What Is Onion powder and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about onion powder and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 373 recipes to cook tonight.

What is onion powder?

Onion powder is dried onion ground to a fine, sandy powder. It keeps most of the flavor of a fresh onion in a form you can measure by the spoonful, with no chopping and no tears.

Because the moisture is gone, the flavor is concentrated and a little sweeter and toastier than raw onion, since drying tames the sharpest bite. It dissolves into liquids and clings evenly to dry surfaces, which is its real advantage over a fresh onion.

Reach for it when you want onion flavor spread evenly through a dish, with no pieces to bite and no added water.

Cooking With Onion Powder

Onion powder earns its keep in anything dry or blended. It is a backbone of spice rubs and dry seasoning blends, where it has to coat meat evenly, and it disappears smoothly into a Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing Mix or a batch of Italian-Seasoned Bread Crumbs.

It also rounds out sauces, soups, marinades, and meat mixtures. A teaspoon stirred into a burger blend or a batch of meatballs gives steady onion flavor in every bite, where chopped onion would land in clumps. It does the same quiet work seasoning a Roasted Sticky Chicken.

One teaspoon of onion powder stands in for roughly one small to medium fresh onion. Start light and taste, since the concentrated flavor builds fast and is hard to pull back once it is in.

Add it early in liquid dishes so it has time to hydrate and bloom. Sprinkled on at the very end it can taste raw and dusty.

Onion Powder Versus Onion Salt and Flakes

These three get confused, and they are not the same thing.

Onion salt is mostly salt with a little onion powder blended in, usually around one part powder to three parts salt.

If a recipe calls for onion salt and you only have powder, add the powder plus salt to taste. Swap them blindly and you will either oversalt the dish or underseason it.

Onion flakes are dried onion left coarse instead of milled. They bring visible texture and a slower flavor release, where powder gives you smooth, instant, evenly spread flavor with nothing to see or chew.

Substitutes

The best stand-in is dried onion flakes, ground or crushed finer if you can. Use about 1 tablespoon of flakes for each teaspoon of powder, since the flakes are less dense.

Fresh onion works in the other direction: roughly one small to medium onion finely grated or minced per teaspoon of powder, added early enough to cook down.

Garlic powder is not a flavor match but plays a similar even-seasoning role if you are simply out. Shallot powder, where you can find it, is the closest gentler cousin.

Buying and Storing

Onion powder sits with the dried spices in any market, sometimes alongside toasted or roasted versions with a deeper flavor. Buy a jar small enough to use within a year, since ground spices fade.

Keep it in a tightly closed jar away from heat and light, and above all away from steam. The biggest enemy is moisture: a humid spice cabinet or a spoon dipped into a steaming pot will make the powder clump and cake into a solid brick.

Stored cool and dry, onion powder holds usable flavor for one to two years. When it stops smelling sharply of onion when you open the jar, it has lost its point and it is time to replace it.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find onion powder: Onion powder is usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Onion powder is a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

洋葱粉

British (UK) term

Onion powder

en français

poudre d'oignon

en español

cebolla en polvo

How much does onion powder weigh?

Related

Spices and Herbs

Recipes using onion powder

There are 373 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Hamburger with Variations

Cheese-stuffed hamburger patties with four global variations: French with brie, Mexican with Monterey Jack, Italian with mozzarella, and Greek with feta. Grilled over charcoal.

Hamburger with Variations

Cheese-stuffed hamburger patties with four global variations: French with brie, Mexican with Monterey Jack, Italian with mozzarella, and Greek with feta. Grilled over charcoal.

Hamburger with Variations

Cheese-stuffed hamburger patties with four global variations: French with brie, Mexican with Monterey Jack, Italian with mozzarella, and Greek with feta. Grilled over charcoal.

Hamburger with Variations

Cheese-stuffed hamburger patties with four global variations: French with brie, Mexican with Monterey Jack, Italian with mozzarella, and Greek with feta. Grilled over charcoal.

Garlicky Cumin Oven Fries

Instead of deep-frying, these oven baked crispy-garlicky fries are much lower fat but will still well satisfy your appetite. Serve it with ketchup or any your favorite dipping sauce along with your grilled burger.

Chavos Taco Seasoning

This is my favorite recipe for tacos with a mixture of New Mexican Cuisine as well as other ethnic recipes.

