No. 01
Thrive MarketLow-sodium chicken broth
General pan sauces
The most flexible savory liquid for non-vegetarian sauces and gravies.
View merchant pageBuying guide
Best broths for pantry sauces
Broth substitutes need body, salt control, and savory depth. This list favors flexible pantry formats for quick sauces.
Picks
8 totalNo. 02
Thrive MarketVegetable broth
Vegetarian sauces
A baseline savory liquid that works across soups, sauces, and grains.
View merchant pageNo. 03
AmazonMushroom broth
Umami depth
A stronger vegetarian option when vegetable broth tastes too thin.
View merchant pageNo. 04
AmazonBeef broth
Dark gravies
Useful when color and roasted flavor matter.
View merchant pageNo. 05
AmazonNo-chicken broth
Plant-based chicken-style flavor
Helpful for vegan sauces that still need poultry-style savoriness.
View merchant pageNo. 06
AmazonBouillon paste
Small-amount substitutions
Concentrate lets cooks build broth by the tablespoon instead of opening a carton.
View merchant pageNo. 07
AmazonBouillon cubes
Shelf-stable backup
Useful for emergency pantry cooking, though salt must be controlled.
View merchant pageNo. 08
AmazonDashi packets
Fast savory broth
A good fit for Japanese-leaning sauces and soups when umami is the goal.
View merchant pageCook's guide
- Low-sodium broth gives more room for soy sauce, miso, bouillon, and reductions.
- Concentrates are useful but easy to oversalt.
- Vegetable broth is flexible, but mushroom broth brings more umami when meat stock is missing.