What Are Beef bouillon cubes and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with beef bouillon cubes? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 116 recipes to put them to work.

What are beef bouillon cubes?

Beef bouillon is the plain unclarified broth that results from boiling beef, beef bones and vegetables sometimes with various seasonings.

The food industry has developed methods for solidifying the extracts which are then compressed into beef bouillon cubes (or simply beef stock cubes) that are mixed with water to obtain an instant beef stock.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Food group: Beef bouillon cubes are a member of the Soups, Sauces, and Gravies US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

牛肉肉汤立方体

British (UK) term

Beef bouillon cubes

en français

cubes de bouillon de bœuf

en español

cubos de caldo de res

How much do beef bouillon cubes weigh?

Related

Soups, Sauces, and Gravies

Recipes using beef bouillon cubes

There are 116 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cabbage & ground beef

A simple, tasty and heart-warming recipe for winter days.

Mom's Chocolate Chili

Beef chili with kidney beans, tomato puree, green chiles and a finishing stir of bittersweet chocolate. Mole-inspired depth from cocoa balances the heat. A 1-hour one-pot weeknight dinner.

Butterfield Stageline Chili

Butterfield Stageline chili: hand-chopped brisket and ground pork simmered slow with green chiles, tequila, beer, and toasted spices. Texas-style crowd feeder.

Beef Soup with Lemon Grass (Canh Thit Xao Sa)

Canh Thit Xao Sa: a fragrant Vietnamese beef soup with lemongrass, fish sauce, shallots, and garlic, topped with fresh coriander and scallions. Light, aromatic, and ready in minutes.

Crock Pot Chili Con Carne

A succulent crockpot dish that is made with beef and kidney beans.

Hungarian Beef & Barley Stew (Instant Pot)

Hearty, rich, flavorful, and so easy to make. No Instant Pot. No worries, the stovetop method is included. And the bang for the buck on this barley beef stew recipe for inflationary times checks all the boxes.

Jagerschnitzel

Very thin pork cutlets with a rich and creamy sour cream and mushroom sauce. I serve this with sweet and sour red cabbage and parsleyed red potatoes. Guten appetit! Mahlzeit!

Pete & Shannon's Damn Good Chili

Pete and Shannon's chili simmers ground beef and hot breakfast sausage with kidney beans, beer, barbecue sauce, jalapenos, and chili powder for 4 hours into a smoky, meaty bowl. A football-watching weekend pot.

Favorite Skillet Beef Stew

A stove-top beef stew recipe. Nothing beats a hearty, savory beef stew that warms you up a cold day and satisfies your hunger.

Beef Jardiniere

Beef Jardiniere is a comforting, one-pot dish featuring tender chunks of beef slow-cooked in a rich tomato-based sauce with sweet carrots and vibrant peas. This stove-top recipe is simple yet deeply satisfying, ideal for a cozy family meal served over egg noodles or rice.

Savory Vegetable Soup

Savory vegetable soup simmered low and slow with tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beans, corn and mushrooms in a rich bouillon broth. A fat-free, pantry-friendly pot that tastes better the next day.

Ho'O Kanaka Stew

Ho'o Kanaka Stew, a traditional Hawaiian beef and vegetable stew thickened with poi. Salt pork, chuck, cabbage, and tropical staples in one rustic pot.

Bacon Beef Tenderloin

Everything tastes better with bacon. Needless to say when bacon meets beef tenderloin, it's an ultimate combination. We made this during the weekend, it was delicious.

Carolina Style Polenta

Carolina-style polenta made from corn grits cooked creamy and slow, enriched with butter and bouillon, then sliced, coated in cracker crumbs, and pan-fried until golden and crispy.

Celery Sukiyaki

Celery sukiyaki with thin-sliced flank steak, water chestnuts, and onions simmered in a savory soy-ginger broth. Serve over rice for a fast weeknight stir-fry.

Easy French Onion Soup with Croutons

Easy French onion soup uses both chicken and beef bouillon for layered savory depth, then tops the bowl with garlic-Parmesan toasted croutons. A 40-minute weeknight version of the bistro classic, no oven gratineeing required.

Bruce's Favorite French Onion Soup

Bruce's favorite French onion soup simmers Spanish onions in a beef and chicken bouillon broth with garlic, brandy, and Worcestershire, then bakes under a blanket of croutons and melted cheese. A bistro classic.

Cabbage Soup#1

Simple cabbage soup with tomato juice, carrots, onion, and beef bouillon simmered for an hour. Low-calorie, low-sodium, and just one pot to clean.

Shrimp Newburg

Cajun-style shrimp Newburg in a creamy white sauce with pimentos, Worcestershire, beef bouillon, dry mustard, and a kick of hot sauce. A rich, savory shrimp dinner with Southern flair.

Spicy Black Eyed Pea Soup

Spicy black-eyed pea soup with bacon, jalapenos, tomatoes, and melted Swiss cheese in a beef bouillon broth. A smoky, cheesy, and spicy Southern-inspired bowl.

Master French Onion Soup

Slow-cooker French onion soup with caramelized onions, beef bouillon, and toasted French bread topped with melted Parmesan. The classic Parisian bistro soup, hands-off.

Hot Spicy Tomato Warmer

Hot spicy tomato warmer heats V8 juice with a beef bouillon cube into a savory, brothy, cozy mug. A two-ingredient hot drink ready in minutes, like a warm, alcohol-free take on a bloody mary.

Bar-B-Que Beef Sandwiches

Slow cooker BBQ beef sandwiches with shredded chuck roast in a tangy tomato sauce, brown sugar, and mustard. Fork-tender and crowd-ready on buns.