Pan Roasted Pork Loins

Pan-roasted pork loin chops coated in a bold homemade dry rub of chili powder, cumin, garlic, and oregano, marinated overnight, then seared and roasted. A simple spice-rubbed dinner with big Southwestern flavor.

Sole in Herbed Butter

Fillet of sole sautéd in herbed butter. Very quick and easy. Serve with carrots and snow peas to make it a meal.

Barbecued Chicken

Grilled chicken rubbed with a bold homemade spice blend of paprika, chili powder, and garlic, brushed with a sweet ketchup-brown sugar BBQ sauce with a hint of orange. Crispy skin, juicy meat, zero fuss.

Broccoli Mushroom Bulgur Salad

A Broccoli Mushroom Bulgur Salad with a hint of sweet and sour essence is a delightful and healthy dish that combines the earthy flavors of broccoli and mushrooms with the nutty taste of bulgur. The salad is then elevated with a tantalizing sweet and sour dressing that adds a burst of flavor to every bite.

Joey's Grilled Hamburger Supreme

Joey's grilled hamburger supreme features Cajun-spiced beef patties topped with buttery sauteed mushrooms, sharp cheddar and tomato on an onion roll. The backyard burger upgrade you need.

BLT Egg Wrap

A quick and easy way to make a deliciously filling meal. A few simple and inexpensive ingredients will for sure satisfy your tummy.

Gyro Sandwiches

Greek gyro sandwiches blend ground beef and lamb with oregano, thyme, and garlic into thin patties, then tuck into pita with homemade cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced onion. Street food classic done at home.

Terry's Italian Crockpot Beef

A Chicago style beef for your slow cooker. Super easy and tastes great.

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Mix

Homemade buttermilk ranch seasoning mix - why buy a packet when you can make your own and control the salt!

Basil-Parmesan Scones

They were super easy to make, tasted buttery, cheesy, fluffy and flaky, with the aroma from basil. They can be served pretty much with all the main courses, or just eating them directly is yummy enough!

Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Stuffed Pizza

This is a great combination for a clazone style pizza, using a combination of two cheeses boosting the flavor and lowering the fat, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach add tangy flavor and using whole wheat pizza dough boosts fiber. You can enjoying this delicious pizza without the guilt.

Easy Potato Pancakes

This recipe is a winner! It can be a complete meal if you put some fruits or a green leaf salad and a cup of your favorite hot beverage on the table.

Tandoori Spiced Chicken Breast with Grilled Tomato Jam & Herbed Yogurt Sauce

Absolutely worth the effort of preparation. The chicken tasted so delicious and packed with flavor. No need to order take-out from now on. This homemade tandoori chicken is as yummy as the restaurant one.

Ground Turkey & Veggie patties

A very flavorful, juicy and moist turkey pattie, loaded with vegetables and melts in your mouth.

Penne Alfredo with Asian Flavored Shrimps

The salty and savory pasta matches perfectly with the sweet, Asian flavors of the shrimps.

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

Broiled tilapia Parmesan: mild fillets broiled fast, then topped with a savory Parmesan, butter, and mayo crust and run back under the broiler until golden. A quick, rich weeknight fish.

Canadiens Maple Leafs Crackers (Canada Day)

Maple leaf crackers that a perfect for Canada Day. These small maple leaves are so flavorful. They are so easy to be addicted especially have them with some Canadian cheddar or try our Canadian Garlic Cheese Spread recipe.

Low-Fat Creamy French Dressing

A completely fat-free, sugar-free, low-fat, low calorie French-style salad dressing that's creamy, thick and packed with flavor.

Bronzed Talapia

Tilapia fillets rubbed with a smoky spice blend of paprika, cumin, oregano, and dry mustard, then seared in a screaming-hot skillet until bronzed and crispy. Dinner in 15 minutes.

3BROS Butcher BBQ All Purpose Rub

Famous for their authentic southern BBQ and gourmet meats, 3Bros Butcher BBQ of Bayside, NY offers this recipe to their customers as a good multipurpose rub. It can be prepared with or without sugar and the cayenne can be added to taste. Use liberally before smoking, grilling, pan searing, or roasting. Also great as an addition to your favorite bbq sauces or as a blackening spice.

