I Tried 14 Chicken Broth Brands and the Winner Was a Total Shocker

Jeanette Donnarumma

Sun, November 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM UTC

10 min read

Store-bought chicken broth is a versatile pantry staple that can be used in a variety of dishes, from soups to gravies, with some brands tasting close to homemade and others falling short.
Chicken stock and chicken broth are technically different, with stock made mainly from bones and broth made with a combination of bones, meat, and vegetables, although the terms are often used interchangeably.
When shopping for chicken broth, look for products with chicken listed as the first ingredient, fewer ingredients, a naturally golden color, and a balance of chicken and vegetable flavors without overwhelming saltiness.

When you think of chicken broth, your mind might go straight to soup season , but when you're a cook, you know a good boxed broth is a year-round pantry staple. Whether you're deglazing a pan, making an off-the-cuff soup or chili , cooking grains , poaching chicken or whipping up a cozy risotto , chicken broth adds that comforting backbone of flavor and richness.

With the holidays on the horizon, that chicken broth is about to do even more heavy lifting. It's a key ingredient for gravy , stuffing , mashed potatoes and more. And while homemade chicken stock is amazing, when you're juggling a dozen dishes (or even when you're not), there's no denying the convenience of the boxed stuff. The problem? Not all store-bought broths are the same. Some taste rich and homemade; others barely taste like chicken at all.

And that's where I come in. To help you buy the best store-bought chicken broth, I picked up 14 of the most widely available brands and sipped them straight. I looked for depth, salt balance, clarity and overall chicken flavor to find the best of the bunch. The winners tasted close to homemade; the losers tasted more like overly salty water.

So whether you're making soup for one or gravy for twelve, here's the full rundown on which cartons are worth stocking up on before the major entertaining season hits.

What's the Difference Between Chicken Stock and Chicken Broth?

Although they might be used in a similar way, chicken stock and chicken broth are technically not the same thing.

"Traditionally, stock is a long-simmering liquid made mainly with bones, sometimes roasted ahead of time to help develop a richer, more pronounced flavor," explains chef, recipe developer and best-selling cookbook author Andrea Buckett . "The longer simmering time helps coax the gelatin from the bones, which results in an end product that gelatinizes when cold and has a more viscous mouthfeel when heated and added to soups, sauces, or stews."

"Broth, on the other hand," Buckett continues, "tends to be a liquid made with a combination of bones, meat and vegetable trimmings that's simmered for a shorter period of time. The end result is lighter than stock." However, as she notes, "these two terms get used interchangeably today."

What to Look for When Shopping for Chicken Broth

When buying store-bought chicken broth or stock, Buckett says she looks for "a product where the first ingredient listed is chicken. It's even better if it's roasted for a fuller flavor." Fewer ingredients are better. Look for "chicken," "vegetables," and seasonings you actually recognize.

That said, if you see a few extra ingredients, that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Even high-end liquids (cartons) or concentrates (pastes or cubes) will often have added flavors, sugars and herbs (like onion powder or celery concentrate) to help round out the meaty taste," adds Buckett. "Just make sure those flavorings come after the protein on the ingredient list to ensure a true, robust stock flavor."

A few other things to note: The color should be naturally golden, not bright yellow or neon (which usually signals added coloring). Many brands pack in extra sodium to mask weak flavor, so low-sodium options are often a better base if you plan to season your dish later.

When you get home and start cooking, give the broth a hearty sniff. Good broth should smell like chicken and vegetables, not artificial seasoning or heavy salt. "You want balance," says Buckett. "A good broth shouldn't taste just salty or just vegetal, it should have a natural chicken backbone, with a clean, savory finish."

How I Tested These Chicken Broths

I bought 14 popular store-bought chicken broths and stocks from supermarkets and big-box stores, including national brands, organic favorites and budget store-brand options. Each was heated gently and tasted plain, with no added salt or seasoning, to evaluate flavor, aroma and mouthfeel.

I focused on four main factors while tasting: chicken flavor, balance, salt level and versatility. Did it actually taste like chicken or just salt water? Were the vegetable notes supporting or overpowering? Could I sip it straight without immediately reaching for water? And finally, would it work in multiple dishes, from soup and gravy to risotto or sauce?

Below, you'll find every chicken broth ranked from worst to best, plus detailed tasting notes so you can figure out which ones to buy (and which to skip).

14 Store-Bought Chicken Broths, Ranked Worst to Best

14. Swanson Chicken Broth

Artificially yellow and aggressively salty, this broth had almost no true chicken flavor to speak of. It tasted more like chicken-flavored water than anything you'd actually want in a soup or gravy. Even after heating, it lacked depth or aroma, which is a reminder that not all "classic" broths earn their pantry spot.

13. Progresso Chicken Broth

Progresso broth had good color and initial aroma, but the flavor quickly went off the rails. It was salty to the point where it completely overpowered everything else in the bowl. Any subtle chicken or vegetable notes were lost under the heavy-handed seasoning, leaving a broth that tasted more like saltwater than something you'd want as a base for soup or stuffing. There's no room for nuance here, just a wall of salt.

