Beef or Chicken Bone Broth? How to Choose the Right One for Cooking

I get asked this one a lot, usually at a market stall or in my DMs: "Which one should I buy, beef or chicken?"

My honest answer is that it depends on what's going in the pot. Neither is better than the other. They just taste different, and they suit different meals. Once you know which does what, you'll stop standing in the pantry wondering and just reach for the right one.

Here's how I use them at home, and how I'd choose if I were standing in front of the shelf.

What's the difference between beef bone broth and chicken bone broth?

It comes down to flavour.

Chicken bone broth is lighter, gentler and a little sweet. It sits in the background and lets the other ingredients shine. Think of it as the broth that supports a dish without taking it over.

Beef bone broth is deeper, richer and more savoury. It has some backbone to it. It's the broth you want when the dish needs a bit of weight and a roasted, meaty edge.

That's really the whole rule. Light and delicate, reach for chicken. Rich and robust, reach for beef.

Which dishes suit chicken bone broth?

This is the one I use most, because it blends nicely with almost everything.

• Pumpkin soup. Chicken broth keeps the sweetness of the pumpkin front and centre instead of overpowering it. Blend, season, done.
• Chicken noodle soup. The classic for a reason. A good chicken broth does most of the work before you've added anything else.
• Lamb dishes. This is my favourite surprise mix. Chicken broth with lamb is a great combination. It's gentle enough that the lamb still tastes like lamb, but it adds a savoury depth to braises, stews and slow roast juices that plain water never will.
• Risotto, rice and grains. Cook them in broth instead of water. It gives every grain that extra bit of flavour.

Which dishes suit beef bone broth?

Beef broth is for the dishes that want some muscle.

• French onion soup. Non-negotiable for me. The sweetness of slow-cooked onion needs something deep and savoury to lean against.
• Pho. A beef broth base is what gives pho its richness. Add your aromatics and noodles and you're most of the way there.
• Bolognaise. A splash of beef broth in the sauce rounds out the flavour and keeps it from tasting flat.
• Gravies, casseroles and pot roasts. Anywhere you'd naturally use beef, the broth belongs too.

Our grass fed beef bone broth is made from Australian and New Zealand grass fed beef, and it's the one I reach for when I'm building a big winter pot of something.

Can you swap beef and chicken broth?

Absolutely, and I do it all the time.

The rules aren't strict. If a recipe asks for beef broth and you only have chicken, the dish will just taste a touch lighter. If it asks for chicken and you use beef, you'll get something richer and darker. Neither is wrong. It's just a different version of the same meal.

Sometimes I'll use chicken broth in a bolognaise because I like it a little brighter, or beef in a noodle soup when I want something heartier. Cook the way you like to eat. Our free-range chicken bone broth and our grass fed beef bone broth sit side by side in my pantry for exactly that reason.

Should you sip bone broth or cook with it?

Both. They're two different habits, and I do both.

Sipping is the easy one. Warm a cup and have it on its own, like a savoury tea. I like it in the afternoon when I want something warm but don't want caffeine. Chicken tends to be the gentler sip, and beef is bolder if you want something more substantial in your mug.

Cooking is where it earns its place in the pantry. Use it as the liquid in soups, sauces, braises and grains. If the recipe calls for water or stock, broth is almost always an upgrade.

Lately, I’ve been making a hot, savoury asparagus and egg “smoothie” with our beef broth. It was inspired by a recipe from chef Marco Canora, founder of Brodo, New York’s well-known bone broth bar.It's a great protein-rich snack, and I've written it up here: Asparagus Bone Broth Smoothie. (link to recipe)

When should you use a bone broth concentrate instead?

Liquid broth is brilliant when the broth is the star, like a soup or a big pot of pho. But there are times when a concentrate is simply more practical.

Our natural beef bone broth concentrate is a good fit when:

• You only need a little. A spoonful stirred into a pan sauce, gravy or mince dish adds depth without opening a whole pouch.
• You're short on fridge space. One jar covers a lot of cooking.
• You want a quick cup. Stir a teaspoon into a cup of hot water and you've got a warm drink in under a minute.
• You're on the go. It's an easy one to keep at work, in the pantry, or in the travel bag.

The ratio is simple: one teaspoon of concentrate to one cup of hot water. Once opened, keep the jar in the fridge, and use a clean, dry utensil each time you scoop.

Liquid pouch for the soup pot, concentrate for the quick fix. Most kitchens end up with a bit of both.

A simple way to choose

If you're still not sure, here's the shortcut:

• Making a soup where the broth is the main event? Chicken for something light, beef for something deep.
• Building a sauce, gravy or mince dish? Beef, or a spoonful of concentrate.
• Cooking lamb, pumpkin, rice or risotto? Chicken.
• Just want something warm to sip? Either. Pick whichever you feel like.

If you want a simple place to start, try our Italian Wedding Soup (link to https://www.thebrothsisters.com.au/blogs/news/italian-wedding-soup).It's an easy weeknight meal, and it's a good way to taste the difference for yourself.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between beef and chicken bone broth?

 Mostly flavour. Chicken bone broth is lighter and slightly sweet, so it suits delicate dishes like pumpkin soup, chicken noodle soup and risotto. Beef bone broth is richer and more savoury, so it suits French onion soup, beef pho (you can link to this recipe https://www.thebrothsisters.com.au/blogs/news/vietnamese-beef-pho-recipe ), bolognaise and gravies.

Which bone broth is best for cooking?

Both work well. Choose chicken for lighter, gentler meals and beef for rich, robust ones. They're easy to swap, and the dish will simply taste a little lighter or deeper.

Can I use chicken bone broth instead of beef bone broth?

Yes. In most recipes you can swap one for the other. Expect a lighter flavour from chicken and a deeper, richer one from beef.

Can I drink bone broth on its own?

 Yes. Many people warm a cup and sip it like a savoury tea. It also works well as a cooking liquid for soups, sauces, braises and grains.

What's the difference between bone broth and bone broth concentrate?

 Liquid bone broth is ready to heat and use, which suits soups and big pots of cooking. Concentrate is a more compact option: you stir a teaspoon into a cup of hot water for a warm drink, or add a spoonful straight into sauces and gravies.

How do I store bone broth once it's opened?

 Our pouches should be refrigerated once opened and used within five days. The concentrate can be kept in the fridge once opened. Always use clean, dry utensils.