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This homemade bouillon powder recipe is so easy to make, super flavorful and much healthier than the store bought version. It’s naturally vegetarian but tastes just like chicken bouillon powder and can also be used as a chicken broth substitute. It’s so good! You are going to want to add this amazing spice blend to EVERYTHING!
Reasons To Love This Recipe
This is definitely one of my most used seasoning blends. I love this stuff! Here are a few reasons why…
- Easy to make: Only takes a couple minutes to mix together a few ingredients!
- Tastes like chicken bouillon: The flavor is similar to chicken bouillon powder so it makes a great substitute.
- Made from real ingredients: There are lots of junky ingredients in store bought bouillon powder. This is a much healthier version made from real ingredients. Making your own allows you to control the quality!
- Naturally vegetarian, vegan and gluten free: Although it tastes like chicken bouillon, there is no actual chicken in it! So technically it is a vegetable bouillon powder but the flavor profile really resembles a chicken bouillon powder.
- Versatile: This is one of my favorite spice blends to keep on hand. It adds incredible flavor to so many dishes. See the “Ways To Use It” section for some ideas. Can also be used as a chicken bouillon substitute or chicken broth substitute.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make this bouillon powder…
- Nutritional yeast: The nutritional yeast is the magic ingredient that provides the chicken bouillon type flavor and texture.
- Salt: I use either Himalayan pink salt or sea salt.
- Herbs and spices: Onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, oregano, basil, thyme and ground turmeric are added for flavor.
Detailed ingredient list and directions located in the recipe card below.
What is nutritional yeast?
Nutritional yeast (nicknamed “nooch”) is a deactivated form of the yeast strain known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This is the same strain as baker’s or brewer’s yeast. However, the key difference is that nutritional yeast is an inactive form and they are not interchangeable!
Don’t let the name turn you off! Nutritional yeast has a unique savory flavor which is sometimes described as a nutty, cheesy, umami flavor. I don’t find it that great straight out of the package but it is magical once mixed with salt and other spices.
How To Make Bouillon Powder
It couldn’t be easier! Simply measure out the ingredients and blend them up into a powder. Or just stir them together if you prefer. Done in a few minutes!
Blend Together: Pop all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and pulse a few times until combined and powdery.
Or Stir It Together: When I’m feeling too lazy to pull out the blender, I just stir everything together or shake it up in a jar. It doesn’t get powdery and the flavor isn’t as concentrated so you need to use more but it is still super delicious. You can see the difference in texture in the image below. It all comes down to personal preference and how you will use it.
Store In Jar: Pour into a jar or airtight container and store in a dry, cool area away from direct light. This helps to keep it fresh longer.
If blended, this recipe produces about 1 cup of bouillon powder. I like to store it in these cool Ball 8-oz wide mouth jars or a normal half-pint wide mouth jar. Chalk labels are my favorite! They are reusable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your jars. I use a chalk marker with them so that it doesn’t easily rub off but can still be washed off if I need to relabel.
Make a larger batch! You can easily double or triple this recipe which I highly recommend doing since you are going to want to use this stuff on everything!
Ways To Use It
This is a super versatile seasoning. It can be used in a number of ways to add amazing flavor to your food. Here are a few ways to use this bouillon powder…
- Chicken Broth Substitute: Just mix 1 teaspoon of the blended bouillon powder per 1 cup hot water (or to taste). For the stirred together version, you will need to use 1 tablespoon since the flavor isn’t as concentrated as the blended powder. I still prefer using homemade chicken bone broth in recipes that call for large quantities of broth like soups but this is a great substitute for all those recipes that just call for a small amount.
- Chicken Bouillon Substitute: Use it in any recipe that you would use chicken bouillon in for flavor. For example, use it to season homemade soups (like this easy beef tortellini soup) and stews or to flavor rice with. I also use it in the dressing for this Chicken Macaroni Salad and sauce for these Cheesy Potatoes.
- Use It As A Seasoning Salt: This delicious seasoning also makes a fantastic seasoning salt. Use it to add incredible flavor to your food. Season everything from veggie dishes and potatoes to pasta and stir fry dishes. Also makes a great popcorn seasoning!
- Make A Dip: Stir some into sour cream for a quick dip.
Possible Variations
The great thing about this homemade bouillon powder is that it can be customized to suit your tastes. Here are a few ideas:
- Switch up the herbs: Choose a different combo of dried herbs. You could also use dried rosemary or sage in the mix.
- Adjust spices: For example you could add black pepper or celery seed or adjust the salt to taste.
- Herbamare variation: Have you ever heard of Herbamare? It’s a herbed sea salt and a staple in my spice drawer. Sometimes I make a variation of this bouillon powder using Herbamare instead of the dried herbs and some of the salt. The recipe variation is: 1 cup nutritional yeast, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons Herbamare, 2 tablespoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon ground turmeric.
FAQ
This homemade bouillon powder will last for up to a year if your ingredients are fresh to start with and you store it in a sealed jar or airtight container. Storing in a dry, cool area away from direct light also helps to keep it fresh longer.
