Dry Onion Soup Mix Recipe

Skip the packets of Lipton dry onion soup mix and make this homemade copycat version instead. You need just 4 simple ingredients and you probably already have them in your pantry! It’s easy, frugal and so delicious! 

Growing up, my mom would almost always have a box of Lipton dry onion soup mix in the pantry. You could call it a childhood classic, or a home-style favorite (a lot like stove-top mac and cheese).

You can also call it unhealthy since it’s filled with additives, corn syrup and processed oils.

So I set out to make a homemade copycat version of the classic flavor that we all loved as kids. No more fake stuff, no more packages, no more ingredients you can’t pronounce. And Voila! This is even better than the store-bought version.

Not only is your family going to love this recipe, but this homemade copycat dry onion soup mix recipe is awesome because it’s:

• Healthy
• Frugal
• So much more delicious than store-bought packets
• Super easy to make with only 4 main ingredients

Ingredients

• onion flakes
• powdered beef bullion
• onion powder
• ground celery seed
• granulated garlic (opt)
• salt (opt)
• pepper (opt)
• sugar (opt)
• paprika (opt)

Notes on Ingredients

• Onion Flakes. Also known as dehydrated onion and come in various sizes, depending on the store you’re shopping at. 
• Onion Powder. Also known as granulated onion. This is a super fine powder that looks like garlic powder if you don’t read the label properly. (Ask me how I know!)
• Ground Celery Seed. Not SUPER common, but necessary if you want that classic flavor that only packaged dry onion soup mix can give. If you have whole celery seed, you’ll want to grind them up with a mortar and pestle before making this recipe. (You can use celery seed in homemade chicken stock and in homemade breakfast sausage too.)
• Beef Bullion. Be sure to check the ingredient list on your bullion for chemical ingredients. Even some organic brands I’ve seen have MSG in them. 

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar.

Step 2. Use 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp) in lieu of one packet of dry onion soup mix.

Step 3. Store in a cool pantry.

Recipe Tips

• You may notice that I only listed 4 main ingredients so far. That’s because that’s all you REALLY need to make dry onion soup mix. All the other ingredients are optional.
• I do, however, recommend adding the other ingredients listed because it really is good! 
• The only item I’d still consider “optional” would be the salt. Whether or not you add it depends on the type of bullion you’re using, and what you’re making. Remember that you can always add more salt, but once it’s in, you can’t take it out!

Psst! If you DO want to use salt, I HIGHLY recommend Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD!  Get all the benefits of “homemade” with this top quality salt. Plus, you can get a bag for just 1¢!!

Additional Copycat Onion Soup Mix Tips

• If you use this recipe for instant soup, use homemade stock or beef broth instead of beef bouillon and avoid the too-much-salt situation entirely.
• To make this dry mix vegetarian or vegan, substitute vegetable bouillon instead of beef.
• One ¼ cup serving is the equivalent to one envelope of dry onion soup mix.
• This recipe is a bigger batch. Not massive, but you’ll get at least 3 servings out of it.
• I like to make a big batch and store it in the spice cabinet in a re-purposed jar. Then I scoop out 4 Tablespoons (equivalent to ¼ cup) for whatever recipe I’m making (here’s how to remove the labels off your old jars).

FAQs

To Serve

Use this healthy substitute for dry onion soup mix in any of these recipes:

• Classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast
• The Best Burgers Ever
• Basic Roasted Potatoes
• Mix with sour cream or plain greek yogurt to make a french onion dip!

Ps…One of the core principles of my course Grocery Budget Bootcamp is making food from scratch when it makes sense. Homemade soup mix fits the criteria!

More Homemade Seasonings

• Homemade Seasoning Salt
• Chili Seasoning
• Homemade Italian Seasoning
• Montreal Steak Seasoning

Watch How to Make Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix