You can make a fast homemade onion soup mix with pantry staples and skip the little box price tag. This dry blend gives you the same savory onion-and-beef base you want for dips, meatloaf, burgers, roasted potatoes, casseroles, and quick soup starters.
This batch combines minced onion, beef bouillon, onion powder, celery seed, and a touch of sugar into an easy seasoning mix you can keep on hand for busy nights. Stored airtight in a cool, dry place, dry mixes like this keep best when protected from heat, moisture, and light, which lines up with USDA dry-goods storage guidance.
Ingredients
This mix keeps the ingredient list short and practical. The minced onion gives it body, the bouillon brings the savory backbone, and the onion powder fills in flavor so the blend tastes fuller instead of flat.
- 3/4 cup minced onion
- 1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
- 4 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed celery seed
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
If you like keeping homemade pantry blends around, take a look at Almost Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix and Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix for a couple more onion-forward versions.
Instructions
Once the ingredients are measured, the rest is gloriously low drama.
- Measure the minced onion, beef bouillon granules, onion powder, crushed celery seed, and sugar into a medium bowl.
- Stir until the seasonings are evenly combined and the bouillon is distributed throughout the onions.
- Transfer the mix to a zip-top bag, vacuum-seal bag, or airtight jar.
- Seal tightly and label the container with the name and date so you can grab it quickly when you need it.
This batch makes about 1 cup plus 2 3/4 teaspoons of dry mix, which is roughly 9 portions at 2 tablespoons each, estimated.
Tips for Best Flavor
- Crush the celery seed lightly before adding it so the flavor spreads through the mix instead of hiding in a few sharp bites.
- Mix thoroughly because bouillon granules like to sink and settle. A quick stir before each use helps too.
- Use a dry jar and dry spoon every time. One little hit of moisture can turn a nice loose mix into a stubborn clump.
- Label the jar with a serving note if you use it often for dip, meatloaf, or pot roast. Future you will appreciate the favor.
Variations and Uses
This homemade onion soup mix works anywhere you’d normally reach for a boxed onion soup packet. Use about 2 tablespoons as one packet equivalent for casseroles, slow cooker roasts, gravy-style skillet meals, burgers, and meatloaf.
- Stir it into sour cream for a quick onion dip.
- Mix it into ground beef for meatloaf or burger patties.
- Sprinkle it over potatoes before roasting.
- Add it to slow cooker pot roast for deeper savory flavor.
- Use it as a shortcut seasoning in soups and rice dishes.
If you’re building out a homemade pantry, Beef Stew Seasoning Mix is another useful blend to keep nearby.
Storage
Store the dry mix in a tightly sealed jar, zip-top bag, or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry, dark spot. For best quality, use it within 6 months. That’s a conservative estimate based on the dried onion and spice ingredients holding flavor best when kept away from moisture, heat, and light.
If you prepare a dish with this mix, refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use them within 3 to 4 days. Freeze cooked leftovers for longer storage if needed.
For even longer pantry life, a tightly packed jar or sealed bag helps keep humidity out. If the mix smells dull, clumps hard, or loses that punchy onion scent, it’s time to replace it.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Almost Lipton's Onion Soup Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Minced onion |
$1.08 |
3/4 C. |
$1.17 |
|
Beef bouillon granules |
$3.48 |
1/3 C. |
$0.78 |
|
Onion powder |
$1.24 |
4 t. |
$0.12 |
|
Crushed celery seed |
$1.24 |
1/4 t. |
$0.01 |
|
Sugar |
$2.98 |
1/4 t. |
$0.01 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$2.09 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.23 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Minced Onion, 2.62 oz
- Beef Bouillon Cubes, 3.25 oz Jar
- Onion Powder, 2.62 oz
- Celery Seed, 1.87 oz
- Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Almost Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix
Use about 2 tablespoons. This batch makes roughly 9 packet-size portions, so it works well when a casserole, roast, or meatloaf recipe calls for one envelope and you don’t feel like paying for extra cardboard.
Yes, but crush them first so the mix blends evenly. Granules distribute faster, while cubes tend to leave salty pockets unless you grind them down to a fine texture before measuring.
A small pinch of celery salt works in a pinch, but reduce the bouillon slightly so the mix doesn’t tip too salty. If you have ground celery seed, use the same amount and stir it in well for a more even flavor.
That tiny amount rounds out the sharp edge from the bouillon and dried onion. You won’t taste sweetness, but you will notice the mix tastes more balanced instead of harsh or one-note.
Keep it airtight and bone dry. Use a dry spoon, store it away from the stove, and shake the jar now and then because steam and humidity are usually the reason dry mixes turn into a brick.
Absolutely. Start with 2 tablespoons mix stirred into 16 ounces of sour cream, then chill it for at least 30 minutes so the dried onion has time to soften and the flavor can settle in.
Yes, just scale every ingredient by the same factor. Doubling and tripling work well, but stir longer than you think you need to so the bouillon and onion powder don’t sink to the bottom of the container.
If the onion smell is faint, the color looks dull, or the mix has hardened from moisture, replace it. Dry mixes rarely fail with drama, they just quietly stop doing their job.
It shines in meatloaf, burgers, pot roast, roasted potatoes, skillet gravy, and casseroles. Anywhere you want salty savory onion flavor without chopping an onion on a busy night, this earns its keep.
You can, especially on beef and potatoes, but use a light hand because bouillon is concentrated. For a simple rub, start with 1 to 2 teaspoons per pound of meat and add more only after tasting the cooked dish.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Almost Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix
Almost Lipton's Onion Soup Mix
Ingredients
- ¾ cup minced onion
- ⅓ cup beef bouillon granules
- 4 teaspoons onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed celery seed
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
Equipment
Instructions
- Measure the minced onion, beef bouillon granules, onion powder, crushed celery seed, and sugar into a medium bowl.
- Stir until evenly combined.
- Transfer the mix to a zip-top bag, vacuum-seal bag, or airtight jar.
- Seal tightly and label with the name and date.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Use about 2 tablespoons to replace 1 store packet, estimated.
Store airtight in a cool, dry, dark place for up to 6 months for best quality, estimated.
If used in a prepared dish, refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days.
Prep time is an estimate based on measuring and mixing the dry ingredients.
how much of this do you use to equal one package of lipton onion soup?
About 5 tablespoons of mix are equal to 1 1¼-ounce package.
To make onion dip: Mix 5 tablespoons with one pint of sour cream.
Thank you so much! Love your nickname!
thank you i was looking for a mix like this for when i make rice and vienna sausages. buying the mix is expensive.
so happy i found this site. this is a recipe i will be using a lot – thank you!! :jar:
shari
making this now! i use onion soup mix so often and i gets expensive buying it, even the off brand.
thanks so much. i use onion soup mix for so many things, and now i can make it and not worry about not having any.
i tried this recipe tonight and it was great.i used it in some deer hamburger and my family raved about it i love this website !!!!!
I have tried this mix and it is awesome! Thank you budget 101!!!
I keep a jar of this in my spice cabinet now. Way cheaper than store packets and no weird additives. Works great for meatloaf and pot roast—tastes just like the OG.