50 Recipes with Vegetable Broth

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There are so many recipes that use vegetable broth beyond just soups. We’ve all been in the situation where we open a carton of vegetable broth, use one cup in a recipe, then store it in the fridge and forget to use it again. This post will show you 50 different options to use vegetable broth in common recipes, so you never waste broth again!

Get familiar with the many ways you can use vegetable broth below. Whether you are using store-bought broth or you are making your own vegetable broth from scratch, you’ll find so many uses for it here.

what is broth?

Broth is a medley of vegetables, meat, or a combination of both that cook down slowly in water to enrich the liquid with flavor and nutrients. It’s savory and a wholesome addition for making a plethora of recipes and is utilized in different ways.

What’s the difference between broth and stock

I used to use the terms broth and stock interchangeably. I thought it was pretty much the same thing – savory liquid made from boiling water with meat, bones, vegetables, and/or herbs. But there is actually a subtle difference between the two. Stock is generally made from bony parts of beef or chicken. But broth is made more out of meat or vegetables only. Stock tends to be richer, while broth tends to be thinner.

Both play supporting roles in many dishes to help deliver a boost in flavor. But let’s focus on broth today.

How to buy the best broth

I do often make my own vegetable broth from scraps of vegetables and herbs. But that can be time-consuming. And that’s where store-bought vegetable broth comes in. All packaged vegetable broths are not created equally. So look for these three cues that you’re buying a good one.

1. Minimal: Think about if you were to make vegetable broth at home. What ingredients would you include? Probably onions, carrots, celery, and some herbs, and maybe garlic or some seasonings. Bottom line, though, is to keep the ingredient list simple and short.
2. High quality: Avoid any vegetable broths that contain low-quality ingredients that may taste good but aren’t really good for your body. That includes MSG, natural flavor, and dehydrated vegetables.
3. Organic: I know organic can be tough because of the pricing. But when it comes to broth, the organic one is only about $0.25 more. And that small price difference means it has no GMOs and no pesticides.

what CAN YOU make with vegetable broth?

There is surprisingly a variety of ways you can use vegetable broth and so many recipes that you can make with it, and I’m not talking just about soup! Get creative by using broth as a replacement for water in soups, gravies, and sauces, and as a substitute for oil when sautéing veggies and meat, or for making an oil-free dressing.

recipes using vegetable broth

The most common recipes that use broth are soups, stews, and chilis. It’s the best way to instantly enhance a recipe with depth, sweetness, and savory flavors. But, let’s reach out of the box and try new ways to use broth in almost any savory recipe. Try replacing water and oil for broth in pasta dishes, sautéing vegetables and meats instead of oil, and in side dishes like a liquid in mashed potatoes, oil in a salad dressing, or in most cases where water, oil, or broth is on the ingredient list.

Soups, Stews, and Chili

Using vegetable broth interchangeably with chicken and beef broth is easy to do, and the flavors are just as impactful. It can replace the water in most soup recipes, too.

• Creamy Vegan Vegetable Soup – A truly wholesome, cozy soup made with rich broth, plant-based milk, and all the best veggies.
• Cabbage Tomato Soup – A deliciously light and healthy soup that is perfect for lunch and a great detoxing soup recipe.
• Lebanese Spinach Stew – This authentic Lebanese-style stew is made with simple ingredients; it’s wholesome, well-balanced, and can use chicken or vegetable broth.
• Smooth Asparagus Soup – Creamy and rich, this quick and easy soup is healthy and made with roasted asparagus, potatoes, and vegan milk.
• Hearty Lentil Soup – An authentic Lebanese recipe, this soup is made with crushed lentils and rice and made more flavorful by using veggie broth instead of water.
• Fresh Corn Chowder – This classic corn chowder made vegan is so easy to make with frozen corn, potatoes, broth, and coconut milk, then blended for creaminess.
• Instant Pot Chili with Lentils – Loaded with fresh and healthy ingredients, this chili is hearty, warming, and so easy to make and ready to serve in 30 minutes.
• Roasted Tomato Basil Soup – Basic pantry ingredients and a lot of love make this tomato soup a favorite. Roast tomatoes and vegetables and blend together with a rich veggie broth for the best flavorful homemade soup.
• Creamy Butternut Squash Soup – With only 10 minutes to prep, this roasted butternut soup is ultra-comforting and smooth, and beckons for cold weather.
• White Bean Veggie Soup – A quick soup with plant-based protein and hearty vegetables, this recipe will keep you full and light enough to not weigh you down.
• Minestrone Vegetarian Soup – Based on the hearty classic Italian recipe, this soup is loaded with beans, vegetables, and pasta in a seasoned aromatic tomato broth!
• Creamy Leek Soup – Warm and velvety, this soup is pureed with potatoes and broth for a simple and healthy recipe.
• Cheesy Broccoli Soup – The best creamy vegan broccoli soup that uses pureed potatoes and carrots to thicken and add an additional layer of flavor and velvety goodness.
• Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Soup – A wonderfully spiced vegan soup made with coconut milk and lots of aromatics like fresh ginger and garlic.
• Ginger Carrot Soup – This vibrant and creamy soup is made with coconut and roasted carrot for a perfectly spiced vegan recipe.
• Red Curry Soup with Noodles – This vegan soup comes together in just 15 minutes for a rich and fragrant soup that will warm your soul.
• Beef Vegetable Stew – Make this rich stew with vegetable broth, peas, and carrots for a Lebanese-inspired recipe that is utterly comforting and nutritious.
• Freekeh Chicken Soup – Deepen the flavor of this aromatic, warm broth with chicken and spices by using vegetable broth instead of water. Made with tomatoes, freekeh, onions, and parley for an irresistible dish.
• Chicken White Bean Chili – A spicy, comforting bowl of chili made with chicken can be made lighter by substituting the chicken broth for veggie instead.
• Quinoa Tortilla Soup – This Vegetarian Tortilla Soup recipe is quick to prep and full of bright and zest Mexican flavors. Made with quinoa, this hearty soup is healthy and filling.

Pasta dishes

When making pasta recipes, switch out the water for vegetable broth to add more flavor to the dish. One way to do this is by replacing half the water when boiling pasta. Another is to use broth as a replacement in a recipe that uses water as an ingredient, like thinning down a sauce.

• Spinach Hummus Pasta – Use vegetable broth as a replacement for water to thin down a pasta sauce which adds a touch of flavor like in this cream hummus pasta recipe.
• Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles – My take on a healthy scampi is full of nutritious ingredients, full of the best flavors, and made with zucchini noodles for a lighter dish.
• Baked Pasta with Ground Turkey – Cook the onion, ground turkey, and garlic in broth for an oil-free pasta dinner for a comfort dish the whole family will love!
• Spicy Creamy Chicken Pasta – Switch out the chicken broth for a veggie stock for a light creamy sauce that is still full of delicious Cajun flavor.
• Spinach Tomato Linguine – Instantly enhance the flavor of any pasta by cooking it in broth. You can use all broth to boil the pasta or a combination with water. This linguine has simple ingredients, and this step will intensify the flavor.
• Pasta Bolognese – Pasta Bolognese is a classic Italian dish made with ground beef, tomatoes, and onions along with the vegetable broth. This is a staple delicious dinner recipe that is such a crowd-pleaser.
• Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta – Effortless to make from scratch, this creamy butternut squash pasta is made with a few simple ingredients for a delicious easy family meal. The creamy vegan sauce is made by blending roasted butternut squash, vegetable broth, and plant-based milk.

Sauteeing with Broth

Reduce your calories by using vegetable broth instead of oil to sauté vegetables and meats with. This is also an easy exchange for those aiming for an oil-free or plant-based diet.

• Plant-based Cauliflower Curry – The ultimate comfort dish bursting with robust Indian spices and creamy coconut milk for a healthful recipe. Sub the oil for sautéing with broth and for replacing some or all of the water.
• Sauteed Mushrooms – Make these healthy meaty shrooms to add to a chickpea burger or healthy vegan noodle bowl for a quick side.
• Shakshuka with Greens – Cook your veggies in a little bit of liquid for an oil-free Middle Eastern recipe with eggs and a medley of green veggies.
• Mexican Street Tacos – It really is easy to eliminate oil in recipes by this simple exchange of ingredients. Using broth for chicken adds flavor and juiciness to the filling of these tacos.
• Molokhia– Sautee the veggies and dried molokhia for a rich flavor without having to use oil for this authentic, hearty stew over rice.

Entrees

Replace chicken or beef broth for vegetable broth in basically any recipe for a healthy alternative that still adds amazing flavor.

• Eggplant Moussaka -This Easy Eggplant Moussaka recipe is a quick version of the Greek dish made with layers of eggplant and spiced ground beef and topped with a bechamel sauce
• Chicken Broccoli Casserole – This casserole is baked in the oven with a creamy sauce made from milk and chicken broth. Use vegetable broth in the place of chicken broth and try this delicious weeknight balanced meal full of protein, wholesome vegetables, and hearty grains!
• One Pan Chicken and Mushroom – This easy one-pan 30-minute meal is perfect for a weeknight family meal. Sautéed chicken and mushrooms are made with simple ingredients and loaded with flavor.
• Chicken Piccata – This Lemon Chicken Piccata is a quick and easy healthy version of the original recipe, that’s grain-free, Whole30, and Paleo with a silky sauce made from vegetable broth.
• Mediterranean Couscous with Shrimp – A quick and easy summer recipe, this Mediterranean Couscous dish is made with shrimp, tomatoes, feta, olives, and capers – it’s fresh, healthy & irresistible.
• One-Pot Chicken & Rice – This One-Pot Chicken Rice and Vegetables is hearty, delicious, and family-friendly! It has simple everyday ingredients, making it an easy go-to meal!
• Spiced Beef and Rice – Made with beef, chickpeas, and basmati rice cooked in broth, this Mediterranean dish is loaded with spices and tons of flavor.

Side Dishes

Substitute vegetable broth in salad dressings, for cooking vegetables, and infusing rice recipes with more flavor.

• Mushroom Pea Risotto –  It’s creamy, cheesy, and perfectly flavored with golden mushrooms and springtime peas.
• Bulgur Pilaf – This Lebanese-style recipe is hearty and full of fiber, plus it’s completely customizable.
• Melting Sweet Potatoes – These Melting Sweet Potatoes are a must Thanksgiving side dish. The edges are slightly crunchy, and the insides are super tender, caramelized & candy-like! The vegetable broth and butter mixture is what makes them so melty and delicious!
• Shirazi Salad – This Iranian Shirazi salad side dish is full of fresh and vibrant flavors with a dressing that can replace the oil with broth for a healthy, flavorful bite.
• Green Beans with Toasted Almonds – Cook the green beans in vegetable broth with some reserved to pan-fry them for a lighter option for green bean casserole
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes – This savory recipe is an alternative to the common sweet casserole that is loaded with sugar. Make it even lighter by halving the milk with broth.

Other Recipes using Vegetable Broth

• Mediterranean Chopped Salad – Make this Mediterranean Chopped Salad for a large crowd. It’s full of veggies, chickpeas, feta cheese, and olives. You can make the lemon herb dressing oil-free by swapping the olive oil for vegetable broth, and no one will even know!
• Vegan Mushroom Gravy – Try this easy delicious Vegan Mushroom Gravy for Thanksgiving – made w/ caramelized mushrooms & onions and flavored with vegetable broth, soy sauce & thyme.
• Lebanese Fattoush Salad – A fresh and bright salad with broth instead of oil for the dressing, made with seasonal vegetables and fried pita bread
• Lentil Chickpea Salad – Make this simple and easy recipe with chickpeas and fresh veggies for one delicious side dish. Use half water and half broth to cook lentils or replace it completely with broth for an instant flavor enhancer.
• Vegetable Quinoa Bowl – Quinoa cooked in vegetable broth is the perfect way to boost the taste of a sometimes bland grain. Tossed with roasted vegetables, this bowl is healthy and wholesome, a perfect side dish or entree.

Frequently asked questions

As you can see, it is super easy to use vegetable broth as a versatile ingredient in soups, stews, pasta recipes, vegetable dishes, and for sauteeing without oil. Try some of these different ways to use broth the next time you make a meal, and be sure to check out some of my favorite recipes that I’ve shared here.

full list of recipes

Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipe cards to take you directly to those recipes.

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Air Fryer Recipes, Healthy Soup Recipes, Recipes to Make with Garden Tomatoes, and Recipes with Canned Beans.

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