Lipton Onion Soup Mix. While the rest of the world might not be familiar with this product, I’m betting there are very few here in the US who didn’t grow up with it – and the old familiar recipes. I didn’t want to shell out the bucks for a small box with a packet or two, so when I revisited some of those old classics, I made my own Homemade Onion Soup Mix.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix
Back in the 70s, my Mom, who was an excellent cook, didn’t blink an eye at using the Lipton Onion Soup Mix in a few recipes. I got away from that, but I was feeling nostalgic and thought I’d make a few. I was more than a little surprised at how good some of those recipes I had always taken for granted were. I’ve even put together a little collection of my fave tried and true Lipton Onion Soup Recipes here on my site.
About Homemade Lipton Onion Soup Mix:
The best of that collection has to be the Quaker Oats Meatloaf, just like Mom made it. And a very old recipe for Crock Pot Slow Cooker Pork or Brisket. I found that recipe in my Mom’s recipe box after she passed, and the funny thing was, I gave that one to her. And of course, you can’t pass up Lipton’s French Onion Dip! It was better than I remembered and blew away any refrigerated cartons from the grocery! Other recipes are in that collection, too.
But speaking of recipes, I don’t know anyone who actually makes soup out of Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix and water! I’ve only ever had it used in recipes. How about you? Here are the instructions: Bring 3 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Whisk in soup mix, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Crock Pot Slow Cooker Pulled Pork or Brisket Tangy Apple Cabbage Slaw
About The Ingredients:
I picked up the actual Lipton Onion Soup Mix so I could compare it to my Homemade Onion Soup Mix, and have to admit it’s pretty darned close in taste, even though the ingredients are quite a bit different.
I like my homemade version better. Maybe that’s just a psychological thing, because I always think homemade anything is better than just about anything you can buy. And I know anything homemade is almost always cheaper!
A great thing about making your own mix is that you can control every ingredient that goes into it, as well as the quality of those ingredients. This mix, in addition to the dried onion flakes and spices, relies on a powdered beef base.
That, right there, is an item that can range from high-end organic down to homemade, to basic, and can be low-sodium, too, or gluten-free. And yes, this can be vegetarian or vegan. By choosing the beef (or other) base that fits your lifestyle, you just might find yourself using Homemade Onion Soup Mix more often than you’d guess.
Quaker Oats Classic Meatloaf
Making Homemade Lipton Onion Soup Mix:
It turns out that I actually had most of the ingredients to throw this together, right in my pantry. The only thing I had to pick up was the onion flakes and I’ve been using them in a few other recipes, too, when I’m feeling a little lazy and don’t feel like chopping. When I think of the number of onions I’ve cut over my lifetime! It must add up to tons. Literal tons.
For my mix, since I am at my folks’ house helping them out, I needed a low-sodium version, so I started with Herb Ox Sodium Free Bouillon. Strength might vary by brand, so you might want to play around with the amount of bullion.
If you are familiar with Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix, you might realize that there isn’t any beef, either broth or bullion in their basic mix. But there is a lot of other stuff. Things I can’t buy at the store! So what the bullion does here is bring in some of those “umami” flavors, even if you aren’t a food scientist.
The actual making of the mix is nothing more than mixing the ingredients together. The recipe makes the equivalent of two packets, but use the built-in multiplier to increase the amount. There aren’t any stabilizers or preservatives (unless the bullion has them), but it keeps very well in a tightly covered jar for several months.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix
Saving Money on Homemade Onion Soup Mix:
When I priced my Homemade Onion Soup Mix, it was so much cheaper than Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix. It was literally pennies!
Most of the ingredients for Homemade Onion Soup Mix are common ingredients that might be in your pantry. The exception is dried onion flakes. (Granulated onion flakes will work in a pinch, too, but only if you’re making something that is cooked. If using in something like a dip, they remain a little crunchy.) Check the lower shelves of the spice area; you’ll find them in larger jars (the larger the jar, usually the lower the price per ounce). If your store has bulk spices, they might carry either, and you might find jugs at your buyer’s club.
The priciest item is the beef bouillon powder or granules. There are only two teaspoons in the recipe, so it won’t break the bank. It’s there to mimic some of the flavors in the soup, not to make the soup “beefy.” Beefy Onion Soup is a different item. Shop around and buy what you’re comfortable with. A basic powdered beef base is cheaper at Mexican or Latino markets or the Latino section of the grocery.
Compare what’s in the mix below to what’s in Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix, and you’ll realize that you’re paying a premium mostly for Dried Onion Flakes! The average price for a package of Lipton’s, which is two packets, one ounce each, is $1.50. It doesn’t sound like much, but $1.50 for 2 ounces works out to $12.00 a pound.
If you’d like to see other money-saving mixes, check out Spice, Herb & Packet Substitutes. I’m always adding as I go along.
Homemade Onion Soup Mix
Homemade Onion Soup Mix
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 packet's worth 1x
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried onion flakes or granules, onion flakes preferred
- 2 teaspoons powdered beef bouillon granules or bullion (see note)
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed (crush them after measuring)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Instructions
Combine ingredients and store in an airtight container. This makes the equivalent of 2 packets of Lipton’s Onion Soup. Use 1/2 (about 1/4 cup) per recipe.
May be multiplied for a larger quantity; just be sure to remix before using as settling will occur.
Note: Any powdered base will work for this recipe, from high-end organic to common grocery store bases, low sodium, gluten free, chicken, or vegetarian bases.
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I’ll be bringing this dip over to Angie’s Fiesta Friday #157, cohosted this week by Andrea @ Cooking with a Wallflower and Su @ Su’s Healthy Living. Thanks, ladies, for making this link party possible!
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