Most of the bouillon powder that you find at the store is filled with additives and other junky ingredients. This recipe is a much healthier version made from real ingredients!
Nope! Sorry but this is pretty much the only ingredient that can’t be substituted. Nutritional yeast is the unique ingredient that gives this recipe that chicken bouillon flavor and texture. Without it, you would basically be making a seasoning salt instead of a bouillon type powder. FYI: You can NOT substitute any other type of yeast in its place.
Did you make this recipe? I would love to hear about it! Leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram.
Homemade Bouillon Powder
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: about 1 cup 1x
- Category: Seasoning
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Add amazing flavor to your food with this homemade bouillon powder. You’re going to want to add this stuff to EVERYTHING! Easy to make, super flavorful and much healthier than store bought. It’s naturally vegetarian but tastes just like chicken bouillon powder and can also be used as a chicken broth substitute.
Ingredients
- 1 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup salt (I use Himalayan pink salt or sea salt)
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
Instructions
- Blend Together: Place all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blitz until combined and powdery.
- Store: Store in a sealed jar or airtight container for up to 1 year.
Notes
- Stir It Together: You can also just simply stir the ingredients together. It will be more textured instead of a powder and the flavor isn’t as concentrated as the blended version but it is still delicious.
- Storage Tips: Store in a sealed jar or airtight container in a dry, cool area away from direct light to keep it fresh longer. Lasts for up to 1 year if your ingredients are fresh to start with. I like to store it in these cool Ball 8-oz jars or these regular half-pint wide mouth jars. Using chalk labels and a chalk marker are a great way to label them.
- Chicken Broth Substitute: Just mix 1 teaspoon per cup hot or boiling water (or to taste). If using the stirred version of the bouillon, you will need to use 1 tablespoon since the flavor is not as concentrated as the blended version.
- Ways To Use It: Such a versatile seasoning that can be used in a number of ways to add amazing flavor to your food. See the “Ways To Use It” section in the post for ideas.
- Variations: You can easily customize this recipe by switching up the herbs and spices used. The nutritional yeast is the only ingredient that cannot be substituted since this is what provides the chicken bouillon type flavor and texture. A recipe variation that I sometimes make uses Herbamare: 1 cup nutritional yeast, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons Herbamare, 2 tablespoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon ground turmeric.
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Name brand of nutritional yeast used please
Most of the time I just purchase the bulk nutritional yeast at my local health food store (Nature’s Fare) since it has a better price point and I like the taste. However, I also enjoy Anthony’s and Bragg.
This is so amazing, LOVE the flavor!! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
I’m so happy you love it as much as I do! Thanks for coming back and leaving a review!
Can I add mushroom powder to this? I’m beginning to do mushroom foraging and want to find ways to incorporate them. Thanks
I think that would be a delicious addition and would add another layer of “umami” flavor.
I accidentally put 1tbsp each of the herbs, should I also adjust everything? Thanks in advance for answering. 🙂
If you put 1 tablespoon in of the herbs that call for 1 teaspoon, then I would just adjust the quantities of the other ingredients as well so that you maintain the same ratio.
Can I completely leave out salt as I am looking for reduced or salt free cooking to help with health issues
I haven’t tried it without salt – the combination of the salt with the nutritional yeast and the other spices is what makes it taste like bouillon. You could definitely give it a try without the salt or just cut down on the salt or make as is and use much less in your food (depending on what recommendations you have received regarding salt intake).
This is so handy! Chicken bouillon is something I use very very often in my kitchen. I’m definitely gonna make a batch of this. Thanks for this recipe, Vanessa!
P.S. I love your food photography!
You’re welcome!
I had no idea how easy this was. I had everything, but just had to buy nutritional yeast!
So easy! Enjoy:)
From a culinary perspective – love this. I’ve been doing a lot of experimenting with meat substitutes (e.g. seitan) and it’s really, REALLY great to have plant-based flavour bases. My faux-chicken has been hit or miss, so a chicken-y bouillon powder is just what I need.
From a food blogging and photography perspective, I LOVE how you shot this. It’s such a pain to make spices/powders/etc look interesting, and you really did a wonderful job here. Cheers!
Thanks Sean for such a kind comment:)
great ‘chicken’ essence bouillon powder recipe! i’m totally making myself a jar right now!
Woohoo! Glad you like the recipe:)
I’m vegan and I am more than happy with your recipe! Thanks you so much!
I’m happy to hear that! Enjoy!
So interesting! I do buy a plant based “chicken” bouillon for cooking for my vegan family members, but I never would have thought to make it myself. I can’t wait to try. It looks so simple, too!
Enjoy! It’s super easy to make and you know exactly what’s in it!
This is amazing! I had no idea you could use nutritional yeast to make bouillon powder. This is such a great alternative for vegans and I bet it tastes great for the rest of us too.
I’m not vegan but I love this stuff – it’s so good! I agree though that it also makes a great vegan and vegetarian substitute for chicken bouillon powder.