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!
Onion soup mix is a great way to add depth of flavor to your favorite recipes, and it is so versatile! I’ve started making a homemade version of dry 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 homemade onion soup mix has worked so well that I have since researched recipes to create more of my own mixes.
I have come up with recipes for my own taco seasoning and ranch dressing seasoning, and I use all three of these dry seasoning mixes a lot more than I ever expected I would!
I make double and triple batches of these seasonings and keep them in mason jars in my pantry. And the best part is, because they use simple ingredients that are already in my spice cabinet, I can easily make more whenever they run out.
No more last-minute trips to the grocery store to grab packets of Lipton onion soup mix – I have my own homemade substitute ready to go!
A Healthy Substitute for Lipton Onion Soup Mix
While I love the ease of the commercially packaged onion soup mix, some brands can tend to have an ingredient list that is less than desirable.
And if you’re looking to curb your sodium intake, or need to be gluten-free, it can be hard to find a store-bought option that fits those dietary requirements.
By making your own onion soup mix, you can control the ingredients and leave out fillers and additives.
Ingredients
Making your own homemade 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 dry onion flakes)
- beef bouillon (or beef bouillon granules)
- 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.
If you are needing a low-sodium substitute for a packet of onion soup mix (have you SEEN the amount of sodium in the store-bought stuff??), make sure to use a brand of beef bouillon that is low-sodium or sodium-free. Herb Ox makes a great sodium-free option.
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. You can also use them whole, so feel free to skip this step if you prefer.
How to Make Your Own Homemade Lipton 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 homemade mixes in pint-size regular mouth mason jars (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 glass jar into a handy spice container!
Easy Recipes for Using Your Own Soup Mix
You can use this homemade seasoning mix as a substitute in any recipe calling for a packet of regular, Beefy Onion, or French Onion soup mix.
Use 3 tablespoons of your homemade mix for each envelope of dry onion soup mix called for in the recipe.
To make homemade French Onion dip:
Stir 3 tablespoons of your copycat Lipton onion soup mix into one 16-ounce container of sour cream.
To make a 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 in with my roast. But you can also use this to make a killer slow cooker pot roast, too.
For extra ease and flavor, use the leftover liquid and drippings to make a stellar onion gravy!
To make onion-roasted potatoes:
Mix 3 tablespoons of your soup mix with 1/3 cup olive oil. Toss with about 2 pounds of diced or quartered Russet, Yukon, or red potatoes. Then roast your potatoes in a 425F degree oven for 35-40 minutes.
To make French Onion compound butter:
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of the dry soup mix with 1 stick of softened butter. Use this 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 favorite recipes.
Double Up
This recipe will make the equivalent of about 4 1/2 store-bought packets.
However, because this homemade soup mix recipe is so versatile and can be used in so many dishes, you may want to make a fairly large batch. 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 Dry 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 how it is stored.
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, event things like caramel color or corn syrup. While some do not list gluten-containing ingredients, they generally cannot be relied upon to be gluten-free. Many state that they contain ingredients like milk products, corn starch, and/or monosodium glutamate – all of which can be problematic for those with certain food allergies.
Yup! Sure can. This homemade dry onion soup mix recipe does not use fillers and additives so you have control over the ingredients. You’ll need to find gluten-free options for each ingredient. These are generally not 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
- Instant Pot Apricot Chicken from Peanut Blossom
Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix
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!
This is great. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
This is great. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks!