This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Some pantry staples earn their shelf space because they can do more than one job. This homemade onion soup mix is one of them.

We use it every single week. It can become a quick chip dip, add savory onion flavor to a roast, or add an easy layer of flavor to meatloaf, burgers, potatoes, casseroles, and plenty of other family meals.

And because I make it in a larger batch and keep it in a jar, I don’t have to mix up a new batch every time I need it. I just give the jar a shake, measure out what I need, and put it back in the pantry.

That’s exactly the kind of staple I want in my Pantry to Plate pantry: make it once, then find plenty of ways to use it.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Why Make Onion Soup Mix From Scratch?

Dry onion soup mix is useful for so much more than soup. It works in dips, roasts, meatloaf, burgers, casseroles, potatoes, and all kinds of easy family meals.

Instead of keeping individual packets on hand, I prefer having a jar ready to scoop from.

This version starts with plenty of dehydrated minced onion and beef bouillon powder, then adds parsley, onion powder, paprika, garlic, black pepper, and celery salt.

There’s no complicated process. Measure, mix, and jar it.

Homemade Onion Soup Mix Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup dehydrated minced onion
1/2 cup beef bouillon powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Instructions

Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl or directly into a jar.
Stir or shake thoroughly to combine.
Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar and store it with your other dry pantry staples.
Give the jar a shake before measuring, since the finer powdered ingredients can settle toward the bottom.

Tip: I use a canning funnel when filling my jars. It keeps the seasoning from ending up all over the counter and makes transferring bulk mixes into jars much easier.

Measuring spoon adding red seasoning through a canning funnel into a jar of layered onion soup mix ingredients

How to Make Onion Chip Dip

This may be one of the easiest ways to put the mix to work.

Combine:

2 tablespoons homemade onion soup mix
1 cup sour cream

Stir well to combine.

That’s it.

The dehydrated onion will soften as the dip sits, so you can make it ahead if you’d like. Serve it with potato chips or vegetables.

Pouring homemade onion soup mix from a jar onto sour cream in a white bowl

More Ways to Use Homemade Onion Soup Mix

This is where keeping a jar in the pantry really pays off.

Spoonful of onion soup mix held over ground beef in a cast iron skillet

Pot Roast or Chuck Roast

Use the dry mix to add onion and savory beef flavor to a roast. This is one of my favorite reasons to keep it on hand.

Meatloaf and Meatballs

Add the mix to ground beef when you want plenty of savory onion flavor without chopping fresh onion.

Burgers

Add some of the mix to ground beef before forming burger patties for another easy way to use it.

Hands mixing onion soup mix into ground beef in a glass bowl

When you want a dedicated burger seasoning instead, try my Homemade Burger Seasoning.

Roasted Potatoes

The combination of onion, garlic, black pepper, and savory beef flavor also makes this an easy seasoning option for potatoes.

Casseroles and Slow-Cooker Meals

This is an easy jar to reach for when a casserole or slow-cooker meal needs an extra layer of savory onion flavor.

Having the mix already made means there’s nothing else to prep. Scoop out what you need and keep cooking.

A Note About the Beef Bouillon

Beef bouillon makes up a significant part of this recipe, so the bouillon you choose will affect both the flavor and saltiness of the finished mix.

If your bouillon is particularly salty, keep that in mind before adding additional salt to whatever you’re cooking.

I wouldn’t automatically add extra salt to this mix. The bouillon and celery salt already contribute salt, and you can always adjust the final dish to taste.

How to Store Homemade Onion Soup Mix

Store the mix in a clean, dry, airtight jar in a cool pantry away from heat and moisture.

Always use a dry measuring spoon when scooping from the jar, and give the jar a quick shake before measuring to redistribute the ingredients.

I also recommend putting the basic chip dip instructions directly on the label:

Chip Dip: 2 Tbsp mix + 1 cup sour cream

That turns the jar into something you can grab and use without pulling up the recipe every time.

Writing on a jar of layered homemade onion soup mix with a black marker

Make Your Pantry Work Harder

This is exactly why I like making pantry staples from scratch.

I’m not interested in filling shelves with ingredients that only have one purpose. I want staples I can reach for over and over again.

This one jar can become chip dip, season a roast, add flavor to ground beef, season potatoes, or give an easy boost of flavor to a casserole or slow-cooker meal.

One pantry staple. Homemade soup, chip dip, and so much more.

More pantry staples: Homemade Chicken Bouillon Powder, Homemade Beef Bouillon Powder, Homemade Burger Seasoning and Homemade Cream of Soup Mix.

Homemade Onion Soup Mix FAQ

How do I make onion dip with homemade onion soup mix?

Mix 2 tablespoons of the homemade onion soup mix with 1 cup of sour cream.

Stir well to combine. You can serve it right away, but allowing it to sit gives the dehydrated onion time to soften.

Do I need to add salt?

The recipe contains beef bouillon powder and celery salt, both of which contribute salt. The salt level will also depend on the beef bouillon you use.

Taste the finished dish before adding additional salt.

Do I need special equipment?

No. A bowl, measuring cups and spoons, and an airtight jar are enough.

I do use a canning funnel when transferring dry mixes into jars because it makes the job considerably cleaner.

What can I make with onion soup mix besides soup?

Use it for chip dip, roast, meatloaf, meatballs, burgers, potatoes, casseroles, and other savory dishes that benefit from onion and beef flavor.

A Few Things I Use

Canning funnel – keeps dry mixes off the counter when filling jars.
Glass spice jars – airtight storage for homemade seasoning blends.
Measuring spoons – for measuring the seasonings and scooping mix from the jar.

Homemade Onion Soup Mix

Some pantry staples earn their shelf space because they can do more than one job. This homemade onion soup mix is one of them.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings: 1 batch

Course: Seasoning Mix

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes