17 Best Substitutes For Beef Broth

Every home chef knows there are a few basic building blocks in cooking, and one of those is beef broth. Whether you use pre-packaged beef broth or homemade beef broth, you have the beginnings of a great soup or stew. But beef broth isn't only for soups. It can be reduced and used to thicken sauces and make gravies, and you can replace water with beef broth when making rice, quinoa, or other grains. It's also the perfect savory liquid for braising meats and deglazing the pan to get all the extra caramelized bits.

Beef broth's popularity crosses cuisines. It is a key player in international dishes like Vietnamese pho, French onion soup, Japanese ramen, and Italian meatball soup. This versatile base brings recipes to life, making it an excellent addition to your pantry. But what happens when you are halfway through a recipe only to realize you are out of this kitchen staple and a quick trip to the store is not an option?

Well, luckily, there are several ways you can still make a great dish using a substitute for beef broth, including vegetarian and vegan options. So whether you need to replace beef broth because you ran out or because of dietary restrictions, these beef broth substitutes can swoop in and save the recipe.

Not surprisingly, beef consommé is another excellent substitute for beef broth in recipes. Consommé is not as common as broths and stocks but is essentially made from a boiled-down stock. You can make consommé with beef, chicken, or fish, and this clear soup is commonly served in restaurants before the main course.

Beef consommé is much thicker and darker than stock and broth with a more intense flavor. The intensity of beef consommé is a result of longer simmer time and the addition of egg whites which bind with the meat as it boils and breaks apart. The egg white works its magic to collect the impurities and bring them to the top to be skimmed off by an eagle-eyed home chef. And if that sounds like too much work, canned beef consommé is readily available. Whether you use homemade or store-bought beef consommé to substitute for beef broth, you will need to add water to thin it out and mute some of the intense flavors to make it a suitable substitute.

If you are looking for a vegetarian replacement for beef broth, vegetable broth is an excellent option. Vegetable broth is made by boiling down vegetables like potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, and herbs. It won't have the same meaty depth of flavor as beef broth, but it will still work. The best way to use it as a beef broth substitute is to add more aromatics like garlic, bay leaves, and parsley which can help boost flavor. It also works as a one-to-one substitute.

Vegetable broth is inexpensive and easy to make. If you are a frugal home chef or just simply don't like extra waste, you can save your vegetable scraps for homemade vegetable broth. Save things like the ends of carrots, potato skins, and onion layers in an airtight freezer bag, and when it's full, simply boil them all in water. You can have homemade vegetable broth in no time. Freeze the vegetable broth in ice cube trays and add them to a freezer bag once the cubes are frozen. Then, the next time you need some vegetable broth, take out a few cubes for your recipe.

Liquid aminos are a condiment commonly used as a gluten-free option to soy sauce. A simple splash of liquid aminos adds a savory saltiness to any dish. While soy sauce and liquid aminos are similar — both are made from soybeans, for example — liquid aminos have less salt, making them an excellent addition to your table if you are watching your sodium intake.

The best way to use liquid aminos as a substitute for beef broth is to dilute the dark brown liquid with water. Mixing about half a cup of liquid aminos and half a cup of water can replace a full cup of beef broth in most recipes. This is a great way to substitute beef broth with a vegan and paleo-friendly savory liquid. While liquid aminos are widely available in most supermarkets, they are more expensive than other beef broth substitutes, so they might not be the best option if you are on a budget.

Surprisingly, soy sauce is a good replacement for beef broth. Similar to liquid aminos, soy sauce needs to be diluted before adding it to your recipe. Mix about a tablespoon of soy sauce into a cup of water to replace one cup of beef broth.

So the ratio is easy, but the difficult part in subbing soy sauce for beef broth is deciding which type of soy sauce. There are several different kinds of soy sauce, and they are all possible options, but the best to use in place of beef broth would be a darker soy sauce to get a richer umami flavor. You should avoid sweet soy sauce since it will contrast with the savory replacement. And if sodium is on your mind, opt for low-sodium soy sauce to keep the saltiness to a manageable level.

The dark sauce that's difficult to pronounce is a versatile pantry staple originally from India but made popular in England (via Huff Post). It is a favorite in marinades and barbeque sauces; it brings a tried and true Bloody Mary to life and takes a shrimp cocktail up a notch. This unique multi-purpose sauce wears many hats with its tangy taste that is somehow sweet, salty, and savory all at the same time, which makes it an excellent substitute for beef broth.

Worcestershire sauce should be diluted in water because the intense flavor can overpower the recipe. Keep in mind that Worcestershire sauce may only work in some recipes as a beef broth replacement. Similar to soy sauce and liquid aminos, the ideal way to dilute is roughly one tablespoon of sauce to one cup of water.

Miso paste is a vegan and vegetarian-friendly option for beef broth. Fermented miso paste is made from a combination of grains, beans, and a mold called koji, which is responsible for the fermentation process (via Washington Post). The beans or grains are mashed with koji and salt and fermented for several months and sometimes years. There are many different types of miso and they range in color and flavor intensity from a sweet mild white to a deep savory yellow to a much stronger pungent red or dark brown.

Miso is most commonly used in miso soup, but this versatile ingredient can play many roles, including as a substitute for beef broth. The best miso to substitute for beef broth is yellow or red miso due to its richer robust flavor. Compared to some of the other vegetarian options, like vegetable broth, miso paste has a deeper flavor with the tanginess that fermentation provides.

Just like you can cook with wine, beer is on the cooking menu, too. You can use beer as a beef broth substitute because it's flavorful and adds a twist. You can substitute one cup of beer for one cup of beef broth in soups, stew, and even when braising (via The New York Times). To match the dark umami flavor of beef broth, you should choose a darker beer like a porter or stout; using a lager or pilsner will do in a pinch, but it won't have the heft that better matches beef broth like a dark beer.

 The only downside to using beer is some beers have a bitter aftertaste that can compete with the other flavors in the dish. The best way to cut that unpleasant bitterness is with the addition of a sweet element like honey or a pinch of sugar. If you are sensitive to beer, consider a different beef broth alternative, because while most of the alcohol will cook off, not all of it will.

So you're out of beef broth, but chances are good you have some chicken bouillon cubes in your panty. These inexpensive little yellow cubes are a home chef's secret ingredient in many recipes. They impart a salty umami taste; you can toss one in water when making rice or pasta sauce, and use it as a flavor boost for chicken soup.

Chicken bouillon cubes are an excellent choice for a beef broth replacement. Of course, chicken bouillon cubes have their own distinct flavor, but it is similar enough to beef broth that most won't be able to taste the difference.

With bouillon cubes, sodium is always a concern since these concentrated cubes are packed with it. So you need to resist the temptation to add more — you might think you are doubling the flavor when the only thing you are doubling is the sodium. Opt for one cube diluted in one cup of warm water for each cup of beef broth you are replacing. If you're watching your salt intake, choose a low-sodium chicken bouillon cube and adjust the salt to taste while cooking.