Making chicken broth at home sounds hard, but it’s actually super easy with stock cubes. You can make a pot of tasty broth in just five minutes. This quick method works great when you need broth for soup, rice, or gravy but don’t have hours to cook bones.
Stock cubes are small blocks of dried chicken flavor. They’re also called bouillon cubes. When you mix them with hot water, they turn into broth that tastes almost like homemade.
Why Use Stock Cubes Instead of Real Broth?
Stock cubes save you lots of time. Real chicken broth takes three to four hours to make from scratch. You need to boil chicken bones, skim foam, and wait forever.
According to Knorr, one bouillon cube mixed with one cup of water makes chicken broth quickly. The cubes last for months in your cupboard without going bad.
Many home cooks on Reddit’s cooking community use bouillon cubes regularly. They’re cheap and give good flavor fast. Popular brands include Knorr, Maggi, and Better Than Bouillon.
Quick Summary Card
Chicken Broth (Stock Cubes)
5-Minute Prep • Budget Friendly • Kitchen EssentialStep-by-Step
-
1. Boil the Water Heat your water to a rolling boil. Hot water is essential to dissolve the fat and seasonings in the cube quickly.
-
2. Drop the Cubes Add the correct amount of cubes (e.g., 4 cups of water = 4 cubes). Be precise—too many will make the broth inedible.
-
3. Stir & Dissolve Stir for 1-2 minutes. Ensure no solid pieces are stuck to the bottom of the pot. The water should turn a clear golden-brown.
-
4. Taste & Adjust Test for saltiness. If too strong, add more hot water. If you added veggies/herbs, simmer for 10 mins and then strain.
What You Need to Make Chicken Broth?
Basic Ingredients
You only need two things for basic broth. First, get chicken stock cubes or bouillon cubes from any grocery store. Second, you need clean water.
The standard ratio is simple. Use one cube for every cup of water you want to make. If you need four cups of broth, use four cubes.
Optional Add-Ins for Better Taste
Plain cube broth works fine, but you can make it taste richer. Try adding a small chopped onion, one carrot, or two garlic cloves. These vegetables give fresher flavor.
Some cooks add dried herbs like thyme or a bay leaf. According to Moorlands Eater, these simple additions make cube broth taste more homemade.
Equipment You’ll Need
Grab a medium pot or saucepan. You’ll also need a wooden spoon for stirring. A measuring cup helps you add the right amount of water.
That’s it! You don’t need fancy tools or special equipment.
Ingredient and Ratio Table
| Broth Amount | Water Needed | Stock Cubes | Optional Veggies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 1 cup | 1 cube | 1/4 onion |
| 2 cups | 2 cups | 2 cubes | 1/2 onion, 1 garlic |
| 4 cups | 4 cups | 4 cubes | 1 onion, 1 carrot |
| 6 cups | 6 cups | 6 cubes | 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 garlic |
Ratios from Knorr and Lose It!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Heat Your Water
Put your pot on the stove. Pour in the amount of water you need. Turn the heat to high and wait for the water to boil.
Boiling water is important. According to users on Quora, hot water dissolves the cubes much faster than cold water. You’ll see big bubbles when it’s ready.
Step 2: Add the Stock Cubes
Once the water boils, drop in your stock cubes. Use the right number based on how much water you added. For example, four cups of water needs four cubes.
Be careful not to add too many cubes. The broth will taste way too salty if you do.
Step 3: Stir Until Dissolved
Use your spoon to stir the water. Keep stirring for about one to two minutes. The cubes will break apart and melt into the water.
The water will turn light yellow or golden brown. This color means your broth is ready. Make sure no cube pieces are stuck at the bottom.
Step 4: Taste and Adjust
Dip a clean spoon in the broth and taste it carefully. Does it taste too salty? Stock cubes have lots of salt already.
If it’s too strong, add half a cup more hot water. According to cooks on Reddit’s cooking for beginners, you can always add water but can’t take salt out. Taste first, then fix it.
Step 5: Add Optional Ingredients
Want better flavor? Now’s the time to add chopped vegetables or herbs. Drop them in the hot broth and let everything simmer for ten minutes.
This extra step isn’t required. But it makes cube broth taste closer to homemade broth.
Step 6: Strain If Needed
If you added vegetables, use a strainer to remove them. Pour the broth through the strainer into another pot. You’ll have clear, smooth broth.
If you only used cubes and water, skip this step. Your broth is ready to use right away.
Important Cooking Tips
Watch the Salt Level
The biggest mistake people make is adding extra salt. Bouillon cubes already contain lots of sodium. According to discussions on Reddit, cubes are basically salt bombs with chicken flavor.
Don’t add more salt until you taste the final dish. Wait until the end of cooking to decide if you need any.
Check the Package Instructions
Different brands have different strengths. Some cubes work for two cups of water instead of one. Always read the box before you start.
Knorr and Maggi have slightly different ratios. Following the package directions gives you the best results.
Use Hot Water Always
Never try to dissolve cubes in cold water. It takes forever and doesn’t work well. Start with boiling or very hot water every time.
Make It Richer
According to food bloggers at Moorlands Eater, adding a teaspoon of butter makes cube broth taste richer. The fat gives it a silky feel like real bone broth.
You can also add a splash of soy sauce for deeper color and flavor.
Ways to Use Your Chicken Broth?
For Cooking Rice
Replace plain water with chicken broth when making rice. Use the same amount your rice recipe calls for. The rice will taste amazing with chicken flavor in every bite.
In Soups
Chicken broth is the base for many soups. According to Allrecipes, you can make simple chicken noodle soup using bouillon-based broth. Add noodles, cooked chicken, and vegetables.
For Gravies and Sauces
Use broth to make gravy for chicken or turkey. Mix it with flour or cornstarch to thicken it. Pour it over mashed potatoes or meat.
In Stews and Curries
Add broth to beef stew or chicken curry for extra flavor. It makes the sauce taste deeper and more complex.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using Too Many Cubes
More cubes don’t equal better flavor. They just make everything too salty to eat. Stick to the one cube per cup rule.
Forgetting to Stir
Cubes can stick to the bottom of your pot. They might not dissolve evenly if you don’t stir. Keep stirring until you see no lumps.
Adding Cold Ingredients
If you put cold vegetables in boiling broth, the temperature drops fast. This makes everything take longer to cook. Let vegetables warm up a bit first.
Boiling It Too Hard
According to cooking experts on Lose It!, gentle simmering is better than hard boiling. Turn the heat down after the cubes dissolve. High heat can make broth taste bitter.
How to Store Leftover Broth?
In the Refrigerator
Let your broth cool down completely first. Pour it into a clean container with a tight lid. It stays good in the fridge for three to four days.
Always smell it before using leftover broth. If it smells sour or weird, throw it away.
In the Freezer
Broth freezes really well. Pour cooled broth into ice cube trays or freezer bags. Frozen broth lasts for three months.
Ice cube portions are super handy. Pop out one or two cubes when you need just a little broth for cooking.
Different Types of Stock Cubes
Regular Chicken Bouillon
This is the most common type. It has chicken flavor, salt, and seasonings. Some brands add MSG for extra taste.
Low-Sodium Options
Many brands now make lower-salt cubes. These are better if you watch your sodium intake. They still taste good but with less salt.
Organic and Natural Cubes
Some cubes use only natural ingredients without artificial flavors. They cost more but some people prefer them. Check labels to see what’s inside.
Making It Taste More Homemade
Real chicken broth has depth that cubes sometimes lack. But you can get closer with simple tricks.
Add a few chicken wings or drumsticks to your cube broth. Let them simmer for thirty minutes. The real chicken adds body and richness.
Throw in vegetable scraps like onion skins, carrot tops, or celery leaves. These give fresh vegetable flavor. Simmer everything together for fifteen minutes, then strain.
Health Things to Know
Stock cubes are high in sodium. One cube can have 800 to 1,000 milligrams of salt. That’s almost half the daily limit for most adults.
If you use bouillon often, look for low-sodium versions. Or use half a cube and add extra water. Your broth will be lighter in salt.
Cubes don’t have much nutrition besides salt. Real bone broth has protein and minerals. But for quick cooking, cubes work fine in moderation.
Final Thoughts
Making chicken broth with stock cubes is one of the easiest kitchen tasks ever. You just need hot water, cubes, and two minutes of your time.
This method won’t replace slow-cooked bone broth for special meals. But for everyday cooking, it’s perfect. You get chicken flavor fast without any fuss.
Try making some today. Use it in your next soup, rice dish, or gravy. You’ll be surprised how much flavor one little cube can give.
Now you know the secret to quick, tasty chicken broth. Keep some cubes in your cupboard and you’ll always be ready to cook.
