Here's What You Can Substitute For Chives

Whether you're making a dip for a party or preparing a soup or potato salad, there's a good chance that eventually you'll run across chives on the ingredients list. This popular herb is the smallest member of the onion family, and is known for its onion-like flavor (via BBC). They're also pretty easy to grow indoors as long as you have a sunny windowsill (via The Kitchn).

Chives aren't a kitchen herb necessity, however, and you may not feeling like heading back to the grocery store just to buy some measly chives. Not to worry — injecting some chive-like flavor (and that beautiful green visual appeal) into your dish is pretty simple. 

Because chives are the smallest member of the onion family, their cousins can work pretty nicely as alternatives if you're in a pinch. Better Homes & Gardens suggests using either green onions or leeks. Both leeks and green onions are similar in appearance to chives — only their green shoots are a little wider. If you opt to use either for something like a dip, you'll want to dice them up thoroughly since chives are much thinner, and a big chunk of leek might be a little offputting in your party dip. 

Tastessence also suggests that if you're using green onions or leeks that you consider soaking them in ice water for a bit. Both leeks and green onions have a stronger flavor than chives, and soaking them will give them a milder taste. Chinese garlic stems can also work in a quick fix, but let's be honest, if you don't have chives, what are the odds you have fresh Chinese garlic lying around? 

If you're working with a recipe that calls for dried chives (perhaps for some roasted cauliflower?), Healthline advises going with parsley. While chives do have their own unique flavor, there's no reason to throw in the towel if you don't have any at home or can't find them in your grocery store — making do without them just takes a little creativity.