Whether you’re making a soup or a meal, a bit of chicken broth can elevate a dish to new levels. It adds a lovely depth of flavor to almost any meal, but is it gluten-free?
If you’re just starting out your gluten-free lifestyle, you know that gluten can hide anywhere. So, let’s see if chicken broth has gluten and see which brands of chicken broth are gluten-free.
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What Is Chicken Broth?
Chicken broth is a liquid made from cooking down chicken and vegetables. It can be added to foods for a nice bit of liquid and chicken flavor. It’s mainly added to soups and sauces, but some people use it when cooking rice and pasta. You can make it from scratch or buy chicken broth at the store. The broth is usually made from chicken, celery, carrots, onions, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, pepper, and water.
Be careful not to confuse chicken broth with chicken stock. Chicken stock is made from cooking down chicken bones, while chicken broth does not use bones. Depending on your desired result, they can sometimes be used in the same recipes.
Check out all the Meal Ingredients I have researched to know which are gluten-free.
Answer: Is Chicken Broth Gluten Free?
Mostly yes. Making chicken broth at home will be gluten-free if you use only gluten-free ingredients. Most of the main ingredients of chicken broth are gluten-free, so that should be easy to do.
Since most chicken broth ingredients are naturally gluten-free, most store-bought brands are also gluten-free. The issue comes when there are hidden sources of gluten in the form of thickening agents or preservatives.
Red flag words to look out for are:
- Yeast Extract
- Wheat
- Barley Malt
- Natural Flavors
These ingredients don’t always come from gluten, but they may. Sometimes the yeast extract and natural flavors can come from gluten-free sources, so it may or may not be gluten-free. It’s important to read the ingredient’s label to see if there are any allergen statements or “contains” statements. If there are any notes on the packaging possibly containing gluten or cross-contamination, then it’s best to avoid them.
You can read to see Is Better Than Bouillon is Gluten Free as many like to use that in place of chicken broth.
A gluten-free certification will always be the best way to know if a gluten-free brand of chicken broth. However, if you are still worried, it’s incredibly easy to make at home. There are plenty of online recipes on how to make a delicious chicken broth. I highly recommend my Grandma's Homemade Chicken Soup broth. Making it from scratch means having yummy chicken broth ready for any day of the week!
If you are like me, you like to use chicken broth to cook your rice. Always be sure to check, Is Rice Gluten free.
Brands Of Gluten Free Chicken Broth:
Here is a list of gluten free chicken broth brands. There are probably plenty of others. Just read the ingredients label carefully for the red flag words listed above.
- College Inn Chicken Broth
- Imagine Chicken Broth
- Trader Joe's Chicken Broth (both low sodium and regular)
- Kettle & Fire (chicken broth and bone broth are both gf)
- Kirkland Signature Chicken Broth
- O Organics Chicken Broth
- Pacific Foods Chicken Broth
- 365 Whole Foods Chicken Broth
- Swanson Chicken Broth
- Ocean’s Halo Chicken Broth
In summary: Chicken broth is usually gluten-free because its core ingredients are naturally gluten-free. However, store-bought varieties sometimes include gluten-containing flavorings and preservatives. Look at the labels for any gluten indicators before buying to ensure it’s safe for those with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. When in doubt, make your own!
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