It happens to the best of us, but the good news is that there are plenty of beef broth substitutes that can save the day. Once you know the best beef broth substitutes, you’ll never stress about running out again. Common substitutes for beef brothWhen it comes to swapping out beef broth, you don’t have to settle for bland or boring. Add 1 beef bouillon cube to 1 cup of hot water for every cup of beef broth your recipe calls for. “When I don’t have beef broth, I use chicken broth or vegetable broth.