Elevate your cooking with this incredibly easy Homemade Onion Soup Mix recipe. Take full control over the sodium, MSG, and gluten content in your meals, ensuring a healthier and more flavorful experience for your family.

Homemade Onion Soup Mix: Your Kitchen Essential

Creating your own seasonings at home is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your culinary skills and cater to specific dietary needs. This homemade onion soup mix recipe is a shining example, allowing you to bypass unwanted additives commonly found in store-bought packets. Just like our popular Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix, Taco Seasoning Mix, or Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, this onion soup mix delivers on both taste and health. It’s not just about what you leave out, but also about the fresh, vibrant flavors you bring in.

Why Choose Homemade Onion Soup Mix?

In an era where health-conscious eating is paramount, understanding what goes into your food is more important than ever. Store-bought seasoning packets often contain high levels of sodium, MSG, and sometimes gluten, which can be problematic for many individuals. By making your own, you gain complete control:

• Sodium Control: Many commercial mixes are loaded with sodium, contributing to concerns about blood pressure and overall heart health. Our recipe allows you to use low-sodium or sodium-free bouillon, and adjust additional salt to your preference.
• MSG-Free: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer that some people prefer to avoid due to sensitivities. This homemade version is naturally MSG-free.
• Gluten-Free: A common question about store-bought mixes is whether they are gluten-free. While many are not, our homemade recipe is inherently gluten-free, making it a safe choice for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities. Always double-check your individual ingredient labels (like bouillon) to ensure they are certified gluten-free if this is a critical concern.
• Freshness and Purity: Homemade mixes ensure you’re using fresh spices without anti-caking agents, artificial colors, or preservatives. The difference in flavor is undeniable.
• Cost-Effective: Buying individual spices and making your own mixes can often be more economical in the long run than repeatedly purchasing single-use packets.

Taste-Tested Perfection: Delicious and Versatile

My journey to creating this homemade onion soup mix was driven by a desire for a healthier option that didn’t compromise on flavor. The goal was to replicate (and ideally, surpass!) the beloved taste of the packet kind, while specifically allowing for sodium control. This led me to seek out sodium-free beef bouillon granules, which are readily available in most major supermarkets, often found near the beef and chicken broth or in the spice aisle. After whipping up a batch, I rigorously tested it in several of my favorite recipes. The results were outstanding – not only did it taste absolutely amazing, but it performed seamlessly, integrating into dishes as if it were the commercial mix. In fact, many taste testers noted a slight improvement in the overall depth and freshness of flavor. This recipe proves that you don’t have to sacrifice taste for health.

Essential Ingredients for Your Homemade Mix

Crafting this flavorful onion soup mix requires just a few key ingredients. Each plays a vital role in achieving that classic savory, umami-rich profile you know and love:

• Dried Onion Flakes: These are the backbone of the mix, providing a robust, sweet, and slightly pungent onion flavor, along with texture. Look for dehydrated minced onion, not onion powder, as they are distinctly different. The flakes rehydrate beautifully in liquids, adding depth to soups and stews.
• Sodium-Free Beef Bouillon Granules: This is where you gain significant control over the sodium content. Granules dissolve easily and offer a rich, savory base. If you can only find bouillon cubes, simply crush them thoroughly before adding to the mix. While regular bouillon can be used, the sodium-free option ensures you can season your dishes to taste without over-salting them from the start. Consider vegetarian bouillon for a plant-based alternative.
• Onion Powder: Complementing the dried onion flakes, onion powder provides a more concentrated and finely distributed onion flavor. It helps to ensure that every bite of your dish carries that essential onion essence, offering a smoother flavor profile than flakes alone.
• Parsley Flakes: Although optional, parsley flakes add a touch of fresh, herbaceous brightness and a lovely visual appeal. Commercial mixes often include it, so it’s a great addition for authenticity. While it doesn’t dramatically alter the flavor, it contributes a subtle freshness and a pop of color.
• Celery Seed: This might seem like an unexpected addition, but celery seed is a secret weapon in many seasoning blends, including onion soup mix. It provides a subtle, earthy, and slightly bitter note that enhances the overall savory profile without being overpowering. It’s a foundational spice that rounds out the blend.
• Paprika: Use regular paprika for this recipe, not smoked paprika. It lends a mild, sweet pepper flavor and a beautiful reddish hue to the mix, contributing to the visual appeal and adding a layer of subtle warmth to the overall profile.
• Ground Black Pepper: A staple in almost any seasoning, black pepper adds a hint of mild heat and pungent aroma, enhancing the overall complexity of the mix and balancing the other flavors.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Onion Soup Mix

