What Are Beef bouillon granules and How Can I Use Them?
Wondering what to do with beef bouillon granules? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 66 recipes to put them to work.
Key Points
- Beef bouillon granules are pourable dried beef concentrate that dissolves into instant stock fast.
- Being pourable, you dose them by the teaspoon, unlike a one-size beef bouillon cube.
- Standard strength is about 1 teaspoon per 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water.
- They are very salty, so add little or no salt and taste before adjusting.
- Store sealed in a dry pantry; they clump if they pull in moisture.
What are beef bouillon granules?
Beef bouillon granules are concentrated beef flavor dried into a loose, sandy powder. Stir a spoonful into hot water and you have instant beef stock, no simmering and no bones.
The granules are the same idea as a beef bouillon cube, just in a pourable form. That difference is the whole reason to keep a jar around.
Because they pour, you measure them by the teaspoon and dial the strength exactly, instead of being locked into one cube at a time. They dissolve faster than a cube too, and they melt straight into a dry rub or a dish without a puddle of water.
The catch is the same as for any bouillon: they are very salty.
How to Use Them
The standard dose is about 1 teaspoon of granules per 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water for a stock-strength liquid. Stir until it dissolves, then use it anywhere beef stock belongs.
Where granules really earn their place is seasoning without liquid. Sprinkle a half teaspoon dry into ground beef or a pot of gravy and it deepens the meatiness with no extra water to cook off.
That dry trick carries the $20,000 Prize-winning Chili and a pan of Mama Delilah's Beef Stroganoff.
For soups and braises they are the obvious shortcut. A spoonful builds the broth for a Ground Beef Barley Soup or the savory base under a Beefy Pasta Casserole in seconds.
The Salt Rule and Other Cautions
This is the one thing to get right. Beef bouillon carries a lot of salt, so a dish built on granules needs little or no added salt of its own.
Season at the end, not the start. Add the granules, let everything cook, then taste before you reach for the salt.
Most of the time it will not need any.
Go easy with the spoon. It is tempting to add more granules for more beef flavor, but past a point you just get salt and a slightly bitter, processed edge instead of richness.
If sodium is a concern, look for a reduced-sodium jar, or use less and bump the savory notes with a splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce instead.
Substitutes
The closest swap is a beef bouillon cube. One cube equals roughly 1 teaspoon of granules, so crush it and use it spoon for spoon. Beef base, the soft paste in a tub, is even richer and swaps in at about the same rate.
Real or boxed beef stock is the better-tasting stand-in when you have it, just hold back salt since it is far less concentrated than granules.
In a pinch, a different bouillon plus a dash of soy sauce covers the savory gap, though the flavor shifts away from beef.
Buying and Storing
Granules come in jars or foil packets and live a long time in the pantry, easily a year or more, well past the few days a fresh stock lasts. Check the best-by date, but flavor fades long before they spoil.
Keep the jar tightly closed. Granules are hygroscopic, so they pull moisture from the air and clump into a hard cake if left open in a steamy kitchen. A dry spoon every time keeps them pourable.
A clumped jar is not ruined. Break it up and use it as normal, though dosing by the teaspoon gets less precise once it cakes. For the bigger picture on stock and bouillon, see the main stock page.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup (8 fl oz) (8g)Quick facts
Where to find beef bouillon granules: Beef bouillon granules are usually found in the soups section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Beef bouillon granules are a member of the Soups, Sauces, and Gravies US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 牛肉清汤颗粒
- British (UK) term
- Beef bouillon granules
- en français
- granules de bouillon de bœuf
- en español
- gránulos de caldo de res
How much do beef bouillon granules weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup (8 fl oz) | 8 grams |
| 1 teaspoon | 2 grams |
| 1 cube | 4 grams |
| 1 packet (6 fl oz prepared) | 6 grams |
| 1 portion, amount of dry mix to make 8 fl oz prepared | 8 grams |
Related
Soups, Sauces, and Gravies
Recipes using beef bouillon granules
There are 66 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Blender Broccoli Soup
A creamy chilled broccoli soup blended silky smooth with milk, half-and-half, and a hint of nutmeg. Ready in 30 minutes with just a blender, a saucepan, and a handful of ingredients.
Lemon-Herb Lamb Roast
Lemon herb lamb roast rubbed with lemon zest, rosemary, and thyme, served with a tangy yogurt pan sauce. Boneless leg of lamb roasted to a rosy medium for Easter or Sunday supper.
Broccoli Cheddar Beer Soup
Broccoli cheddar beer soup builds a thick roux-based pot with two pounds of melted cheddar, beef stock, and a splash of beer stirred in just before serving. Pub-style soup at home.
Kielbasa & Cabbage
An easy, inexpensive yet tasty one pot hearty meal that uses polish sausage, cabbage, apples seasoned with fennel seeds. Could easily be adapted for a slow cooker or crockpot.
Beefy Pasta Casserole
Affectionately dubbed "Papa's Ground Beef Casserole." This ground beef casserole with pasta is super easy to make using your slow cooker or Crockpot. A staple in our home and didn't last very long.
Ground Beef Barley Soup
A hearty and comforting classic beef and barley soup that's very easy to make.
Minnestrone Soup
Hearty ground beef minestrone soup with kidney beans, carrots, green beans, lima beans, and pasta shells in a beefy tomato broth seasoned with Italian herbs.
Middle Eastern Stew
Middle Eastern lentil stew with potatoes, zucchini, and cumin - 189 calories per serving, 14 grams of fiber, less than 1 gram of fat. Hearty, filling, and budget-friendly.
Beef with Spaghetti
Tender beef cubes braised in a from-scratch garlic tomato sauce with red wine, then spooned over spaghetti. Slow-cooked in a Dutch oven for 3 hours of deep, saucy flavor.
Dorothy Flatman's Beans & Ham ( Revised
A set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker recipe with dried pinto beans, diced ham, carrots, celery, and a double-bouillon broth. Eight hours on low gives you thick, smoky, soul-warming beans.
Italian Pot Roast
If you're tired of making the same old dinner with the same old taste, then you have to try this succulent pot roast!
Redibase Beef & Barley Soup
Hearty beef and barley soup with tender chuck cubes, pearl barley, potatoes, carrots, celery, tomatoes, peas, and mushrooms. A one-pot meal scented with paprika and marjoram.
Summers End Stew
Hearty beef and vegetable stew loaded with tomatoes, potatoes, corn, green beans, peas, and summer squash. Simmered low and slow in a Dutch oven, this feeds a crowd of 10.
Rigatoni a la Vodka
Rigatoni alla vodka with bacon, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and butter in a rich pink sauce. A creamy, smoky Italian-American pasta that comes together in under 45 minutes.
Spicy Beef Tostadas
Thin-sliced flank steak stir-fried with zucchini and scallions in a thick salsa sauce, served in crispy baked tortilla cups topped with melted Monterey Jack. A lighter take on tostadas the whole family will love.
Loaded Turkey & Pinto Bean Chili
Lean turkey and pinto bean chili with bell peppers, jalapeño, and chili powder. Hearty pot of chili in an hour with cooking spray instead of oil for a lighter base.
Creamed Ground Beef
Old-fashioned creamed ground beef with gravy served over toast or biscuits. Budget-friendly, filling, and on the table in 40 minutes with pantry staples.
Best Family Pot Roast
Slow cooker family pot roast with chuck, celery, onions, cream of tomato soup, beef bouillon, and sage. A 9-hour hands-off Sunday roast that thickens into rich gravy.
Rich & Creamy Mushroom Soup
Rich and creamy mushroom soup with three kinds of mushrooms (dried, portobello, button), heavy cream, and beef base. Dried mushroom soaking liquid delivers serious umami depth.
Barbecue Beef Sandwiches
Slow cooker shredded beef barbecue recipe with a homemade barbecue sauce that’s sweet and tangy—perfect make-ahead beef BBQ for a summer cookout or potluck.
Plaza Steak Soup
Hearty steak soup with ground beef, carrots, celery, onion, and mixed vegetables in a roux-thickened broth with diced tomatoes. A big-batch crowd-pleaser that freezes well.
Creamy Linguine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Creamy linguine with sun-dried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, shallots, garlic, and white wine in a half-and-half sauce finished with Parmesan. Restaurant-style Italian pasta at home.
Microwave Doggie Biscuits
Homemade microwave dog biscuits made with whole wheat flour, oats, cornmeal and beef bouillon. No oven required, no preservatives, and tail-wag approved. A pantry-staple treat for your pup.
Meatball Zucchini Italiano
Meatball zucchini Italiano is a fast one-skillet dinner: tender beef meatballs and sliced zucchini simmered in a quick tomato sauce and spooned over pasta. A weeknight-easy way to sneak in vegetables.
Jellied Beet Borscht
Jellied beet borscht molded with shredded beets, cabbage, cucumber, fresh dill, and horseradish in a tangy beef gelatin. A cold, jewel-toned Eastern European classic.
Homestyle Meat Loaf
Two-meat meat loaf made with ground chuck and ground pork, bound with oatmeal and seasoned with allspice and thyme. Served with a whiskey-tomato pan sauce.
Low Cal Baked Beef Stew with Sour Cream Biscuits
Low Cal Baked Beef Stew with Sour Cream Biscuits recipe
Bob's Beef Barley Soup
Beef barley soup made from braised short ribs, canned tomatoes, pearl barley, and a load of carrots, celery, and bell pepper. The ribs simmer first to render rich beef flavor before the vegetables and barley go in.
Hutchinson Beef Borscht
Hearty beef borscht with browned chuck, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and dill, finished with a swirl of sour cream. A chunky, stew-like take on the Eastern European classic.
Beef Noodle Soup
Warm up your soul with this hearty soup that tastes amazing when served with crusty bread or crackers.
Turkey Curry with Raisin Rice
Turkey curry with raisin rice features ground turkey in a creamy curry sauce with sauteed apple and onion. A mild, family-friendly weeknight dinner with sweet and savory flavors.
Country Fried Steaks
Country fried steaks coated in a seasoned flour-cornmeal crust and smothered in herb-laced milk gravy with marjoram and thyme. Classic Southern supper table centerpiece.
Simulated Instant Beef Gravy Packet
Homemade beef gravy mix from scratch using flour, beef base, cornstarch, and ketchup. A DIY replacement for store-bought gravy packets with pantry staples.
Veal Cutlets in Wine Sauce
Golden pan-fried veal cutlets smothered in a creamy white wine sauce made with beef bouillon and milk. Feeds 8 in just 25 minutes, making it a go-to for easy entertaining.
Backpacker's Garden Vegetable Soup with Beef
A trail-ready vegetable beef soup made with freeze-dried veggies, pasta shells, and Parmesan. Just add water at camp for a hot, filling bowl after a long hike.
Mom's Low Fat Turkey Stroganoff
Low-fat turkey stroganoff with ground turkey breast, mushrooms, paprika, and dill in a skim milk sauce. The classic Russian-style comfort dish, lightened up.
Fire Fighter's Chili
Hearty firehouse-style chili with hot Italian sausage and ground beef, red kidney beans, tomatoes, red wine, and honey. A bold, slightly sweet, slightly spicy crowd-feeding bowl.
Old-Fashioned Pot Roast
Old-fashioned pot roast braised in a Dutch oven with carrots, onions and a homemade pan gravy. Sunday-supper beef chuck the way grandma made it.
Pepper Steak(Another Version)
Chinese-American pepper steak stir-fry with sirloin strips, green bell peppers, onions, and water chestnuts in a glossy soy-ginger sauce. Fast, flavorful, and ready in about 35 minutes.
Onion Seasoning Mix
Homemade onion seasoning mix with dried onion flakes, beef bouillon, onion powder, and seasoned salt. A from-scratch substitute for store-bought onion soup mix packets.
Crockpot London Broil Roast
Crockpot London broil roast braised low and slow in a rich brown gravy with onion, garlic, wine and bay leaves. A dump-and-go slow cooker beef dinner that turns a lean cut fork-tender.
Curried Beef with Fruit
Slow cooker curried beef with pineapple, orange juice, apricots, and crunchy peanuts served over rice. Sweet-and-spicy set-it-and-forget-it crockpot dinner with curry-braised beef chunks.
Garden Swiss Steak
Garden Swiss steak made with flour-pounded round steak simmered in beef bouillon with carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, and dill. A complete skillet dinner with tender braised beef and fresh vegetables.
Bulgur Saute
Bulgur saute toasts cracked wheat with onion and celery in butter, then simmers it in beef-bouillon broth until fluffy. A nutty, pilaf-style side dish ready in well under an hour with seven everyday ingredients.
Saltimbocca with Beef Base & Bon Appetit Seasoning
Saltimbocca with Beef Base and Bon Appetit Seasoning recipe
Texas Chili - Southern Style
Slow cooker beef and pork chili with secret Southern twists: bacon drippings, coffee, cocoa, and a touch of sugar for deep complexity. Simmer for hours until thick and rich.
Cheeseburger Chowder
All the flavors of a cheeseburger in a thick, creamy bowl of soup. Ground beef, potatoes, and melted cheddar come together in this hearty chowder that's ready in 45 minutes.