12. Costco Bone Broth

Deep in color with a hearty, homemade-looking texture, this broth sets high expectations, but the flavor doesn't follow through. Despite its rich appearance, it's surprisingly bland, with very little chicken presence and not enough salt to bring the ingredients to life. It tasted flat and one-dimensional, more like lightly seasoned water than a true broth. This would be fine used as a background liquid if you're building layers of flavor elsewhere or adding extra protein to dishes, but it's definitely not something delicious I want to sip on its own.

11. Stop & Shop Chicken Broth

The mild sweetness of this broth gives it a slightly unbalanced flavor profile, especially if you're looking for something with a deep, roasted chicken backbone. Still, it's perfectly serviceable for everyday cooking. It's a decent, affordable option to keep on hand for adding moisture to grains, thinning sauces or bulking up soups when you're out of homemade stock. It won't win any awards for richness or depth, but it gets the job done in a pinch.

10. Whole Foods 365 Organic Chicken Broth

Pale in color with a strong celery-forward flavor (likely from celeriac juice concentrate), this broth leans heavily into the vegetable side of things. It's clean-tasting and mild, but the chicken notes are faint. As an affordable organic option, it's a solid pick for those who prefer a lighter, more neutral base or want to keep the sodium in check.

9. Kettle & Fire Chicken Broth

Hearty and rich with a pleasant mouthfeel, this broth has a good amount of depth. The chicken notes are present but muted, and the overall taste leans more savory than distinctly poultry-forward. It's a dependable choice for adding body, protein and warmth to soups, risottos or cooked grains, where it can enhance the flavor without overpowering other ingredients. While it may not stand out when sipped solo, it's a solid supporting player.

8. Trader Joe's Organic Free Range Chicken Broth

A solid middle-of-the-road option, this broth delivers just enough of everything without overdoing it. It's nicely salted, with a balanced blend of chicken and vegetable flavors that make it versatile for everyday cooking. There's nothing particularly bold or standout about it, but that's also part of its charm. It's the kind of broth you can reach for on a weeknight without thinking twice, knowing it'll quietly do its job in soups, sauces or one-pot meals. It's not life-changing, but it's definitely dependable.

7. Simply Nature Free Range Chicken Broth

This Aldi-brand chicken broth has a beautiful color and aroma. The moment you open the carton, you're met with a fresh, inviting smell, like a pot of homemade soup that's been simmering on the stove. The flavor leans distinctly veggie-forward, with bright carrot and celery notes leading the way and an added garden-fresh quality. It's more reminiscent of a vegetable broth than a rich chicken stock, but it's comforting and a surprisingly solid option for the price.

6. Aneto Chicken Broth

Light in color but impressively full of flavor, this broth proves that looks can be deceiving. The salt balance is spot-on. It's savory without being overwhelming and the chicken flavor comes through clearly, giving it a satisfying, from-scratch vibe. It's bright, clean and well-made, with just enough depth to elevate soups, sauces or risottos without weighing them down. A quietly confident broth that delivers more than you'd expect from a box. Although this box was one of the priciest on the list, I will be buying this one again in the future.

5. College Inn Chicken Broth

College Inn tastes like childhood in the best way: salty, cozy and instantly familiar. For me, this brand brings back memories of weeknight chicken noodle soup and pastina in my lunchbox. The flavor is classic and comforting, with that old-school chicken stock richness that just feels right in traditional recipes. It's not fancy or overly complex, but that's exactly what makes it so versatile and nostalgic.

4. Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Broth

The only low-sodium option of the group, this broth is full of flavor—proof that you don't need a heavy hand with salt to get great taste. It has a clean, homemade quality, with a balanced mix of chicken and vegetables that feels fresh and natural. The ingredient list is short and wholesome, and the golden color looks like something you'd simmer on your own stove. It's the perfect standby for when you want something that tastes homemade.

3. Bonafide Chicken Broth

This brand had a great color and a solid, satisfying flavor that immediately signaled high-quality ingredients. This broth tasted clean and thoughtfully made, with a nice balance of savory chicken and subtle vegetable notes. It could use just a touch more chicken punch to really stand out, but it still delivered a richness and depth that felt close to homemade. The texture was silky and comforting. Overall, it's refined, well executed and clearly crafted with care.

2. Imagine Organic Chicken Broth

Imagine brand broth had an excellent balance of chicken and vegetables, with a depth of flavor that immediately made it stand out from the pack. It's the kind of broth that could easily pass for something you simmered on the stove all afternoon. The seasoning is just right, enhancing the natural chicken flavor without tipping into saltiness, and the texture has that comforting, rounded richness that coats your spoon just slightly. It's deeply satisfying and one of the few store-bought options that truly feels from-scratch.

1. Good & Gather Chicken Broth

Talk about a shocker, this Target brand chicken stock is a soup-er star! Bright, layered and bursting with flavor, this broth delivers an unexpected level of complexity for a store brand. You can taste notes of lemon, onion and thyme in perfect harmony, creating a profile that feels both fresh and slow-simmered at the same time.

Of all the options I tried, it was the most nuanced, balanced and aromatic. The depth of flavor makes it versatile enough for everything from risotto to gravy, and it's affordable, easy to find and absolutely delicious. It's an absolute standout and a clear top pick.

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Source:

• Andrea Buckett , chef, recipe developer, food content creator and author of The Essential Cottage Cookbook .

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.