Cabbage Tomato Soup

Lean cabbage and tomato soup simmered with carrots, onion, and beef bouillon for an hour, a pantry-friendly low-fat brothy bowl that comes together with seven ingredients.

Venison-Beef Stew

Venison-beef stew combines wild game and beef with potatoes, carrots, celery, and peas in a rich broth. A hearty hunter's stew that simmers low and slow for tender results.

Joyce's Shepherd's Pie

Ground beef simmered with carrots, onions, and oatmeal creates a hearty filling beneath fluffy whipped potatoes in this comforting family casserole.

Garbanzo Soup

Garbanzo soup with chickpeas, elbow macaroni, and dried mint in a savory beef broth. Topped with Parmesan and parsley for a hearty one-pot meal ready in 45 minutes.

Italian Beef with Rump Roast

Chicago-style Italian beef with slow-roasted rump roast sliced paper-thin and simmered in garlicky pan drippings. Served on crusty Italian rolls for authentic sandwiches.

Rib Roast with Garlic Crust

Standing rib roast with a roasted garlic and parsley crust, served with tarragon carrots, browned butter parsnips, roasted onions, and red wine au jus. A holiday showpiece.

Sweedish Meat Balls

Swedish meatballs in a creamy allspice-spiked gravy made from beef bouillon, evaporated milk, and a touch of lemon. The retro homestyle version that lands over buttered noodles.

Ozark Mountains Stew

Ozark-style beef stew slow-simmered with chili powder, cinnamon, cloves, and dried red peppers. A spicy, warmly spiced mountain stew with potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes.

Beef & Brown Rice Stew

Oven-braised beef and brown rice stew with crushed tomatoes, green beans, and warm spices like allspice and chili powder. A hearty, hands-off dinner that simmers to tender in a Dutch oven.

Granite Brewery's Beer & Beef Stew

Beer and beef stew from Granite Brewery with cubed beef, root vegetables, Dijon mustard, and a dark chocolate-brown roux. A pub-style stew thickened with a proper French roux.

Marinated Italian Beef Eye of Round

Italian beef eye of round marinated in vinegar, Worcestershire, and oregano before roasting. Sliced thin and served on poorboy buns with savory au jus sauce.

Kohl's Oriental Stir Fry

Beef stir fry with mushrooms, bean sprouts, snow peas, green beans, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts in soy sauce. A loaded wok dinner served over rice or chow mein noodles.

Kate's Minestrone Soup

Hearty minestrone soup packed with potatoes, green beans, cabbage, spinach, zucchini, and kidney beans. Served with orzo pasta and grated Parmesan in every bowl.

Pasta Pomodoro

Slow-simmered Italian tomato sauce with whole garlic cloves, beef bouillon, and optional bacon. This classic Pasta Pomodoro cooks for 2 hours until thick and rich, tossed with elbow macaroni and Parmesan.

Meat Ball Chowder

Hearty meatball chowder with walnut-sized beef meatballs, potatoes, carrots, rice, and Mexicorn in a tomato-beef broth. A big-batch soup that feeds a crowd.

Round Steak Deluxe

Round steak deluxe braised in garlic-scented beef bouillon with cherry tomatoes, green bell pepper rings, and pimento-stuffed olives. A budget cut turned tender, Mediterranean-leaning, and ready in an hour.

Pork Chops with Rice

One-pan pork chops baked over rice with cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix. The rice cooks right in the dish, absorbing all the savory drippings.

Spicy Rice Casserole

Bulk sausage, cumin, jalapeño, and wild rice blend come together in this quick skillet casserole. Ready in 30 minutes for a hearty weeknight dinner.

Savory Stuffed Cabbage

Stuffed cabbage rolls filled with lean ground beef and rice, simmered for nearly two hours in a sweet-savory tomato sauce with Worcestershire and brown sugar.

Pork Chops in Cream Sauce

Pork chops simmered in a sweet-savory sauce of brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, and beef bouillon, finished with a sour cream gravy. A comforting, old-school braised pork chop dinner.

Chili with Pinto Beans

From-scratch beef chuck chili with dried pinto beans, blended vegetables, tomato paste, and a slow 3-hour simmer. A big-batch recipe built for deep, layered flavor.

French Dip Sandwiches (Slow Cooker)

Set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker French dip with tender beef roast simmered 10-12 hours in savory broth with herbs and peppercorns. Shred, pile on toasted rolls, dip in the au jus. Effortless comfort.

Pot Roast, Italian Style

Italian-style pot roast is a beef chuck braised for three hours with soffritto, tomato paste, red wine, and Italian herbs. Sliced beef plus pasta sauce over spaghetti, feeds eight.

Crockpot Swiss Steak No. 3

Give the barbecue a rest and use the crockpot to create this savory dish that is perfect for the summer.

Not Just Regular Beef Stew

Not Just Regular Beef Stew: a refined version with seared tenderloin cubes, red wine, clove-studded onion, and grated potato as a natural thickener. Pearl onions and fresh parsley finish.

Oma Pantke's Gruen Bohnen-Eintopf

Oma Pantke's gruene bohnen-eintopf: a traditional German one-pot stew of simmered stewing beef, green beans, and mashed potatoes thickened right in the pot. Grandmother's comfort cooking for six.

Sausage Cabbage Soup

Italian sausage and cabbage soup with zucchini, spaghetti sauce, and beef bouillon. A hearty, rustic one-pot soup ready in 40 minutes, topped with grated Parmesan.

All 116 recipes