Need a quick onion soup mix substitute without running to the store? This homemade onion soup mix comes together in minutes with pantry staples and works anywhere you’d use a packet of French onion soup mix.
From dip and meatloaf to pot roast, gravy, and soup, it’s one of the easiest pantry shortcuts to keep on hand. It’s savory, onion-y, customizable, and honestly tastes better than the boxed stuff. Just 3 tablespoons of a dry onion soup mix replaces 1 store bought packet.
What Is Onion Soup Mix?
Onion soup mix is a dry seasoning blend made with dried onion, bouillon, and spices. Even though it’s called “soup mix,” it’s commonly used to season pot roast, meatloaf, dips, gravies, roasted vegetables, and casseroles.
Why You’ll Love It
This seasoning secret will add a savory note to lots of dishes. Here are a few reasons why we love it:
- Ready in 3 minutes – Faster than a grocery run and made with pantry staples.
- Works like a packet – Use it anywhere a recipe calls for dry onion soup mix or French onion soup mix.
- Big savory flavor – Onion flakes, bouillon, and spices give it that classic cozy, beefy, onion-forward taste.
- Easy to customize – Make it lower sodium, vegetarian, smoother for dip, or extra onion-y.
Onion Soup Mix Recipe ingredients
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 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 – It adds to the tasty broth flavor.
- Parsley flakes – Optional, but adds color and a little herb flavor.
- Celery salt – If you’d really like to step up the flavor, you can substitute this for celery seed instead. This ingredient is also salty which is why I warn about using too much salt in other areas.
- Smoked paprika – Adds subtle warmth and smoky depth; regular or smoked paprika works too.
- Salt and pepper – I prefer to use freshly ground black pepper and fine sea salt, but use sparingly!
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!
Using Dry Onion Soup Mix
Homemade onion soup mix is one of the easiest ways to add savory flavor to weeknight meals. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
- Stir it into sour cream for an easy French onion dip.
- Sprinkle it over pot roast before slow cooking.
- Mix it into meatloaf so every bite has savory onion flavor. Here is my onion soup mix meatloaf recipe with an onion soup gravy too.
- Add it to burger patties for an easy flavor boost.
- Toss it with potatoes before roasting.
- Season vegetables like green beans, carrots, or Brussels sprouts.
- Whisk it into gravy for extra depth.
- Use it as a soup starter with broth and caramelized onions.
- Rub it onto pork chops or chicken before cooking. We love our onion soup grilled pork chop recipe.
- Mix it into mashed potatoes for a sneaky little flavor upgrade.
- Add it to casseroles when they need a little help in the flavor department.
Chef Tips
Use minced dried onion, not onion powder alone. You need both. The flakes bring that classic packet texture, while onion powder fills in the background flavor.
Pulse it for dip. If you want a smoother French onion dip, blitz the mix for a few seconds in a spice grinder so nobody gets a giant onion flake ambush.
Watch the salt. Bouillon brands vary wildly. Taste your mix before using it in meatloaf, gravy, or soup.
Bloom it in liquid. Let the mix sit in broth or sour cream for 5–10 minutes before serving so the dried onion softens and the flavor rounds out.
Double the batch for gift jars. Great as a hostess gift, print out fancy labels with the instructions to make soup and tie with pretty ribbon.
For true substitute performance, write your recipe by packet equivalent. Use 3 tablespoons for every 1 packet in a recipe.
How to Make it Into 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. Top it with a piece of crusty bread, croutons and cheese to make it into a quick French onion soup.
How to Store French Onion Soup Mix
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months for best flavor. It can last longer, but the seasonings start to lose potency over time.
Onion Soup Mix FAQs
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.
Yes. Use chicken or vegetable bouillon instead. Vegetable bouillon is the best choice for a vegetarian onion soup mix substitute.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months for best flavor. It can last longer, but the seasonings start to lose potency over time.
Absolutely. Mix 3 tablespoons with 16 ounces sour cream, then chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Dry Onion Soup Mix Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried onion flakes
- 3 tablespoons ground beef bouillon
- 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 1/2 cup dried onion flakes, 3 tablespoons ground beef bouillon , 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 and 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt in a small mixing bowl and combine.
- For a smoother soup, give it a few whirls in a spice grinder. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Video
Notes
- Yield: makes about X tablespoons / equals X packets
- Packet conversion: 3 tablespoons = 1 packet
- Dip conversion: 3 tablespoons + 16 oz sour cream
- Vegetarian note: swap beef bouillon for vegetable bouillon
- Low sodium note: reduce added salt and use low-sodium bouillon
Nutrition
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 ?
It is tough to keep this as a dry mix after using beef broth!
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!