How to Make Chicken Stock Without a Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I use if I don't have chicken stock for a recipe? ›

Vegetable broth: This is the most common and versatile substitute for chicken broth. It has a similar flavor profile, so it can be used in most recipes without any major changes. To substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth, simply use a 1:1 ratio.

To make homemade chicken stock, place chicken bones, vegetables, herbs and spices into a large pot. Cover with cold water then simmer for about 3 hours. Let it cool, then skim the fat. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Beer, wine, or vermouth

Need chicken or vegetable broth? Try using the same amount of dry white wine or vermouth, as The Kitchn suggests. For beef broth, they recommend using beer or red wine, in a cup for cup ratio.

If you need a chicken broth substitute, you can use the same amount of white wine or a combination of water with 1 tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter. For beef broth, combine water with 1 tablespoon soy sauce.

In most cases, stock and broth are interchangeable. If you're in the soup aisle and can't remember whether the recipe called for stock or broth, either will do for making soup, gravy, or a flavorful pot of rice or grains. Keep in mind that stock is unseasoned, and broth is seasoned.

Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh. In both cases, they are often supported with aromatic vegetables, but in the case of stock, left unseasoned for maximum flexibility in recipes, whereas broth will usually contain at least salt and pepper.

The Building Blocks of Stock

A very basic white chicken stock is a pretty simple affair: It's made with water; chicken; aromatic vegetables, like onion, carrot, and garlic; and herbs.

Stocks are prepared with a few basic ingredients including bones, mirepoix, herbs and spices, and sometimes tomatoes or wine. They are often prepared using leftover ingredients as a cost-effective measure for the kitchen.

Making vegetable stock costs virtually nothing.

You're using ingredients that you already have in the fridge, so, really, it just costs a little bit of your time to make a flavorful stock.

Fortunately, we're here to let you in on a game-changing secret: Water makes a more than acceptable replacement for chicken stock in most soups, stews, sauces, and braises. And in many cases, water actually produces a better-tasting result.

Can I use water instead of stock? ›

The simple answer is yes, it's usually okay to substitute vegetable stock with water. In most recipes that call for vegetable stock, its main advantage over water is that it provides flavor, which is especially important if you're making vegetarian or vegan food that's missing the richness from meat.

“In general, stock and broth can be used interchangeably. However, there are times when it is more advantageous to choose one over the other,” Hill admits. Because stock is made from bones, it will infuse any recipe with stronger chicken flavor than broth.

Chicken Broth Substitute: Salted Butter + Water

If you don't have broth on hand and want a little more flavor than just plain water, try subbing in 1 cup of water plus 1 tablespoon of butter for every cup of chicken broth in your recipe. The butter will help create a richer flavor than just water alone.

On a very basic level, yes, boiling a chicken carcass in water makes chicken broth. There's more to stock making technique than that though. Herbs and vegetables are added to give the broth complexity of flavor and it must be skimmed to remove impurities while cooking.

Pasta water will have some starch and flavor from the pasta. If you also boiled some vegetables with the pasta, it will have that flavor as well. Therefore, it can be great to use as a broth in soups. Instead of using vegetable or chicken stock, substitute these ingredients with leftover pasta water.

Although broth, stock and bouillon are not exactly the same, they can generally be used interchangeably in cooking. If you have the option, go for broth or bouillon when the flavour of the liquid is a key element of your recipe, and reach for stock to add new depths to a well-seasoned dish.

You can substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. If you have homemade chicken broth use it because it takes the taste of the soup to the next level. Olive oil-Is used to saute the onions but you can use canola oil or any oil of your choice. Sugar-The sugar helps combat the acidity of the tomatoes.

Chicken broth and chicken stock can be used interchangeably, but just know that chicken stock is a tad thicker and is made by boiling a mixture of bones with vegetables and seasonings as opposed to the chicken meat. Stock can be used as a 1 to 1 substitute anywhere you'd use broth.

Can I use gravy instead of stock? Sure, if it's thin like chicken gravy. Add water if needed to thin it.