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Homemade Chicken Bouillon Powder – Easy Vegan Seasoning Blend

Homemade Chicken Bouillon Powder is your one-stop kitchen solution for punching up the chicken flavor in stocks, soups and stews, gravies and casseroles. Add it to rice, lentils or pasta for instant umami flavor. Or, simply dissolve it in water to make chicken broth. Plus, it’s vegan, gluten free, sugar free and dairy free!

chicken bouillon powder in an apothecary jar with a Tablespoon of chicken stock powder spilling out onto the concrete counter top.  There is a turquoise stoneware pitcher, a philedendron and and turqupise and white striped kitchen towel in the background
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I’ve been working on this chicken bouillon powder recipe for quite a while now. The goal has been to try and come up with a gluten free bouillon powder blend that has true to chicken flavor, but is also gluten free and sugar free. I wanted it to dissolve in water, to create flavorful chicken broth.

Mostly, I wanted our favorite recipes to be safe for gluten intolerant family members. But, it was important to retain the great chicken flavor in those original recipes. Because are the dishes my family loves.

I knew that nutritional yeast would be the base of my bouillon recipe. I’ve used it to develop rich flavor in gluten free and Whole30 recipes, in the past. It had to work in any recipe that called for chicken broth or bouillon. This scrumptious Zuppa Toscana is a family favorite example.

gluten free dairy free and whole30 compliant zuppa tosacana soup in a blue stoneware bowl

The trick was discovering just the right herbs and seasonings and combining them in the correct proportions. I’m so pleased with this final version of chicken bouillon powder! I feel like it really does have the chicken flavor and aroma I was hoping for. It makes an excellent chicken broth for cooking, too. I can’t wait for you to try it!

This easy chicken bouillon powder is going to become a familiar ingredient in my new recipes and I hope to go back and edit old recipes to include it, over time.

The Ingredients

Chicken Bouillon Powder Ingredients on a white plate - nutritional yeast, red sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, parsely, sage, rosemary, thyme, turmeric and black pepper
  • Nutritional Yeast (see below)
  • Good Quality, Fine Grain Sea Salt (I used red. Use whatever fine grain sea salt you normally have on hand.)
  • Onion Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Dried Parsley
  • Rubbed Sage / Dried Sage
  • Dried Rosemary
  • Dried Thyme
  • Turmeric Powder
  • Black Pepper
nutritional yeast in a bag and in a bowl

What Is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is loaded with vitamins, minerals and proteins and it’s a completely natural food. It is NOT the same thing as baker’s yeast, for making bread, or brewer’s yeast; so please don’t try to use either of those as a substitute. 

Nutritional yeast grows on sugar cane and beet molasses. Producers heat the yeast to deactivate it, after it’s harvested.

It’s a good source of B vitamins, folate and niacin. It contains 18 amino acids, 9 of which make it a complete protein. Fiber and glutathione are more beneficial components of nutritional yeast. Plus, it’s dairy-free, soy-free and gluten free.

Homemade Taco Seasoning
Homemade Taco Seasoning

I use *nutritional yeast in a lot of my recipes. Homemade Taco Seasoning is a popular one. Nutritional yeast is a wholesome ingredient I always keep on my pantry shelves. I also use it to flavor soups and stews, as well as chicken broth.

I’ve recently seen that you can buy it at Walmart, now. And, I’m guessing many local markets also carry nutritional yeast. I use quite a lot, so I typically buy it in bulk, on Amazon [affiliate link].

Nutritional yeast is a big contributor to the chicken flavor and adds to the savoriness of the recipe so you can produce the best tasting chicken broth possible.

Chicken Bouillon Powder in an apothecary jar and spilling out of a Tablespoon onto the counter

Why Make Your Own Bouillon Powder?

  1. Flavor: There is simply no comparison. Homemade bouillon has deeper flavor and uses all the herbs and seasoning you would use to roast a chicken. Your recipes will take on those familiar flavors and aromas.
  2. Salt: I can control the salt in this recipe. You can adjust the levels to your own tastes. But, don’t eliminate it. Read the FAQs below for why.
  3. MSG: Many commercial brands rely on MSG to get any flavor into their product. Unfortunately, my husband gets terrible headaches from MSG. So, having a chicken bouillon substitute that doesn’t make him ill is a HUGE bonus.
  4. Aroma: The homey, comforting aroma of the roast chicken herbs wafts out of the jar, every time I open it. And all the delicious flavor those aromatic herbs bring gets cooked into my dishes. Heavenly!
  5. Fillers, Preservatives, Chicken Fat Powder: If you read the label of commercial bouillon you might notice fillers, preservatives, anti-clumping agents, sugar and even powdered chicken fat. I don’t need those in my chicken broth and I don’t add any to the bouillon I use to make it.

chicken bouillon powder in an apothecary jar with a Tablespoon of chicken stock powder spilling out onto the concrete counter top. There is a turquoise stoneware pitcher, a philedendron and and turqupise and white striped kitchen towel in the background

FAQs About Homemade Bouillon Powder

What are the functions of salt in bouillon powder? Can I leave it out?

