Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks: Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base
This Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base is my favorite product to use when I want to add more chicken flavor to a recipe. And this product is something I always have in my fridge!
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For many years I’ve been a fan of making homemade chicken stock, and I love the way making stock leaves the whole house smelling great, and I also think homemade chicken stock really makes a difference in the flavor in many recipes. I save chicken scraps in the freezer and every so often I make a big pot of stock and freeze it.
But I know there are people who think making stock is just too much trouble, and there are also times when you only need a small amount and it’s not worth thawing a container of stock from the freezer or opening a carton of the Kirkland Chicken Stock (affiliate link) that’s my choice when I’m buying it.
That’s when I’ll reach for this Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base that’s a product I always have in my fridge. And I’m not always a homemade stock purist; I’ll add a bit of this chicken soup base to my bubbling stock when I don’t have enough chicken scraps.
Why do I like Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base so much?
I’ve tried a lot of different brands, but Better Than Bouillon is my hands-down favorite for chicken soup base. It comes in a large jar that lasts forever, and a small amount adds a lot of real chicken flavor. (I always try to get the low-sodium version, and it’s even organic which I think is a sign of quality in a product like this.)
Where do I buy Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base?
I’ve been loving this product even more now that I’m buying it at Costco, where sometimes they have the extra large size jars you see in these photos. But you can find this in most grocery stores or buy Better than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base (affiliate link) from Amazon.
Is Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base Gluten-Free?
Shirley from Gluten Free Easily tells me that Better than Bouillon no longer guarantees their products are gluten-free and on their website Better Than Bouillon confirms that their products are made in a facility that stores wheat, so this product may not work for people who have to avoid gluten. (I have tried to make a note of that on recipes where I’ve tagged the recipe gluten-free, but I could have missed some since I didn’t know this for many years.)
Some Favorites Recipes that Use Chicken Soup Base:
I use this product so often, I can never list every recipe where I’ve used it! But here are some favorites through the years.
- Chicken Pesto Soup
- Low-Carb Colcannon Recipe with Bacon
- Chicken Soup with Collards and Lemon
- Amy’s Amazing White Chicken Chili
- Greek Lemon Rice
- Greek Chicken Salad with Peperoncini
- Sandee’s Asian Chicken Cabbage Salad
More Favorite Products from Better than Bouillon:
- Better than Bouillon Organic Vegetable Base (affiliate link)
- Better Than Bouillon Beef Base (affiliate link
- Better Than Bouillon Mushroom Base (affiliate link)
- Better than Bouillon Turkey Base (affiliate link)
More About Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks:
I purchased the Better than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base myself and the company has no idea that I’m featuring their product on my blog. All items featured as Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks are things I would happily buy over and over, and I don’t accept review products of any kind from the many companies who offer to send them to me. You can see my other kitchen and food picks at the page for Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks.
39 Comments on “Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks: Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base”
I’m a vegetarian, and I can vouch for their roasted vegetable and mushroom varieties. I think they might even have a “no chicken” variety. Really love that a jar lasts so long and allows you to portion out as much or as little as you need for a recipe. The jar says use 1 tsp per 8 oz water, but I usually cut that in half.
Yes! I always have that one in my fridge too.
I am also a fan of Better than Boullon products and have been using the product for years. I do make soup from scratch and love my homemade broth but BTB is also cost effective compared to boxed broth.
I am a great fan of yours, and think you do a great job with recipes, substitutions and products. I finally ordered SPIKE w/out salt and it has become a regular staple.
Thanks for all your expertise.
Bernice
Thanks for the very nice feedback on this and on my site in general!
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Chicken base is the best! I see that it offers a darker color and a thick consistency making it the ideal choice for making gravies, sauces, stews, chowders, noodle soups, and skillet meals.​
Good day. Living here in the Philippines and I cannot find this product being sold here. Hoping it can be bought here also.
Don't know if you can order from Amazon.com but I think you can get it there.
I honestly don't know, so if you are sensitive to MSG maybe you can find that information on their website.
Are you sure there is no MSG in this product? The label says it contains "yeast extract" which I think is just another name for MSG.
Thanks Aggie!
I've been using this same chicken base for a while now too Kalyn! I love it – and so cost effective with that Costco size. I'm linking to this great review in a soup recipe I'm posting today. Thanks 🙂
I went to my local produce store and found the BTB chicken base, but they didn't have the "reduced sodium"…I went ahead and bought it because I am sure it's better then the stuff I have been using. I will definitely order the "reduced sodium" online next time if I still can't find it locally.
People who don't think this is a healthy product certainly shouldn't use it, but I'm not going to publish comments criticizing my food choices.
Sorry but no idea on that since I use this brand. I would check the labels.
I've used this product for years and just now realized it has sugar and corn syrup in it. I realize it's probably just trace amounts, but I'm trying to eat low carb so this is a bit of a concern. Do you have a recommendation for a chicken stock that doesn't contain any sugar? Thanks!
Rebecca, I'd definitely buy this online if my Costco stopped carrying it; love this product.
How lovely to find a review of this—thank you! I haven't yet found it locally (Minnesota), so I must purchase on-line just to give it a try. 🙂
Thank you!
Luana, if you're wanting less sodium, I think you will really like it.
Carrie if you're asking whether I know the shelf life of Better Than Buillon (Kalyn is my name, not the name of the product), no I don't. I don't see a lot of preservatives in the ingredients list though, and it does need refrigeration. (And I almost want to laugh because a jar of this would last me a few months, if that.)
According to McCormicks website McCormick's chicken base has a shelf life of 3 years if stored in the refrigerator properly. Do we know the shelf life of Kalys's? Thanks
So glad to hear there's a lower-sodium version of this. I've been using it for years and love it, but lately have not used much because the regular BTB is high in sodium. I'll look for this next time I shop.
Amanda, so glad to hear that the instructions for making beef stock are helpful for you. I actually had the idea to post that after my brother Dave told me he wanted to make beef stock and he asked me how I did it!
I personally like making my own. I will admit that I have never added soup base to my broths, but if you are going to add one I guess an organic one would be the one to use! I don't think I've seen this brand, i will have to keep my eyes open for it.
On another note, I recently needed to use up several beef scraps and some very fatty beef short ribs as I'm picking up my side of beef today (needed room in the freezer). For the second time now I followed your instructions for making beef broth. I have 31 cups of beef stock in the freezer now LOL I was happy to find your instructions as I have always known how to make chicken stock but hadn't done beef until many months ago when I found that post 🙂
I love to make stock, but also use this if I just need a little bit and don't want to make/thaw out a whole batch. I haven't seen the low-sodium kind, so I'll have to look for that. I buy mine at Safeway, near the canned chicken broth.
Helene, thanks for sharing. (Me too!)
I tried this product and now buy it all the time. I like it a lot.
Frieda, I used to buy the McCormicks brand too, but this is so much better tasting! It's more expensive, true, but there's no comparison on the flavor. Maybe I don't care as much about the cost, because I usually make my own stock, so I'm only using a bit of this in each batch.
I love the McCormick's chicken base and have been using it regularly, especially in my Mexican dishes. I don't like the high sodium. I was excited to see this new chicken base in Costco, but was discouraged by the price!
Greg, I'm betting you'll like it!
YVRMike, I don't know if Costco in Canada will have it, but Better Than Bouillon products are pretty widely available on the web.
Janet, thanks for the report on organic chicken, I have no doubt that they're better.
Thanks for mentioning this. I usually make my own stock but like to have some cans of organic chicken stock on hand. I freeze some of my homemade stock in ice cube trays and then empty them into a plastic bag for the freezer. No need to thaw a quart when you only want a small amount. As for organic chicken….since I had to interview a contract chicken farmer for a health study I have never eaten a non organic chicken. The factory farmed chickens (yes, even those delicious ones ay Costco) are full of growth hormones and antibiotics which are necessary so the chickens don't become ill in their crowded, horrid conditions. I live alone so I will spend a bit more for organic chicken. Ditto for pork. Janet
I haven't used this product but hope its available in Costco Canada. A lot of you have given it the thumbs up, so I have to try it!
Like Kalyn, I will make a chicken stock from scratch, but many times I need to get from A to B as quickly as possible and will use chicken soup base products.
I just bought some of this {at Costco} but I haven't cracked the lid yet.
I make my own when ever I spatchcock a chicken or turkey but I do need to supplement the homemade stuff.
Jeannette, I agree, this is the best tasting chicken base I've found.
Barbara, I need to find the vegetable base made by BTB. I don't think I've tried that. (BTW, how lovely to be living in Italy!)
Nupur, I have the mushroom base too, and love it! Such a great way to add a bit of flavor to so many things.
Lauren, there is no MSG in this. It's made with all natural ingredients, all certified organic.
Bert, I've used the Penzeys soup base and do think they have good flavor. (I especially like their turkey base!) But Penzeys has 630mg sodium in 3/4 tsp., while this product has only 350mg sodium in a full tsp. so the difference is considerable.
Dara, it's on the spice aisle in Costco. I've seen it in the Bountiful Costco and also the one on 1800 South 300 West where I usually shop.
Kalyn, thanks for this review. I haven't spotted this at Costco, but will definitely keep an eye out for it. Is it in the aisle with the canned soups? As for stock, I make homemade stock whenever I can. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen nearly as often as I would like.
I always keep a quart or two of homemade chicken stock in my freezer in the basement. But, there's always a couple of cartons of Kitchen Basics no-salt chicken stock in the pantry as well. I'm like you, Kalyn, and I'll "boost" the flavor of a homemade stock, if I think it needs it. I have used Penzey's Chicken Base for that purpose. I have to watch sodium content like a hawk, though, so I don't go overboard with these kinds of products.
Thanks for the product suggestion, Kalyn! Will have to look for it. Does it contain MSG?
I'm a student, so organic boullion cubes are the only way to go for me! It'd be great to get into broth making someday. Such a nourishing, frugal practice!
I love Better than Bouillon too. I always have their mushroom stock on hand (I don't eat meat) and find that it adds wonderful flavor wherever vegetable stock is called for.
Sounds like we're on the same page. I too love to make stock, but then I have to have enough freezer space to store it, and sometimes when I just need a small amount I don't want to thaw out a large batch. This is when the BTB really comes in handy! I also use the BTB Vegetable base exclusively when a recipe calls for vegetable broth. Living in Italy means that I have to make sure I stock up when I visit the states, but BTB is always on my list!
I LOVE this product. It's so much more cost effective to use this base over buying cans of chicken broth – not to mention it taste a million times better. I had to buy an "off" brand the last time and it doesn't come close to the flavor of this product!