This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
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 or this cabbage ground beef 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.
⬇ PIN it for later! ⬇
Made this one smells delicious! How would you make a beef boullion?
I haven’t played around with a beef version so unfortunately I don’t have a recipe to share with you. My initial thoughts are that it would need to include some ground dried mushrooms for a “beefy” flavor profile.
This is a really good homemade bouillon. I use it all the time. I usually increase the ratio of garlic and onion powder and omit the basil and parsley (just because those are things that I don’t keep on hand routinely). I also often add some ground mustard to add additional depth to the flavor. Regardless, this is a fantastic option.
I’m so happy that you love it and that you are playing around with it to suit your tastes and what you have on hand (it’s so easy to customize!).
I am very thankful to have found this recipe and can’t wait to try it. My husband is allergic to chicken, beef, and celery. This is just perfect for us!
I hope you love it as much as we do!
This was really good! I was looking for a “ramen seasoning” substitute. This absolutely fit the purpose! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! My teens make ramen with it all the time as well – so much better than those packets!
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have a metabolic disease and have to be careful regarding additives – which most powdered soup bases have. I have made this so many times and now give it as gifts to friends. I’ve started dehydrating big bags of mixed vegetables, powdering them and making vegetable bouillon with this as the base. When I’m craving a late night snack, I put a tablespoon in a mug and cover with boiling water for a shippable broth. This is really a good recipe!
Love the idea of adding the powdered dehydrated veggies! I’m so happy you enjoyed this bouillon powder (it’s a staple at my house!).
Is this the same yeast that you make bread with? I would love to make my own chicken bouillon.
Thanks for the question! You definitely DO NOT want to use the yeast that you make bread with – it would not taste very good. You need to get something called “nutritional yeast”. It’s an inactive form of yeast that looks kind of flaky and yellow-ish. It’s the special ingredient that makes this taste and look like a bouillon powder vs a seasoned salt. You can find it in most large grocery stores (sometimes in the “health food” section), health food stores or online.
Excited to try this homemade version. Is the salt you use a coarse or fine grain? Thank you.
I use fine salt when I make it. Enjoy!