Whip up a homemade onion soup mix in about 5 minutes with simple pantry staples! If you can measure and stir, you can make this, and once you do, you may never go back to the packets again!
The utter nuisance of realizing I’m out of Lipton onion soup mix, mid-recipe, is something that used to happen more often than I’d like to admit. The good news is that I always had what I needed to make a homemade version already sitting on the shelf!
The first time I made my slow cooker meatball stroganoff with this homemade dry onion soup mix, my family never noticed a difference.
I knew then that it was a hit, but just because I wanted the extra satisfaction, I once had Bob try this mix in a blind taste test in two batches of onion dip, and he couldn’t tell the difference between Lipton and my homemade version.
So, there you go. It’s a simple swap that just makes sense. Cheaper, cleaner (goodbye MSG!), and honestly just as good. And if you know me, you know I love my slow cooker recipes like crockpot Mississippi pot roast and slow cooker cube steak and gravy, so having a little mason jar of this spice handy at all times is pretty much mandatory in my house!
Onion Soup Mix Substitute
Why make your own onion soup mix
- Lower cost. Buy in bulk and the cost per batch is significantly lower than the Lipton packets.
- Sodium control. We know that seasoning packets are usually very high in sodium. When you make your own, you control how much salt goes in.
- Shelf-stable. Stores up to 6 months, so, you’ll always have it on hand!
Helpful Tools
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
JumpThe star of the mix is dried minced onion, not the onion powder. This is important. During the cooking process, the flakes rehydrate, giving the mix the same chunky, textured quality you get from the original Lipton packet. Onion powder alone gives overall flavor, but no texture. So, we use both.
I use Sam’s Club’s dried minced onion because I go through it quickly and the value is unbeatable, but any brand works fine.
You’ll also need beef bouillon granules or powder, onion powder, dried parsley flakes, celery seed, paprika, garlic powder, dried parsley, and black pepper. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.
A quick note on the bouillon: my first test batch came out too salty because I used regular bouillon cubes. A simple fix was to use low-sodium granules or reduce the amount to 1 tablespoon. I now default to low-sodium every time.
How to make homemade onion soup mix
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: Measure. Add all of your measured ingredients to a small bowl.
- Step Two: Stir. Mix everything until combined.
- Step Three: Store. Transfer the mix to a mason jar or airtight container. Seal and enjoy for up to 6 months!
How to store it
I like to use a small mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. These are also cute for gifting. Just stick a label or a ribbon around it!
Keep it stored on a pantry shelf or your dedicated spice rack for up to 6 months.
When you’re ready to use it, give it a good shake so everything is evenly dispersed again. The heavier onion flakes tend to settle.
How to use it
This mix substitutes 1:1 for a Lipton onion soup packet in any recipe that calls for one. Here are some more of my favorites that use it:
- Crock Pot Roast Beef
- Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Crockpot French Onion Chicken
- Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches
- The Best Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
And if now you’re a homemade seasoning mix person like I am, don’t miss my Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix!
Substitutions and Variations
- Beef bouillon options. Granules or powder work best because they incorporate evenly into the dry mix. If you prefer something like Better Than Bouillon, you can skip the granules and just stir in a bit of the paste when you make your recipe.
- Chicken bouillon? Technically, this can be used, but will change the flavor profile. Good for lighter dishes and chicken-based slow cooker recipes.
- Low sodium. Use low sodium beef bouiloon granules. You can always season to taste once you start making the recipe.
FAQs
3 tablespoons of this homemade mix equals one standard Lipton onion soup packet. The recipe card below notes this for quick reference.
Yes, and you should! Just scale every ingredient proportionally (times 2 or 3) and store it in a larger jar. This is where the cost savings really add up!
That’s by design! The dried minced onion flakes rehydrate as they cook, softening into tender little pieces throughout your dish. This is exactly what gives the original Lipton mix its signature texture.
When stored properly in a cool, dry place, this copycat Lipton onion soup mix can last up to 6 months. The dried minced onion usually has the shortest shelf life, so check the expiry date before you add it.
Need more homemade seasoning recipes? Try these:
Homemade Montreal Steak Seasoning
Click here to view my entire collection of homemade sauces and seasonings.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dried onion
- 2 Tablespoons beef bouillon granules I used sodium free
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon celery seed
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt optional, see notes
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl.¼ cup dried onion, 2 Tablespoons beef bouillon granules, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon celery seed, ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon dried parsley, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- As written, this recipe makes approximately 1/4 cup, which is how much you’ll find in one packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix (2 oz/approx. 5 Tbsp).
- I used “sodium free granulated beef bouillon” in my testing (Herb Ox brand). For this reason, I added salt. If you are using low sodium or full sodium granules, you will need to adjust/omit the additional salt.
- If you don’t have granulated bouillon, you can crush 2 beef bouillon cubes to use in their place.
- Store mix in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Love this, I don’t buy onion soup mix anymore.
Not needed, right?!
What can be used instead of bullion? Hubby has a food allergy and it seems all of them contain MAG.
I haven’t tested, but Google is telling me mushroom powder or nutritional yeast might be good subs. Let me know if you try!