What can i use instead of chicken stock concentrate

Chicken stock concentrate is one of my favorite ways to quickly add flavor to soups and gravies.

Hello Fresh loves to use concentrated chicken stock in their recipes. It is such a simple way to add flavor and the pro chef’s at Hello Fresh know it! 

If you are trying to recreate a Hello Fresh recipe, try one of these Hello Fresh chicken stock concentrate substitutes. 

Quick Navigation

• Hello Fresh Chicken Stock Concentrate Substitutes
  • 1)Bone Broth
  • 2)Chicken Bouillon 
  • 3)Butter – Best Hello Fresh Chicken Stock Vegetarian Option
  • 4)Beer
  • 5)Gravy Granules – Best Dry Substitute for Chicken Stock Concentrate
  • 6)Vegetable Stock Concentrate
  • 7)White Wine
  • 8)Vegetable Stock
  • 9)Chicken Stock
  • 10)Mushroom Stock Concentrate
  • We Thought You Would Like
  • 11)Homemade Chicken Broth
• What is Chicken Stock Concentrate?
  • • Chicken Stock Concentrate Unique Flavor
    • Where to Buy Chicken Stock Concentrate
    • Is Chicken Stock Concentrate Healthy?
• Homemade Chicken Stock Concentrate
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
• Final Considerations

Hello Fresh Chicken Stock Concentrate Substitutes

1)Bone Broth

Bone broth is made by boiling the bones and connective tissue of chicken, beef or any other animal. It is very popular to use in soups, sauces or to just drink plain. 

Bone broth is a little thicker and more flavorful than a regular chicken broth or chicken stock. This makes it a close substitute for chicken stock concentrate. 

Replace one tablespoon of chicken stock concentrate with ½ cup of bone broth. You may want to decrease the amount of salt in your recipe since bone broth can be quite salty. 

½ cup of bone broth has about 25 calories and 4.5 grams of protein. This makes it a great low-calorie substitute for chicken stock as well. I love Dr. Kellyann’s homemade bone broth.

2)Chicken Bouillon 

Is chicken stock concentrate the same as bouillon?

Both chicken bouillon and chicken stock concentrate are condensed versions of chicken stock. However, chicken bouillon is also dehydrated. It is the dry version of chicken stock concentrate. 

Use one chicken bouillon cube to replace a tablespoon of chicken stock concentrate in any recipe. If you are using it in gravy, let it dissolve in a little hot water first. If adding it to soups or stews, just toss the cube right into the mix!  

You can also use beef bouillon or vegetable bouillon instead of chicken for a whole new flavor.

One bouillon cube has about 16 calories which means it is also a low cal substitute for chicken stock concentrate. When looking at chicken stock concentrate vs bouillion, you can easily see why they are very interchangeable. 

3)Butter – Best Hello Fresh Chicken Stock Vegetarian Option

Chicken stock concentrate is often added to foods to help add a rich, fatty flavor. You can get that same creaminess by simply using butter. 

Replace a tablespoon of chicken stock concentrate with a tablespoon of melted butter. The buttery taste is similar to chicken stock concentrate without needing any meat at all! 

A tablespoon of butter has about 102 calories and 12 grams of fat. This is much higher than chicken stock concentrate so you may want to keep that in mind when using this vegetarian substitute!

4)Beer

A simple splash of beer can really amplify the flavor of your sauces and gravies. Add about ½ cup of beer for every tablespoon of chicken stock concentrate.

This will give your soups, stews and sauces the depth of flavor you are looking for without adding any salt or animal products. 

The alcohol in the beer will quickly evaporate as your foods cook. Be sure to bring your sauce or soup to a simmer to ensure the alcohol is eliminated. 

Opt for an ale style beer which will taste the closest to chicken stock. A half cup of ale has about 46 calories and .3 grams of protein.

It is lower in protein but also contains no sodium which is a benefit. 

5)Gravy Granules – Best Dry Substitute for Chicken Stock Concentrate

Gravy granules are a great, flavorful substitute for chicken stock concentrate. Just a teaspoon of dry gravy granules can replace a tablespoon of chicken stock concentrate. 

You don’t want to use more than this because gravy granules are quite salty. They also have thickeners in the mix so too much will make your soups and stews too thick and dense.

Try adding a ¼ cup extra water when using gravy granules to make the texture of your recipes the same. 

Gravy granules can be found alongside the packages gravy mixes and jars of pre-made gravies in your local grocery store. One teaspoon of gravy granules has about 17 calories and 1 gram of protein. 

6)Vegetable Stock Concentrate

If you can find vegetable stock concentrate in a grocery store near you, grab it! This is the perfect vegetarian substitute for chicken stock concentrate. 

You can use vegetable stock concentrate interchangeably with chicken stock concentrate.

A tablespoon of vegetable stock concentrate only has 12.5 calories and 2.5 carbs. It is a great low-calorie substitute for chicken stock concentrate in addition to being a vegetarian substitute.

7)White Wine

Wine is frequently used in cooking to add flavor and richness. Add ½ cup of white wine to your recipe at the beginning of the cooking process.

