You don’t need to buy a separate shaker of onion salt when the pantry already has the answer. This quick homemade onion salt uses just 2 tablespoons dried onion and 1 tablespoon coarse salt, then gets blitzed into a fine, savory seasoning you can shake over burgers, potatoes, eggs, popcorn, or anything else that could use a little backup.
The trick is simple. Grind the dried onion and salt together until powdery, then keep it tightly sealed so it stays free-flowing. For best quality, store dry seasonings in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture, which lines up with USDA guidance for dry goods storage.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried onion
- 1 tablespoon unrefined coarse salt
If you want to build out your spice cabinet even further, take a peek at Make Your Own Garlic Salt or Garlic Herb Seasoning for two more easy pantry blends.
Instructions
- Place the dried onion and coarse salt in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder.
- Grind until the mixture becomes a fine powder.
- Transfer the onion salt to a small jar, zip-top bag, or vacuum-seal bag.
- Seal tightly and store in a cool, dry place.
Helpful Tips
- Use a dry grinder. Any leftover moisture turns this from powder to pebble in a hurry.
- Pulse, don’t run nonstop. Short bursts give you a more even powder and keep fine spice dust from packing around the lid.
- Let the dust settle for a few seconds before opening the grinder. Unless you enjoy seasoning your face.
- Label the jar. Onion salt looks an awful lot like several other beige powders once it hits the cabinet.
Variations
- Garlic powder version: Grind dried minced garlic the same way for a homemade garlic powder shortcut.
- Finer texture: Start with onion powder instead of dried minced onion if you want a very smooth seasoning salt.
- Lower-salt blend: Reduce the salt slightly if you want more onion flavor and less salinity in each shake.
If you’d rather start from scratch with the dried ingredient itself, How to Make Dried Onion Flakes at Home walks you through it.
Storage
Store onion salt in an airtight jar or sealed bag in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove, dishwasher steam, and direct sunlight. For best flavor and texture, use it within 6 months. That’s a conservative quality estimate based on the dried onion, which loses punch faster than plain salt.
If it starts clumping, the seasoning has picked up moisture from the air. You can usually break it up and regrind it once, but if the aroma is flat or the mix smells stale, it’s time to make a fresh batch.
Serving Ideas
Use onion salt anywhere you’d normally add salt and a little savory depth. It works especially well on roasted potatoes, burgers, meatloaf, grilled vegetables, scrambled eggs, garlic bread, and homemade snack mixes.
Because this blend already contains salt, start lightly and taste before adding more. It’s much easier to add another pinch than to explain why dinner suddenly tastes like a salt lick.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Onion Salt
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dried onion |
$2.98 |
2 T. |
$0.20 |
|
Unrefined coarse salt |
$0.62 |
1 T. |
$0.02 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$0.22 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.04 |
📅 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
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 Onion Salt
You can, but the texture changes. Dried minced onion gives you the exact method here because you grind it fresh with the salt, while onion powder starts finer and stronger, so use a lighter hand and pulse just enough to combine.
Coarse salt works best because it grinds evenly with the dried onion and helps pull everything into a consistent powder. Fine table salt can work in a pinch, but it blends faster and can leave you with a saltier mix than you expected.
Moisture is usually the culprit. Onion and garlic seasonings absorb humidity quickly, so keep the jar tightly closed, use a dry spoon, and store it away from the stove where steam likes to sneak in and cause trouble.
Start with about the same amount as plain salt, then taste. Since this blend adds onion flavor along with salinity, it can make a dish taste fuller faster, especially on eggs, potatoes, vegetables, and meat.
Absolutely, as long as your grinder can handle it in batches. For the smoothest texture, grind each small batch separately, then stir everything together before storing so you don’t wind up with half powder and half pebbles.
Grind it until it looks like a seasoning you can shake, not chunky flakes. A fine powder sticks better to popcorn, fries, and roasted vegetables, while a coarser grind works better if you want a little texture on meats or bread.
A mortar and pestle will do the job, just with a bit more elbow grease. You can also crush the dried onion first, then mix it with fine salt for a rougher blend that still brings the same flavor.
Not quite. Onion powder is pure onion flavor, while onion salt is a seasoning blend, so it tastes milder and saltier by design. If a recipe already calls for salt separately, swapping blindly can throw the balance off.
A small airtight glass jar works best because it keeps out moisture and lets you see clumping before it gets out of hand. If you’re making a larger batch, a vacuum-seal bag or tightly sealed zip-top bag also works well in a dry pantry.
Start with foods that like both salt and savory depth, such as roasted potatoes, burgers, eggs, popcorn, and sautéed vegetables. It also perks up bland canned green beans better than they probably deserve.
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Did you make this recipe? Tell us how you used it and what you shook it on first in the comments.
🖨️ Print-Friendly Onion Salt
Onion Salt
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried onion
- 1 tablespoon unrefined coarse salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Place the dried onion and coarse salt in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder.
- Grind until the mixture becomes a fine powder.
- Transfer the onion salt to a small jar, zip-top bag, or vacuum-seal bag.
- Seal tightly and store in a cool, dry place.
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
Prep time is an estimate based on measuring, grinding, and packing the seasoning.
For best quality, store airtight in a cool, dry place and use within 6 months.
yes, but how do you dry the onion in the first place?
You dehydrate them in an oven or food dehydrator:
Budget101.com – – How to Dry Vegetables at Home | Dehydrated Veggies
I had no idea it was this easy to make my own garlic and onion powder. I added a bit of cornstarch to prevent clumping, and it’s staying nice and powdery.
Making your own onion powder and garlic powder is a fantastic way to add rich, robust flavor to your dishes without relying on store-bought spices. 🧅🧄 This DIY method ensures your seasonings are fresh, free of additives, and much more aromatic. Plus, it’s super cost-effective, especially if you grow your own onions and garlic! 🌱💰
For the best results, slice the onions and garlic evenly and dry them until they’re completely crisp before grinding. This will help prevent clumping and ensure a smooth, fine powder. Homemade seasoning blends are perfect for adding to soups, stews, marinades, and dry rubs, giving your meals that extra burst of flavor.