Au jus is a delicious thin sauce made from the juices released from the meat used while cooking. The word was originally coined from the French term “with juice” and is commonly served with beef dishes, such as prime rib or French dip sandwiches. It can also be used as a flavorful addition to stews, soups, and other dishes.
While au jus is a delicious accompaniment to many dishes, it may not always be available or practical to make. Fortunately, I have here several substitutes for au jus that can be used to achieve a similar flavor and texture. Some of them are beefy swaps like beef stock powder sauce, beef broth, beef consomme, and beef cubes.
You can have whatever takes your fancy, as each swap will be a more than perfect one for what you’ll need. But before getting into the various delicious alternatives for au jus, let’s dig into more about these unique, meaty, and quite tasty sauces.
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What is Au Jus?
Au jus is a French term that means “with juice” and refers to a thin, flavorful sauce made from the natural juices of meat, typically beef or lamb. It’s usually made by deglazing the pan with wine or beef broth, then reducing the liquid until it’s concentrated and flavorful. Some recipes may also include herbs, garlic, or other seasonings to enhance the flavor.
Flavor-wise, au jus is rich, savory, and meaty, with a slightly salty taste. As for its concentration, au jus can vary in strength depending on the recipe. Some versions may be quite weak and watery, while others are more concentrated and intense. It really depends on the cook’s preference and the dish being served.
Regardless of its strength, though, a good au jus should always enhance the natural flavors of the meat and bring out its best qualities.
What is it Used in Cooking?
This sauce is typically served alongside a roast or steak as a dipping sauce or drizzled over the meat as a finishing touch. Its rich, meaty flavor with a slightly salty taste can vary in strength depending on the recipe, but when made well, au jus should complement the natural flavors of the meat and enhance its best qualities.
Au jus is a popular choice among home cooks and chefs alike due to its versatility. It’s suitable for a range of dishes, including prime rib, French dip sandwiches, beef tenderloin, grilled steak, and roast lamb.
Best Au Jus Substitutes
Beef Stock Powder Sauce
1 cup of au jus = 1 cup of mixed beef stock powder sauce
Beef stock powder sauce is a concentrated and flavorful beef-flavored sauce that can be diluted with water to make a flavorful broth. This sauce is also a great alternative to au jus because it has a similar flavor and consistency, with it being just as easy to make and used in similar dishes.
This sauce is especially great in French dip sandwiches and beef stews. So, to make this sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of beef stock powder with 1 cup of water and adjust the amount of beef stock powder to your liking, depending on how strong you want the flavor to be. To enhance the sauce’s flavor, you can also add other seasonings, such as garlic, onion, and black pepper.
Beef Bouillon Cubes
1 cup of au jus = 1 cup of mixed beef bouillon cubes
Beef bouillon cubes are a popular and convenient substitute made from dehydrated beef stock, salt, and other seasonings. These small cubes are relatively inexpensive and readily available in most grocery stores. Simply dissolve one or two cubes in hot water and add to your recipe for an easy and quick flavor boost.
While they may be a good option for a quick and easy substitute, they may not provide the same depth of flavor as a homemade au jus or other alternatives, so keep this in mind when picking convenience over taste.
Beef Broth
1 cup of au jus = 1 cup of beef broth
Homemade beef broth is a classic and flavorful replacement for au jus made by simmering beef bones, vegetables, and herbs for several hours. It’s a great option for those who want to control the ingredients in their food and avoid additives and preservatives. It can also be frozen for later use, making it a convenient option for meal prep.
For a quick and easy substitute, store-bought beef broth is a truly convenient option, as they’re available in most stores. However, look for high-quality options with minimal additives and adjust the seasoning as needed to enhance the flavor.
When also using this store-purchased beef broth, you should always look at the sodium content, as some tend to be high in sodium, which can affect the overall flavor of your dish.
To reduce the sodium content, look for low-sodium options or dilute the broth with water. You can always add other seasonings like garlic, onion, and black pepper to enhance the broth’s flavor and even out the salty taste.
Beef Consomme
1 cup of au jus = 1/2 cup of beef consomme
Beef consomme is a clear and flavorful soup made from beef broth that has been clarified to remove impurities. It’s a popular ingredient in French cuisine and can be used in tons of recipes, adding depth and richness to stews, soups, and sauces.
This highly available ingredient can even be used straight from the can or diluted with water to achieve the desired consistency. Beef consomme can also be used as a base for gravies and sauces and thickened with flour or cornstarch to create a sauce that compliments beef dishes.
Table Comparison of Au Jus and Beef Consomme
Au jus and beef consomme are both flavorful liquids used in various recipes. Here is a table comparison of these two items:
| Au Jus | Beef Consomme |
| Made from the drippings of roasted meat | Made from beef broth, vegetables, and seasonings |
| Has a thin consistency | Has a thicker consistency |
| Often used as a dipping sauce for beef dishes | Used as a base for soups, stews, and gravies |
| Contains more sodium than beef consomme | Contains less sodium than au jus |
| It can be more expensive to make at home | It can be easily found in stores |
Whatever you deem usable will be entirely up to you, so make sure to choose carefully and follow the type of recipe and flavor you want the dish to have. While both, in essence, can be used in the same styles of cooking, they do have specific use cases. Au jus is commonly used for dipping beef dishes, while the beef consomme is used as a base for soups, stews, and gravies.
Brown Gravy or Mix
1 cup of au jus = 1/4 to 1/2 serving of mixed brown gravy
Brown gravy or mix is one of the most convenient and cost-friendly alternatives for au jus in heavy recipes, though it’s mostly used on mashed potatoes, roasted vegetable dishes, and more.
This gravy is made from beef broth, flour, and seasonings, such as salt, pepper, and onion powder, with a rich, deep flavor that can complement thicker dishes.
However, it’s important to adjust the seasoning, as brown gravy can be saltier than au jus. It may be necessary to add more water to dilute the flavor, but if you want a thicker sauce, you can add even more flour to the mixture.
Vegetable Stock
1 cup of au jus = 1 cup of vegetable stock
For those who prefer a healthier and delicious meat-free option, vegetable stock is a more than superb choice. Made by simmering vegetables, herbs, and spices in water for several hours, it can be strained and used as a base for soups, stews, and sauces, adding a flavorful and tasty zing of vegginess.
Vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and mushrooms are commonly used in vegetable stock, and herbs and spices such as bay leaves, thyme, parsley, and peppercorns are added to enhance the overall appeal.
Not only is it low in fat and calories, but it also packs a load of health benefits and abilities, thanks to the combination of various veggies, that can make any meal a nutritious powerhouse.
Chicken Broth
1 cup of au jus = 1 cup of chicken broth
Chicken broth is a highly utilizable ingredient that can be used in sauces, gravies, and marinades and can also be used to cook rice, quinoa, and other grains. It’s made by simmering chicken bones, vegetables, and herbs in water for several hours to create a rich and savory liquid.
Homemade chicken broth is also a superb option for those who want to control the ingredients in their food and avoid additives and preservatives. It can also be frozen for later use, making it a convenient option for meal prep. For those who don’t have the time or resources to make homemade chicken broth, store-bought options are also highly available. Look for high-quality chicken broth with minimal additives and adjust the seasoning as needed to enhance the flavor.
Chicken broth’s savory flavor pairs well with chicken dishes and can enhance the taste of roasted meats. It can also be used as a base for gravies and sauces, which is thickened with flour or cornstarch to create a sauce that compliments chicken dishes.