Making this homemade onion soup mix is incredibly straightforward, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor payoff. Here’s a simple guide:

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
Measure all of the dried ingredients precisely into a clean, dry bowl or a lidded container. Accuracy in measurement ensures consistent flavor every time you make a batch.

Step 2: Mix Thoroughly
Using a spoon or whisk, mix all the ingredients together thoroughly until they are well combined. Ensure there are no clumps and that the different spices are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. This step is crucial for an even flavor profile in your recipes. Once mixed, transfer the seasoning to an airtight container.

Step 3: Storage
Store your homemade onion soup mix in a lidded, airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place. This will help maintain its potency and freshness for up to 6 months. Labeling your container with the date of preparation is a good practice to ensure you use it at its peak flavor.

Versatile Uses for Your Homemade Onion Soup Mix

This mix is incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways:

• To make classic onion soup: Place 3 tablespoons of this mix into a medium saucepan. Stir in 4 cups of water and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, continuing to stir occasionally, for 10 minutes. This yields about 3 1/2 cups of delicious, comforting onion soup.
• To make onion dip: For a quick and crowd-pleasing dip, combine 3 tablespoons of this mix with 1 (16 oz.) container of sour cream. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving with your favorite chips or vegetables.
• Substitution Ratio: Approximately three tablespoons of this homemade mix will equal one standard packet of store-bought onion soup mix. This makes it easy to adapt your favorite recipes.
• Flavoring Roasts and Meats: Sprinkle liberally over pot roasts, pork roasts, or chicken before roasting for an incredible depth of flavor.
• Seasoning Vegetables: Toss with roasted potatoes, carrots, or other root vegetables before baking.
• Marinades: Incorporate into marinades for beef, pork, or poultry to infuse a rich, savory taste.
• Casseroles and Stews: Add a spoonful to your favorite casseroles or stews for an instant boost of umami.

Recipe Card: Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix

This is a deliciously easy Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix recipe. Control the sodium, MSG and gluten that goes into your diet with this do-it-yourself recipe!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (based on 32 reviews)

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Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 1 oz (per serving of mix)

Author: Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

• ¼ cup dried onion flakes
• 2 tablespoons sodium-free beef bouillon granules
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon parsley flakes (optional, for color and subtle freshness)
• ⅛ teaspoon celery seed
• ⅛ teaspoon paprika (regular, not smoked)
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl or a lidded container.
2. Mix together well. Stir the mixture until all ingredients are evenly combined.
3. Store the finished mix in a lidded, airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months to maintain optimal freshness and flavor.

Notes

• To make soup: Place 3 tablespoons of this mix into a medium saucepan. Stir in 4 cups water and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Makes about 3 1/2 cups.
• To make classic onion dip: Combine 3 tablespoons of this mix with 1 (16 oz.) container sour cream. Mix thoroughly and chill before serving.
• Consider doubling or tripling this recipe to always have it conveniently on hand for all your cooking needs.
• When using as a substitute for a standard packet of store-bought onion soup mix, approximately 3 tablespoons of this homemade blend will be equivalent.

Course: Seasonings, Soup

Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 20 kcal (per serving of mix)

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used for individual ingredients.

Explore More Homemade Ingredients

Once you experience the joy and benefits of making your own onion soup mix, you’ll want to explore other homemade seasoning and ingredient alternatives. Here are some more of our favorite recipes to get you started on your journey to a more natural and controlled pantry:

• Homemade Ranch Seasoning
• Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Homemade Everything But The Bagel Seasoning
• Homemade Apple Pie Spice
• Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
• Beau Monde Seasoning
• Taco Seasoning
• Homemade Ranch Dressing (+Video)
• Homemade Bisquick
• Homemade Velveeta

Originally published: November 2016
Updated and republished: April 2019