Dry Onion Soup Mix: How to Make It at Home and Use It Everywhere
The familiar little foil packet of dry onion soup mix has been a kitchen staple for decades for good reason: it’s intensely savory, versatile, and convenient. But the commercial version is loaded with sodium, artificial flavors, and fillers that you can easily avoid by making your own. A homemade dry onion soup mix takes about five minutes to assemble and tastes noticeably cleaner and more onion-forward than the packet version.
Once you understand the components of a good dried onion soup mix, you can scale it to any quantity and store it in your pantry for months. Knowing how to make dry onion soup mix also means you’ll never run out mid-recipe again. This diy dry onion soup mix covers the classic formula, the best uses, and how to adjust the ratios to your taste.
What Goes Into Dry Onion Soup Mix
Core Ingredients
The base of any dry onion soup mix is dried minced onion or dried onion flakes. These provide the characteristic sharp onion flavor when rehydrated. Beef bouillon granules (or crushed beef bouillon cubes) add the savory, meaty base. Onion powder reinforces the onion character. Garlic powder adds depth. Dried parsley adds color and a subtle herbal note.
The Full Recipe
To replace one standard packet of commercial mix, combine:
- 4 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
This homemade dry onion soup mix quantity equals one commercial packet and works as a direct substitute in any recipe calling for the store-bought version.
How to Make Dry Onion Soup Mix: The Process
Knowing how to make dry onion soup mix is as simple as measuring and mixing. Combine all dry ingredients in a small bowl and stir until evenly distributed. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. This diy dry onion soup mix keeps well for up to six months if the dried onions were fresh when you started.
For a lower-sodium version of this dried onion soup mix, use low-sodium bouillon and reduce the celery salt to a pinch. The flavor is less aggressive, but still very usable in dips, roasts, and soups.
Uses Beyond Onion Soup
The applications for this dry onion soup mix go far beyond soup. Mix it with sour cream for an onion dip. Stir it into ground beef before making burgers. Use it as a rub for pot roast or slow-cooker beef. Add it to bread dough for a savory loaf. Combine it with butter and toss with roasted potatoes for an intensely flavored side dish.
A tablespoon of this homemade dry onion soup mix adds depth to gravies, stews, and rice dishes. It’s essentially a concentrated savory spice blend that happens to be called onion soup mix. Thinking of it that way opens up a lot of uses.
Making a Large Batch
Scale this diy dry onion soup mix up for batch cooking. Multiply all quantities by 5 or 10 and store in a labeled jar. Having a pre-made batch means you can use it spontaneously without measuring each time. A clearly labeled jar with the date you made it helps you track freshness. After six months, the dried onions may lose some intensity, so replace the batch.
Pro Tips Recap
Use real dried minced onion, not onion flakes, for the best texture and flavor. Toast the dried onion briefly in a dry pan before adding other ingredients to deepen the flavor. Make this dried onion soup mix in bulk and keep it accessible. And remember that this mix is already salty: taste before adding additional salt to any dish it goes into.
