Onion Soup Mix

Rather than stocking up on store-bought envelopes, stir together onion soup mix at home. This recipe only has five ingredients: onion flakes, onion powder, beef bouillon, sugar and celery seed. Add more or less of any ingredient to create the perfect house recipe.

This onion soup mix recipe makes 1-1/4 cups of dry mix—that’s five times more than a standard box of premade soup mix. It lasts a long time, too. You’ll have plenty on hand for all kinds of onion soup recipes, from French onion dip to soups and meat loaf.

Onion Soup Mix Ingredients

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• Dried minced onion: This is finely minced real onion that’s been dehydrated to make flavorful flakes. You’ll need 3/4 cup, so look for a large container of dried onion in the spice aisle.
• Beef bouillon granules: Granules are the powdered version of bouillon cubes. Bouillon is loaded with concentrated beef flavor.
• Onion powder: This soup mix gets a second dose of onion in the form of onion powder. This ingredient dissolves smoothly in soups and dips, while the minced onions keep their shape and add texture.
• Sugar: Just 1/4 teaspoon of sugar adds a hint of sweetness that enhances the onion flavor in this mix.
• Celery seed: A little celery seed provides this flavor-packed mixture’s final, savory note.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the ingredients

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Pour the minced onion, beef bouillon granules, onion powder, sugar and celery seed into a small bowl. Use a spoon to stir the ingredients to combine thoroughly.

Step 2: Store the onion soup mix

Transfer the soup mix to an airtight container or Mason jar and cover tightly. Label the container with the name and date, then store the soup mix in a cool, dry place away from heat or direct sunlight. This recipe makes 1-1/4 cups or 20 tablespoons.

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Recipe Variations

• Add paprika: Stir in a teaspoon or two of Spanish paprika to give the soup mix a subtle, smoky taste.
• Include dried herbs: Dried parsley, minced, dried chives or dried thyme add color and herbal flavor to the onion soup mix.
• Use garlic in the mix: Make this soup mix even more savory by substituting dried, minced garlic for half of the minced onion.
• Make a vegetarian onion soup mix: Use granulated vegetable bouillon instead of beef bouillon. The meatless mixture will add tons of flavor to soups and recipes.

How to Store Onion Soup Mix

For the best flavor, keep the onion soup mix cool and dry. Store the mix in an airtight glass or plastic container. Cover tightly and store the mix at room temperature—a cool, dark location is ideal.

How long does onion soup mix last?

Your onion soup mix will last for up to one year when stored properly.

Onion Soup Mix Tips

How can you make onion soup mix gluten-free?

Great news! This homemade onion soup mix is naturally gluten-free. Some packaged onion soup mixes contain gluten starches to keep the ingredients from clumping, but our recipe has none. If you find that your homemade soup mix is clumping, stir or shake to loosen the ingredients.

How else can you use onion soup mix?

This mix makes so many non-soup recipes taste delicious! Mix a few tablespoons into ground beef for extra-savory hamburgers or meatloaf. Or fold it into ground beef or turkey to fill pasties, make meatballs for beef Stroganoff or fill a shepherd’s pie. Coat chicken breasts with oil and onion soup mix and place them on a baking sheet with sliced veggies; bake for an easy sheet pan dinner. You can also toss a tablespoon or two with veggies before roasting.

To make onion soup:

Pour four cups of water into a medium saucepan and stir in 5 tablespoons of onion soup mix. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat; simmer uncovered, stirring the soup occasionally, for about 10 minutes. This makes four servings of soup.

To make roasted potatoes:

Preheat the oven to 450°F and have ready an ungreased 15×10-inch baking dish. Slice six medium potatoes (peeled or unpeeled) into 1/2-inch cubes. (Here’s how to choose the best potatoes for this recipe.) Pour the potatoes into a large bowl and add 1/3 cup of olive oil and 5 tablespoons of onion soup mix. Use a large spoon to toss the ingredients together so the potatoes are coated. Spread the potatoes evenly in the baking dish and bake them for 35 to 40 minutes; stir the potatoes occasionally during roasting. This makes six servings.

To make onion dip:

Scoop two cups of sour cream into a medium bowl. Add 5 tablespoons of onion soup mix and mix it thoroughly into the sour cream. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dip for two hours to let the onions soften and the flavors meld. Serve the dip with raw vegetables, potato chips or crackers.