Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix
Make your own healthy version of dry onion soup mix with ingredients you probably already have on hand and for much cheaper than the store-bought packets!
Dry onion soup mix is a great way to add depth of flavor to ordinary recipes, and it is so versatile! As I have tried to trim my grocery budget, I’ve started making a homemade substitute for onion soup mix as a way to save money and control the ingredients, and I have been so pleased with the results!
Being able to easily make my own onion soup mix has worked so well that I have since researched recipes to create my own taco seasoning and ranch dressing mixes as well.
I make double and triple batches of these seasonings and keep them in mason jars in my pantry. And because they use standard pantry items, I can easily make more whenever they run out.
No more last-minute trips to the store to grab packets of Lipton onion soup mix – I have my own homemade substitute at the ready!
A Healthy Substitute for Lipton Onion Soup Mix
While I love the ease of the pre-made soup packets you buy at the store, some of them have less-than-desirable ingredients. And if you’re looking to curb your sodium intake, or need to be gluten-free, it can be hard to find commercial options that fit those requirements.
By making your own version at home, you can control the ingredients and leave out fillers and additives.
Ingredients
Making your own dry onion soup mix is easy, and most of the ingredients you may already have on hand. You’ll need:
- dry minced onion (sometimes called onion flakes)
- beef bouillon
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- black pepper
- paprika
- celery seed
That’s it! No fillers and no extra salt or sodium.
A few notes on the ingredients:
Dry minced onion – I keep these on hand at all times in my kitchen. To be honest, whenever a recipe calls for onions, this is almost always what I use because I do not usually keep fresh onions around. You can find these at any grocery store.
Beef bouillon – You can use powdered or granules in this recipe. You can also use bouillon cubes and just crush them before adding them to your mix. Granules and cubes can be found at any grocery store, although powdered bouillon is harder to find.
Pro Tip: If you are needing a low-sodium substitute for onion soup mix (have you SEEN the amount of sodium in the commercial stuff???), make sure to use a brand of beef bouillon that is low-sodium or sodium-free. Herb Ox makes a great sodium-free bouillon.
Celery seed – I prefer to grind my celery seeds. I keep a small coffee grinder around for grinding spices. Or you can place them on a cutting board and crush them carefully with the bottom of a glass or cup.
How to Make Your Own Dry Onion Soup Mix
- Measure all ingredients into a small bowl.
- Stir to combine.
- Store in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place.
- Be sure to shake or stir your mix before using in order to redistribute any ingredients that have settled.
I like to store my mix in a pint-size regular mouth mason jar (wide mouth will work too). You can get screw-on reusable lids where you buy your jars, or you can simply use the flat lid and ring that comes with it. If you really want to go fancy, you can find flip-top lids (affiliate) specifically made to turn your jars into spice containers!
Using Your Mix
You can use this onion soup mix as a substitute in any recipe calling for a packet of regular, French Onion, or Beefy Onion soup mix.
Use 3 tablespoons of your mix for each packet called for in the recipe.
To make French Onion chip or veggie dip:
Stir 3 tablespoons of dry onion soup mix into 16 ounces of sour cream.
To make Beefy French Onion Soup:
Add 3 tablespoons of your dry onion mix to a medium saucepan and then stir in 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions have softened and soup has thickened.
To add flavor to pot roasts:
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of onion soup mix over roast, and cook using your preferred cooking method. (I like using an Instant Pot, and I put in 3 tablespoons of soup mix and 1 can of beef broth along with my roast.)
For extra ease and flavor, use the leftover liquid and drippings to make a delightful onion gravy!
To make onion-roasted potatoes:
Mix 3 tablespoons soup mix with 1/3 cup olive oil. Toss with about 2 lbs of diced or quartered potatoes, and roast in 425F degree oven for 35-40 minutes.
To make French Onion compound butter:
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of soup mix with 1 stick of butter and use for searing salmon or steaks!
I’ve found I use my homemade onion soup mix a lot more than I ever thought I would! This mix can also be used to add additional flavor to meatloaf, meatballs, and many other dishes.
Double Up
This recipe will make the equivalent of about 4 1/2 store-bought packets.
However, because this soup mix recipe is so versatile and can be used in so many recipes, you might want to double it. A double batch will make just enough to fill a pint-size mason jar.
Add a nice chalkboard label on the front and you’ve got yourself a cute addition to your pantry.
Or make some to give away to family and friends!
Storing Your Beefy Onion Soup Mix
Because all of the ingredients are in dry format, this mix will keep for quite some time if you are careful to store it in a cool, dry place.
If you live in an area where humidity is high, you’ll want to keep this in an airtight container to extend the shelf life.
Typical shelf life should be 6-12 months, depending on the storage environment.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix FAQs
Most commercial varieties on the market have the basics: dehydrated onions, onion powder, a LOT of salt and sodium, some sugar, and then several flavor additives and sometimes fillers. While some do not list gluten-containing ingredients, they generally cannot be relied upon to be gluten-free, and many state that they contain milk.
Yup! Sure can. Because this recipe does not use fillers and additives, you have much more control over your ingredients. You’ll need to find gluten-free options for each ingredient, which generally aren’t too hard to find as many of them are naturally gluten-free. But pay special attention to make sure your beef bouillon does not contain any gluten!
If stored in a cool, dry place and kept as air-tight as possible, this mix can easily last 6-12 months. If you live in a very humid environment, you may find that you get a slightly shorter shelf-life out of it.
Here are some great recipes where you can use this copycat Lipton onion soup mix:
- Cranberry Catalina Chicken
- Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Onion Gravy from Monday is Meatloaf
- Family-friendly Beef Hash from Freezer Meals 101
- Easy Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches from Pressure Cooking Today
Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix
A homemade copycat version of Lipton's French Onion and Beefy onion soup mix that you can make in minutes! Best of all, it costs a fraction of the price of store-bought!!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup dry minced onions
- 1/3 cup beef bouillon, (powder or granules)
- 4 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds, (crushed or ground)
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Grind celery seeds in a coffee grinder, or crush carefully with the bottom of a glass.
- Add all ingredients to medium-sized bowl and stir to combine.
- Store in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place.
3 TABLESPOONS MIX = 1 STORE-BOUGHT PACKET
To make French Onion chip or veggie dip:
Stir 3 tablespoons of dry onion soup mix into 16 ounces of sour cream.
To make Beefy French Onion soup:
Add 3 tablespoons of onion soup mix to a medium saucepan and stir in 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened and soup has thickened.
To add flavor to pot roasts:
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of dry mix over roast. Cook using your preferred cooking method. (I like using an Instant Pot pressure cooker, and I put in 3 tablespoons of soup mix and 1 can of beef broth with my roast, then cook at HIGH pressure for 90 minutes with NPR.) For extra flavor and ease, use the leftover liquid and drippings to make onion gravy!
To make onion-roasted potatoes:
Toss about 2 lbs of diced or quartered (peeled or unpeeled depending on preference) potatoes in a large bowl with 1/3 cup olive oil and 3 tablespoons soup mix until thoroughly coated. Spread potatoes onto a baking sheet and roast in 425 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 35-40 minutes.
To make French Onion compound butter:
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of dry soup mix with 1 stick (1/2 cup) of softened butter. Use for searing salmon, pork chops, or steaks!
Notes
Be sure to shake or stir your mix before using to redistribute ingredients that may have settled.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 46Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 2063mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only.
Rhonda
Monday 29th of October 2018
This is great. I can't wait to try it. Thanks!