Uncle Bill's Chicken Strips

An excellent finger-lickin'-chicken to dip into your favorite sauce or dressing

Oven Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

Instead of frying, oven-baked zucchini sticks are much lower fat, and they taste delicious!

Jeff's Spaghetti Sauce

This delicious spaghetti sauce is perfect for any type of pasta you like or can be used for sandwiches.

A Better Chili Seasoning Mix

A seasoning mix good for beans or make a tasty chili or use as a taco seasoning mix. Leave out the salt and you have a no-salt chili seasoning mix!

Cajun Shrimp

Spice up your shrimp with this succulent recipe that doesn't take a lot of effort. Perfect for when you're late to prepare dinner!

Superbowl Ultimate French Onion Dip

This creamy and delicious French Onion dip is a great recipe when you have company, and it is also much healthier, with home made chips, enjoy the tasty food without worries and guilty.

Cajun-Style Baked Fish

Baked fish is always a good way to cook fish. This cajun-style baked fish, is very easy to make, tasty too.

Cajun Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

These delicious and nutritious toasted cajun pumpkin seeds are a great snack. They taste good, and are also good for you.

Cajun Style Baked Sweet Potato

Even the sweet potato/yam "dis-liker" (me) liked the flavor of these. Nice little bite from the cayenne. And the amount of sugar was just right. I don't care for really "sweet" yam dishes at all! Thanks for this addition to our holiday dinner. (Part of my "Thanksgiving 2010" Menu)

Blackened Chicken Strips on Pasta with Cajun Sauce

The blackend chicken breast came out tender, juicy and flavorful, and the cajun sauce was delicious, really bound all the flavors together. It was reasonably quick and easy to make as well, an ideal supper for a busy weekday.

Mediterranean Crackers

Sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, basil and feta cheese give the nutty crackers tangy Mediterranean flavors, and these crackers are great with cheddar cheese, cream cheese or any cheese you like to go together. They are great appetizer or snack when you have company to come over.

KFC Honey BBQ Dipping Sauce

One of the favorite items that is on the menu is the Barbecue sauce that was original made fresh in the store and used to dip the wings, the original chicken and now the chicken strips. Now it comes in a bag and all we have to do is adding hot water and keep warm.

Honey-Mustard Turkey Meatballs

These were so tasty. I'd make them again and again. I used bread crumbs instead of crackers and a red bell instead of a green bell. I could see trying this with different fruit juice and cheese combos! Make this, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Classic Green Bean Casserole-Low Fat & Low Calorie

This version of the classic green bean casserole lightens the load without sacrificing the flavor or creaminess. Making your own french fried onions adds loads of crispy fried onion goodness.

Best Crockpot Meatballs

With the convenience of your crockpot, you can make these succulent meatballs that can be served alone or with any kind of pasta.

Frontier Chicken

Frontier Chicken is original from northern Pakistan, south Asian. It has become popular in the US, Canada and the UK. The unusual combination of flavors, spicy and the sweetness from the banana and peppers creates a unique balance.

Crispy Chicken Tenders

Crispy chicken strips made with chicken tenders. Kids love them and perfect when combined with a variety of dipping sauces.

Dad's Fried Meatballs

Dad's fried meatballs are eight ingredients of pure Italian-American comfort: ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, oregano, parsley, and grated cheese rolled into balls and pan-fried golden. Drop into tomato sauce or eat as is.

Hanz's Swiss-German Bratwurst Sausage

Hanz's Swiss-German bratwurst: a homemade pork and veal sausage seasoned with white wine and freshly ground spices, double-ground for a fine texture and stuffed into hog casings. An old family recipe.

Hawaiian Pork Chops

Meaty loin chops cooked in a tropical barbecue sauce, sweetened with pineapple. A taste of the islands.

Bread Machine Onion Bagels

Very good! I live in Canada and my favourite place to go for onion bagels was Tim Horton's, but unfortunately most locations don't make them any more. These are just as good, if not better, because they have a Montreal-style bagel quality about them. I will be making them again!!

Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad

This is my copycat of the popular salad sold at McDonald's. It's the only thing I eat off their menu and I was anxious to replicate it at home.

Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing Mix

Skip the expensive store-bought overly salty salad dressing mix and make your own using ingredients found in most pantries. Perfect for a low-salt ranch dressing.

Cajun Jambalaya Pasta

A delicious colorful Cajun pasta main with chicken and shrimp.

All 373 recipes