The Short Answer? No. Don’t leave out the salt. Here’s why.

The Long Answer: Honestly, all recipes (even sweet ones) need a little salt. And savory recipes, especially, need an adequate amount. The goal isn’t to taste salt, but to taste deeper tones of the flavors you’re cooking into your dish. Salt, in the appropriate amount, can do that.

While I agree that commercial bouillon brands can be pretty heavy-handed with salt, I have tested and retested this recipe to find a good balance. There’s enough to enhance flavor without overwhelming the food with saltiness. Remember, it will be super diluted when added to recipes.

Salt is a natural flavor enhancer. When you use small amounts, it decreases bitter flavors while boosting sweet, sour and umami. In larger quantities, salt actually diminishes sweetness, but enhances savoriness. Which is fantastic in your favorite comfort food recipes.

Salt also enhances the texture of foods, works as a natural preservative and includes essential minerals.

Of course, you should always determine the right amount of salt for you and your family. And definitely adjust the recipe to your own needs. However, I would encourage you to try the recipe, as written, before adjusting salt levels.

Hawaiann Red Sea Salt in it's commercial packaging
I had Hawaiian Red Sea Salt [affiliate link] in the pantry. Use any good quality, fine grain sea salt.
Do bouillon cubes go bad? (or bouillon powder?)

You can expect chicken bouillon powder (or cubes) to last 12 to 18 months. The flavor may weaken if you go much past 12 months, though. I use it often, so I’ve never had a batch last that long.

How to Make Chicken Bouillon Powder

Chicken Bouillon Powder in an apothecary jar and spilling out of a Tablespoon onto the counter
  1. Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender or smoothie blender pitcher.
  2. Cover the blender jar tightly with a lid and then blend to create a powder of even consistency and to fully incorporate and distribute all the ingredients.
  3. Leave the lid on the blender jar for a minute or two. This will allow the powder to settle. And, you won’t get a big puff of bouillon out into your kitchen.
  4. Seal the chicken bouillon powder into an airtight container. Store it in a cool dark cupboard with other herbs, spices and seasoning blends.
  5. To create broth with the bouillon, dissolve 1 teaspoon in 1 cup of hot water. Substitute in recipes calling for bouillon in a 1 to 1 ratio.

Recipes to Use Chicken Bouillon Powder In

You will be able to create broth/stock for recipes or add the bouillon to the recipe as an ingredient. Here are some recipes that it will work beautifully in:

I hope you’ll make this recipe, soon, and enjoy it in your own favorite family dishes. Have a wonderfully blessed weekend, Friend!!

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chicken bouillon powder in an apothecary jar with a Tablespoon of chicken stock powder spilling out onto the concrete counter top. There is a turquoise stoneware pitcher, a philedendron and and turqupise and white striped kitchen towel in the background

Homemade Chicken Bouillon Powder – Vegan


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5 from 21 reviews

  • Author: Glenda Embree
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1/3 cups powder 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Easy Homemade Chicken Bouillon Powder adds delicious roast chicken flavor and aroma to your recipes.  It’s vegan, gluten free, dairy free and sugar free.  The balance of salt to herbs to nutritional yeast creates a rich and flavorful broth to use in your favorite dishes.  Healthy and tasty!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup Nutritional Yeast
  • 1/4 cup sea salt
  • 1/4 cup onion powder
  • 1/4 cup garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup dried parsley leaves
  • 1 Tablespoon rubbed sage
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender or smoothie blender pitcher.
  2. Cover the blender jar tightly with a lid and then blend to create a powder of even consistency and to fully incorporate and distribute all the ingredients.
  3. Leave the lid on the blender jar for a minute or two. This will allow the powder to settle. And, you won’t get a big puff of bouillon out into your kitchen.
  4. Seal the chicken bouillon powder into an airtight container. Store it in a cool dark cupboard with other herbs, spices and seasoning blends.
  5. To create chicken broth with the bouillon, dissolve 1 teaspoon in 1 cup of hot water. Substitute in recipes calling for bouillon in a 1 to 1 ratio.
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 0 min
  • Category: seasoning, spice blend, soup
  • Method: cold prep
  • Cuisine: American
glenda embree

About Glenda

I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...

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