9 Tasty Substitutes for Beef Bouillon Cubes That Add Big Flavor

As a home cook who regularly makes soups, stews and sauces, I find myself reaching for those little beef bouillon cubes quite often to add quick and easy flavor But sometimes I want to cut back on sodium, make a vegetarian dish or I simply don’t have any bouillon cubes on hand

Luckily, there are plenty of great substitutes for beef bouillon that provide tons of flavor without using the cube. In this article, I’ll share my 9 favorite options to use in place of beef bouillon.

Why Substitute Beef Bouillon?

Before jumping into the substitutes let’s go over some of the top reasons you may want an alternative to beef bouillon

Reducing sodium – Bouillon cubes tend to be very high in sodium, Avoiding them can help lower your overall sodium intake,
Making vegetarian/vegan dishes – Bouillon contains beef extracts so it’s not suitable for vegetarian or vegan cooking.
Missing ingredients – Maybe you find yourself mid-recipe without any bouillon cubes in the pantry. Time to improvise!
Adding flavor variety – While beef bouillon tastes great, it can get boring using it every time. Substitutes provide new dimensions of flavor.

9 Tasty Beef Bouillon Substitute Options

Now let’s explore some great options for replacing beef bouillon cubes while still getting that savory umami taste. I’ve organized these substitutes from the simplest swaps to more creative flavor substitutions.

1. Beef Broth or Stock

Obviously, beef broth or stock makes one of the easiest substitutions since bouillon and broth are made from similar beefy ingredients. For every 1 bouillon cube, use 1 cup beef broth or stock and reduce any added salt.

2. Chicken Broth or Stock

With its savory, meaty notes, chicken broth or stock stands in perfectly for beef bouillon’s rich flavors. For extra richness in veggie dishes, use a 50/50 mix of chicken and vegetable broth.

3. Vegetable Broth or Stock

When making vegetarian or vegan recipes, opt for vegetable broth or stock to provide deep, savory umami tones without using any animal products. Mushroom broth works great too.

4. Tomato Paste

Oddly enough, tomato paste can substitute for bouillon thanks to its concentrated, savory tomato flavor. Use about 1 tablespoon paste per cube.

5. Worcestershire Sauce

The bold umami taste of Worcestershire makes it a go-to bouillon understudy. Start with 1 teaspoon per cube and adjust amounts to taste.

6. Mushroom Powder

This natural umami flavor bomb adds loads of meaty richness. Whisk in 1 teaspoon powder per bouillon cube called for.

7. Miso Paste

Just a touch of mellow miso paste gives the same meaty depth as beef bouillon. Use about 1 teaspoon miso per cube, adding more to taste.

8. Soy Sauce

The savory saltiness of soy sauce replicates bouillon’s flavor at about 1 teaspoon per cube. Reduce added salt.

9. Tomato Juice

Surprisingly, tomato juice can mimic bouillon too. Swap 1 cup juice for 1 cube and season as needed.

Putting Bouillon Substitutes to Use

Now that you know what to reach for when a recipe calls for beef bouillon but you want an alternative, let your creativity run wild in the kitchen!

These meaty, savory substitutes make it easy to add tons of flavor to soups, stews, sauces, grains and more without using a single bouillon cube. So go ahead – try swapping in one of these options the next time a recipe calls for beef bouillon.

Let us know if you have a favorite beef bouillon substitute that we should try!

what can i substitute for beef bouillon cubes

Beef Broth or Stock

If you have beef broth or stock on hand, this can be a great substitute for beef bouillon. You can use broth or stock instead of bouillon and change the amount of salt and seasoning to your liking. This will give your dish a similar beefy flavor without the need for bouillon.

For a quick and easy substitute, soy sauce can be used in place of beef bouillon. The savory, rich taste of soy sauce can give your food more depth and a similar umami taste. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste, as soy sauce can be quite salty.

Marmite or Vegemite

When you need to replace beef bouillon with something vegetarian or vegan, Marmite or Vegemite can be a great choice. These yeast extracts have a rich, savory flavor that can mimic the taste of beef. Use a small amount and adjust to taste, as these spreads can be quite potent.

Another vegetarian option, mushroom broth can provide a rich, earthy flavor that can stand in for beef bouillon. You can also make your own mushroom broth if you have dried mushrooms on hand. Just soak the mushrooms in hot water and use the liquid that comes out of them in your recipe.

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FAQ

What can I use if I don’t have beef broth?

Like beef broth, chicken broth is a kitchen staple and makes a good substitute if you are all out of the meaty broth. This savory, salty liquid has a milder flavor than beef broth but is a good one-to-one replacement. Chicken broth also has a similar nutrition profile to beef broth, low in calories and high in sodium.

Can I use chicken instead of beef bouillon?

One Broth for Another Vegetable broth swaps more seamlessly for chicken or beef broth than chicken broth does for beef or vice versa. But, if you are in a pinch, and your recipe calls for chicken broth and all you have is beef broth, you can substitute one for the other without ruining the dish.

What can I use if I don’t have broth or bouillon?

Water. This simple swap should suffice in most recipes that call for broth. To give H2O more depth, you may want to compensate by adding more spices like salt, pepper and bay leaves to your recipe and a tablespoon or two of olive oil to mimic the richness of broth.