This dry onion soup mix is perfect to throw together in 3 minutes or less and have on hand to use whenever you want. All you need are some spices you probably already have in your kitchen pantry.
What's In This Article
Why You’ll Love This Delicious Onion Mix
This seasoning secret will add a savory note to lots of dishes. Here are a few reasons why we love it:
- Versatile – This favorite dry soup mix isn’t just for soup! Use it to add an extra flavor boost to lots of your flavorful family meals. It’s great for sour cream dips too.
- Easy to make – The mix itself is as simple as mixing all of the dry ingredients together and storing it in a glass jar.
- Basic ingredients – Most, if not all, of these ingredients are pantry staple seasonings.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix
I’m not going to lie and tell you that you will save oodles of money making your own onion soup mix recipe. A box of packets of Lipton onion soup mix costs less than $2, but I will tell you that this one is a little tastier and works great in a pinch for a substitute.
I’ll also go out on a limb here and say 90% of my foodie friends already have all the ingredients they need to make this recipe in their pantry. No secret ingredient or hard to pronounce things in this onion soup mix substitute.
How to Make Soup
One of the most common questions is how to make soup from dry onion soup mix. The process couldn’t be simpler! If you want to make soup, add 4 cups of water or low sodium beef broth in a large bowl and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
Add caramelized onions, frozen veggies like green beans or even thinly sliced beef or chicken to make a whole meal. It’s sure to be a family favorite.
What’s in Onion Soup Mix?
The base for dry onion soup, sometimes called French Onion Soup Mix, is fairly basic. Made with simple ingredients found in your spice cabinet or easily at your local grocery store.
- Dry onion flakes – It wouldn’t be onion soup without some onion, right? The flakes are important to add a little texture.
- Powdered beef bouillon – Because this is a dry mix and we need it to be shelf stable, we need beef bouillon granules, not bouillon paste.
- Onion powder – A little more onion flavor can’t hurt! Granulated onion is less potent, but still important for the rich onion flavor.
- Garlic powder – No good soup is made without garlic. It just adds to the tasty onion broth flavor.
- Parsley flakes – I didn’t use these the first time I made this soup mix and took pictures, but I do like to add them sometimes.
- Celery salt – If you’d really like to step up the flavor, you can substitute this for celery seed instead.
- Smoked paprika – I like the smoky flavor the best, but you can certainly use regular paprika if that’s all you have on hand.
- Salt and pepper – I prefer to use freshly ground black pepper and fine sea salt. Coarse Kosher salt is a little too coarse.
I prefer mine to be extra onion-y (yep, I just made up that word), so I use more onion flakes than the store bought version and also add black pepper. Look for a very finely ground black pepper to make the smoothest mix.
You can even go a step further and use garlic flakes instead of onion or use both!
How to Use Onion Soup Mix
This is probably one of the most versatile items in the kitchen for seasoning. When I say that I always have it, I’m not joking. Whether is it a homemade onion soup mix or pre bought, it is a staple. Here are a few of my favorite recipes to use it with:
- Roasted potatoes and vegetables
- Steak Rub
- Chicken and pork marinade
- Mixed into mashed potatoes
- Mixed into gravy
- Add to ground beef for meatloaf and hamburgers
- French Onion Dip
- Salisbury Steak
- Cube Steak
- Slow cooker pot roast
- And of course, for making soups!
For most recipes, keeping it chunky and whole is perfectly fine, but if you are looking for all of the flavor, but a fine blend without large pieces of onion, try using a spice grinder to blend it up. This is my favorite spice grinder, cheap and easy to clean! You can also use it to grind coffee!
Make Ahead & Storage
Storage: This dry soup mix is very shelf stable and will last in a cool, dry place for up to a year. Store in an airtight container like a mason jar.
Freezing: You can also store it in the freezer or fridge to preserve it a little longer. Keep in mind that like most dry seasonings, it will start to lose its potency at about 6 months.
PRO TIP: Get a few small glass containers from the craft store and make these into gifts. Print out the soup instructions on cute labels and decorate with colorful string.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are about 3 tablespoons in a Lipton onion soup packet, give or take a smidge. In most recipes, you can eyeball the amount and use a little more or a little less without worry of ruining the recipe.
The only thing to be mindful of is salt content. If the recipe calls for additional salt, add the soup mix and then season with salt accordingly. Adding both could make it to too salty. Same goes for recipes using broth, opt for a low-sodium broth so you can control the saltiness.
There really isn’t a difference and honestly, I don’t even use it to make French Onion Soup, only just a basic onion soup.
More Homemade Spice Blends
- Homemade Seasoned Salt
- Thai Seasoning
- Homemade Italian Seasoning
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Homemade Fajita Seasoning
- Homemade Poultry Seasoning
Onion Soup Mix
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried onion flakes
- 3 tablespoons beef bouillon ground
- 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Combine the onion flakes, powdered beef bouillon, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, black pepper and salt in a small mixing bowl and combine.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Video
Notes
If you want to make soup, add 4 cups boiling water and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
Loved this recipe- so easy and I think it tastes better than a store bought packet. I used it for dip and a marinade.
Thank you fir this recipe, it’s so much better than the store bought! My only suggestions is watch how much salt you add, with the beef bouillon it can make it a little bit salty than you want.
Hi Brenda! Totally- and that varies from brand to brand.
Always love finding recipes to make this type of thing from scratch. Much prefer this to the store bought which often includes unwanted additives. Also handy when you live put of town and don’t want to make the trip just for onion soup mix 😬
Totally agree! Thanks for your support, Linda!
It sounds amazing! My question would be, can you sub chicken or vegetable bouillon for the beef? I have an allergy to beef.
Hi Julie! You surely can!
Is the nutrition you listed for the entire batch, or per serving and if its per serving what would the serving size be?
It is for the entire batch- since people use it in different ways, there really isn’t a “serving size” that made sense. if you make it into soup, it makes about 6 servings.
Thank you for the recipe. It’s the best dry onion soup mix I have ever had. It’s all I use now
Thank you again, Linda
Thank you, Linda!
Is this really a half cup of dried onion flakes? That seems to be a lot!
It is a lot- but it is also a Onion Soup 🙂
Why are the carbs so high? Is the nutritional information per serving or for the entire batch?
I’ll look into the carb situation- I use an automatic feature that calculates the nutritional info, I don’t do it manually. It is for the whole batch.
The celery salt, Tablespoons or Teaspoons?
Teaspoon- updated and thanks for catching that!
How many bouillon cubes would equal 3T?
About 9 bouillon cubes.
Thank you for this recipe! I love to make things myself instead of premade store brought mixes that’s has who know what in it. I want to make this without the boillion powder and use fresh beef broth instead. Any suggestions on how much broth to use in place of the powder ?
How many packets does your recipe equate to? How should I measure it if a recipe calls for one packet?
Great question, Robin! About 3 tablespoons equals one packet.
Perfect flavor combination, what a fun idea!
I gave up on all those ” packets” because of the additives in them. I love finding recipes to recreate them. Thanks Jessica.
Brilliant idea Jessica! All the onion soup mixes I have seen are laced with all kinds of unnecessary “nasties” such as MSG and other additives and preservatives. I’m thrilled to know I can now pass on this healthy alternative to my family and friends.Thank you!
Linda, I just have to ask if you think it’s so brilliant & you are so thrilled, why only 2 stars? This is not a criticism, just curious.
I’m so glad to come across your recipe. We can’t buy onion soup mix here in England and I’m always bringing a couple packages back in my suitcase. How lovely to be able to make it myself. (I can get the dehydrated onion at Costco, just not the soup). Your recipe sounds delicious and it’s going to come in really handy!
What a great idea, I’m going to try this.
I am wondering why I have not made this before?! I don’t think I would buy onion soup mix again! Thanks!
Super cool post – Totally love this idea – sharing on my page. I know many who would really love this recipe!!
Thank you, Debra!
I think this is genius!!!! What a great idea to make your own and control the quality! Thanks for sharing this!