From homemade chicken noodle soup to delicious skillet meals, chicken stock, chicken bouillon, and chicken base are all essential to producing that homemade taste, but with less time and effort. However, many cooks are confused as to the differences and similarities between these three essential ingredients. So let me do my best to unconfuse you.
Chicken Stock
Chicken stock is primarily made from whole chickens, veggies (like carrots, onions, and celery), and seasonings such as kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, and tons of fresh garlic. Chicken stock is the foundation for so many recipes: soups, stews, sauces, and even casseroles. Although you can certainly purchase a good-quality chicken stock from the grocery store, making it in your own kitchen is much more cost-effective and produces a stock with a deeper, richer flavor than the canned varieties.
- When I make chicken stock at home, I place all of my chicken pieces in a large pot with some veggies like carrots, celery, and onions. I add enough water to cover the chicken completely. Then I simmer this for a few hours – I never try to boil the mixture.
Chicken Bouillon
Basically, a bouillon cube is chicken, beef, or vegetable stock that has been dehydrated and shaped into a small cube. It is used to flavor soups and stews by dissolving the cubes in boiling liquid. However, bouillon cubes can be extremely salty, so if you want less salt select low-sodium varieties.
Chicken Soup Base
Chicken Base (Also Known as Chicken Soup Base)
Having a deep and rich taste, the chicken base is just a highly concentrated stock used for soups, stews, sauces, and casseroles. You can find the chicken base (sometimes labeled chicken soup base) in powder or cube form in your grocery store. It is typically sold right next to the chicken bouillon cubes. One of the most popular brands is called Better Than Boullion. Or, you can make your own and all you have to do is take some out of your freezer whenever you need it. Chicken base takes a lot more time to make than chicken stock, but the rich results more than make up for the longer cooking time.
- To Make a Chicken Base – Begin with the basic ingredients used in making a stock (whole chicken, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, water, salt, and pepper). Let everything simmer for a few hours until the liquid is much reduced and the veggies have dissolved into the rich sauce. You may want to strain before freezing or using.
Why Chicken Base is better to use Than Chicken Stock
Because chicken base is simmered much longer than stock, the flavors meld more and become much richer. There is even a difference in color. Chicken base is usually darker, much like a beef broth, while stock is pale and has a thinner consistency. Chicken base is best used when making sauces, skillet dinners, or stews. And, because chicken base has so much more flavor, and is a bit thicker than stock, its versatility far outdoes its thinner cousin.
- Though subtle, the differences between chicken base, bouillon and stock really show how each can be used in different recipes, and even how chicken base is better to use than its thinner relative, chicken stock. Also, making your own base, stock or bouillon is more cost-effective and flavorful than store-bought varieties.
A Few Ways to Use Your Homemade Chicken Base
(Note: if the copykat recipe says chicken stock or bouillon, swapping it out for chicken base will give you a tastier dish. I’ve been switching to chicken base more and more.)
- Chicken Gravy – Learn how to make it.
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Meaty soups like
- Vegetable soups, e.g., Baked Potato Soup
- Hearty Stews such as Vegetable Beef Stew
- Chicken Casseroles
- Ethnic Dishes like
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Janice says
I had always thought that chicken bouillon cubes were simply dehydrated chicken stock that had been shaped into cubes, as you describe here. However, recently I noticed that all three brands of chicken bouillon cubes that we happen to have in the house are actually labelled “Chicken Flavor Bouillon.” I was pretty dismayed, thinking that perhaps the flavor in them isn’t actually from chicken after all. I decided to research it a bit, and that’s how I came across your article/ post. So now I”m wondering, what are your sources for the information in the article? I’m just curious, because you don’t specifically say. Is it based on your background and/ or cooking training, or is it based on an online or print source that I might be able to also read?
Ruth says
Thank you for the information of the difference between the three. You made mention of helping us in the kitchen with almost everything but I was wondering if you could also come help with doing the dishes? Lol. ?
Stephanie says
I am with you on this! I hate doing dishes!
Maia Spinner says
This was so helpful. Thank you!
Lindsey says
I have a question, I have tried, unsuccessfully, to make chicken stock with just boiling the bones. I shred and freeze th3 chicken for other recipes. My question is when maki,g your own chicken base, is the chicken still good to use and freeze and do you continue to boil bone and vegetables to make the stock or base ??
Mary says
First, the chicken is fine for another use. Next, continuing to boil the bones isn’t going to make it any better. I will save my stock from cooking and wind up adding a soup base to it because it requires much more flavor. They just don’t grow chickens the way they used to; they are feed differently; therefore lighter meat and less flavor. #redibasecooking
Stephanie says
So I am late to answer this, but when I make stock at home. I use the bones, skin, and I prefer wings, or necks to make stock with. I place in a large pot all of my chicken pieces, some veggies like carrots, celery, and onion. I add enough water to cover the chicken completely. Then a simmer this for a few hours. I never try to boil this mixture.
If you want to condense this, you would remove all of the solids, and then boil out some of the water. You can reduce this “stock” by half, and then you will have a very flavorful stock.
Lita Watson says
Some people consider chicken base as a chicken stock that has been reduced over a couple of hours until the vegetables in the stock completely melt into the liquid.
Alicia says
Would you mind if I used your chicken stock image and linked back to this page as part of a post I’m doing on crock pots? Thanks! Alicia Kazsuk, VibrantHomeschooling.com
stephaniemanley says
You can use it if I get credit.
Donise Davis says
Wouldn’t linking back to your page by its very definition be giving you credit?
Stephanie says
I believe so.
Marjorie says
This recipe is filed in
Soup Recipes
Differences between chicken stock, chicken bouillon, and chicken soup base
I click on print recipe and there is none.
Tejaswini Zumbre says
I totally agree. Very very useful information. I always wondered about the differences between the 3, but unfortunately it was not so easy to find, anywhere on the internet, a straightforward explanation as is given here. I was very happy to see this.
Thanks to Stephanie for creating this beautiful site and an great idea of 一in her own words一 helping readers to recreate their favourite restaurant recipes, so that they can prepare these dishes at home!!
Good luck to you always, Stephanie! ????
Stephanie says
Thank you very much 😉
Stephanie says
There is no recipe here, this was only an explanation.
C smith says
Thank you!! This info was super helpful and clearly explained the differences.