Easy Vegan Beef Broth Powder Recipe: Shelf-Stable, Gluten-Free & Salt-Free

Plant-Based Beef Broth Powder is the perfect way for vegans to easily tweak recipes that call for beef broth or bouillon. Easy, inexpensive, and fast – count me in!

This beefy bouillon powder recipe has no animal products. Plus it’s shelf-stable, making it a great substitute for vegan beef broth.

I prefer a mason jar of my vegan beef bouillon powder over a pantry full of boxes of broth. Or worse a fridge stuffed with it.

It’s a great way to add a great base to your next delicious soup.

What is vegan beef flavored broth?

Vegan beef broth or bouillon is used to make soup and stew recipes to give that dark umami flavor without any animal products.

This vegan beef recipe is a dry powder and can be used to add flavor to many different dishes. It is made from dried mushrooms and other spices and flavorings.

My vegan beef broth powder is a vegetarian, gluten-free substitute, when you use gf rolled oats or flour, to use where ever traditional beef broth or bouillon was called for.

The ingredients of vegan bouillon or vegetable broth vary from brand to brand, but they usually contain soy sauce, liquid aminos, or tamari, mushrooms (either dried or fresh), water, salt, and other spices such as garlic powder or onion powder.

Is there beef in beef bouillon?

Traditional beef broth, stock, and bouillon all contain beef bones and scraps. So it’s not vegetarian or vegan.

Depending on the part of the US you live in you may find this product hiding in soups, stews, sauces, and sometimes even potatoes can be cooked in it.

However, it’s easy to find vegan products in the store. Look for a clearly marked vegan label and terms like beefless, no beef to find them in your local store.

Can vegans eat beef broth?

That’s a hard no! It’s made with animal products. But a vegan substitute for beef broth, like this broth powder recipe, is here for you.

Can I use any vegan broth instead of beef broth?

Yes, you can substitute a plant-based chicken or vegan bouillon cubes, broth, or powder for a beef broth substitute in most recipes.

Vegan chicken and veggie broths don’t have that dark umami that the beef substitutes do though.

I would also add in a splash of soy sauce, some mushroom powder, a little tomato paste, to up the dark, rich umami flavors if you don’t use vegan beef bouillon powder.

Can I use water instead of broth or bouillon?

You can use water instead of broth, but you’ll lose all of the extra flavors that broth brings.

In a pinch add in a splash of soy sauce, some miso paste, nutritional yeast, and other umami ingredients to add that special something to your dish.

What can you substitute for vegan beef bouillon?

Reach for that vegan mushroom broth if you are at the store, or make your own.

Better Than Bouillon has a vegan beefy bouillon you can get at your local grocery or Whole Foods, you can make my vegan beef bouillon powder, or add some mushroom powder to your dish.

Vegan beef bouillon powder ingredients

Vegan beef bouillon is a vegetarian, gluten-free substitute for traditional beef broth in your old family’s favorite recipes.

It contains no animal products and still provides a beef flavor to the traditional, non-vegetarian versions.

For the vegan beef broth seasoning, you’ll need mushroom powder, nutritional yeast, tomato powder, ancho chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, ground bay leaf (or about 1 leaf ground in your spice grinder), rosemary

Use it in vegan soups, stews, sauces, or even in stir-frys – anywhere that could use a little umami boost.

Where do I find mushroom powder?

You can order it here on Amazon, or find it in spice stores, but it is by far cheaper to make it yourself.

Just slice and dehydrate fresh mushrooms. I actually do this with large stems from shiitake mushrooms, dry them and save them for later.

You can also find whole dehydrated mushrooms. Just know that if they are bendable, you’ll have to crisp them up before you can grind them to a powder.

Can I use tomato paste in place of tomato powder?

In most recipes it’s a big yes, but since this is a dry powder that makes it problematic.

You can dehydrate tomato paste or add it and make a bouillon to freeze.

Or finally, you can use it, make a paste with the rest of the powder ingredients, then dehydrate it and grind to a powder.

But it’s easier to use tomato powder.

Where can I get tomato powder?

You can get tomato powder at spices stores, or make your own.

I hate cherry tomatoes, so I always cut them in half and dehydrate them. Then I grind them into powder. Easy peasy!

How to Make Vegan “Beef” Broth mix

Add all the mixture ingredients to a small food processor, spice grinder, or small blender container. Blend into as fine a powder as you are able to.

Store in a sealed airtight container or jar for up to 6 months.

Tips for using beef broth substitutes

You can mix the vegan bouillon powder with hot water to make a broth, but it’s easier to just add it to the pot in my opinion.

I like to sprinkle it in soups, stews – especially chilis, and add a few teaspoons to some of your favorite sauces.

You need to try it in a vegan Instant Pot French onion soup, a slow cooker mushroom-based vegetarian beef stew,

More vegan staples you need to try

• Gluten-free Vegan White Gravy Mix Recipe
• Instant Pot Jalapeno Hot Sauce Recipe
• Easy Vegan Parmesan Recipe
• Vegan Instant Pot Bouillon w/out Salt or Oil
• Vegan Chicken Bouillon Powder
• Instant Pot Vegan Yogurt 
• Gluten Free Vegan Sausage Patties
• Instant Pot Almond Milk
• Avocado Cashew Cream Cheese
• Oat Sausage Crumbles
• Homemade Almond Cashew Milk
• Vegan Coconut Bacon