This will give the flavor of the wine time to develop and let the alcohol burn off. 

You should be able to find cooking wine in your local grocery store. Head to a liquor store to get a better white or red wine that you can then also drink alongside your food. It will be the perfect beverage match!

Half a cup of white wine has 97 calories. It has a small amount of sodium and protein but not nearly as much as chicken stock concentrate.

8)Vegetable Stock

Replace chicken stock concentrate with ½ cup of vegetable stock. Try simmering the stock for about an hour to reduce it. This will make it thicker, creamier and less likely to water down your foods. 

Vegetable stock is a great low calorie substitution for chicken stock concentrate. Half a cup only has 10 calories. It also has no protein so keep that in mind while your cooking. 

If you are like me, you may be hooked on easy Hello Fresh meals. I know I am obsessed with their Tex Mex paste and their veggie concentrate is delicious in pasta dishes.

You can also use vegetable stock as a Hello Fresh veggie stock concentrate substitute. Just a quick side tip!

9)Chicken Stock

Chicken stock is one of the easiest substitutes for chicken stock concentrate. They are actually the exact same thing! Chicken stock just has more water than chicken stock concentrate.

Pour some chicken stock into a small pot and bring it to a simmer. Let the stock simmer until it has reduced by ½ or more. You just made chicken stock concentrate! 

You can use chicken stock instead of chicken stock concentrate without cooking it down as well. It will make your food more liquid. This may not be a problem for soups or gravies. 

One cup of chicken stock has about 87 calories and 3 grams of fat. It also has about grams of protein. You will need about a cup of chicken stock to replace a tablespoon of chicken stock concentrate to get the same flavor. 

10)Mushroom Stock Concentrate

Mushroom stock concentrate is a perfect vegetarian substitute for chicken stock concentrate. It is just as thick and condensed as chicken stock but made completely with veggies. 

Mushrooms have a rich, umami taste that is quite similar to the flavor of meat. It is often used to give foods the complex flavor of meat while sticking to a vegetarian diet. 

You can find mushroom stock concentrate in the soup section of your local grocery store.

Replace the chicken stock concentrate in your recipe with the exact same amount of mushroom stock concentrate. Mushroom stock concentrate has about 30 calories per tablespoon but 0 grams of protein. 

11)Homemade Chicken Broth

Can I use chicken broth instead of chicken stock concentrate? Definitely!

If you have homemade chicken broth on hand, you are just a step away from making chicken stock concentrate.

All you need to do is boil down your chicken broth a little longer until it is thick and gelatinous. Then, you can use that dense chicken broth as a substitute for chicken stock concentrate. 

Take a look at my recipe below for how to make easy chicken stock concentrate from chicken broth. 

Chicken Stock Concentrate Unique Flavor

Chicken stock concentrate is used to flavor foods naturally. The subtle flavor of chicken and spice is perfect in so many foods, from pastas to soups. 

The benefit of using chicken stock concentrate is that you get that chicken flavor without watering down your food. The thick, gelatinous texture blends right into your food. 

Where to Buy Chicken Stock Concentrate

Chicken stock concentrate can be found in many grocery stores. You can also order chicken stock concentrate to be delivered to your door. It will last for quite a long time in your pantry so be sure to stock up! 

Chicken stock concentrate is mostly sold in a jar or squeezable pouch. It comes in smaller containers than regular chicken stock since it is concentrated and a small amount goes a long way. 

Is Chicken Stock Concentrate Healthy?

Chicken stock concentrate has lots of health benefits. Here is a quick look at all the health benefits of chicken stock concentrate:

• High in iron, selenium, manganese, vitamins A and K
• Contains lots of collagen which is good for your joints and bones
• Contains the amino acid glutamine which helps improve gut health. 
• It has been shown to help improve sleep

All of these benefits are in addition to the great taste that chicken stock concentrate adds to foods! It is pretty amazing. 

Chicken stock concentrate is also a protein packed food. Look over the nutritional content of chicken stock concentrate to get a good idea what you are adding to your foods when you add a tablespoon of concentrate:

Ingredients

• 5 pounds of chicken bones
• 1 onion, peeled and quartered
• 2 bay leaves
• 16 cups water

Instructions

1. Add all of the ingredients to a large pot. 
2. Bring to a simmer over low heat. 
3. Partially cover the pot and simmer for about 6-8 hours until the mix has cooked down and is nice and thick. 
4. Strain the mix and discard the bones, onion and bay leaves. 
5. Cool the thickened liquid and then store in the fridge for up to two weeks or freeze for up to three months. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 2516Total Fat: 148gSaturated Fat: 42gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 92gCholesterol: 1066mgSodium: 882mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 272g

Final Considerations

Chicken stock concentrate is a wonderful way to easily add flavor to foods. It has a rich, meaty taste that enhances the taste of your home cooking. 

Whether you are looking for an Every Plate chicken stock concentrate substitute or wondering if you can use chicken broth instead of chicken stock concentrate, you will find the answer here! Happy cooking!

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