion and garlic, you might consider using the dried and powdered leaves from the tops of celery. I always dry them and have them on hand when celery is to pricey. Celery produces natural nitrates, so if you completely avoid nitrates you probably won’t want to use it, but otherwise it’s a great addition.
Laura says
I don’t avoid nitrates! I’ll try that next time, thanks. Paprika was a great addition 🙂
Candace says
This was so helpful! I am trying the keto diet and most chicken broths have keto unfriendly ingredients. I really appreciate being able to easily scale the recipe ingredients based on the number of needed portions.
Trinette says
Thanks for sharing. I am glad to find an alternative to the store bought bouillon because all of them have significant amount of MSG. I am going to give this a try.
Laura says
I don’t tolerate onion and garlic very well. I’m always on a mission for soup broth that doesn’t kill me, and I’ve been intrigued by making my own. If I reduced the onion and garlic significantly, do you have any suggestions on what to up to keep the flavour? Or what to add in? If i just reduced it, would it kill it? Thanks!
Taryn says
You could reduce the garlic and onion and increase the herbs. If you are ok with pepper I’d add a little more of that. Paprika might be nice too.
Laura says
I love pepper, and paprika is an interesting idea! I have a really nice smoked paprika…. Thanks!! I’ll play with it 🙂
khushi says
Hi. Hing (asaefetida) can be used to replace onion and garlic.
Taryn says
Interesting! I’ve never heard of that and had to google it.