What Is Onion salt and How Can I Use It?

Onion salt rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 85 recipes to cook with it.

What is onion salt?

Onion salt is a seasoning blend, not a pure spice. It is table salt cut with onion powder, usually around three parts salt to one part onion powder, often with a little anti-caking agent so it pours freely.

That single fact changes how you cook with it.

Because most of the jar is salt, onion salt seasons and adds onion flavor in one shake. It is the easy, reliable way to get a savory background into burgers, dips, popcorn, and roasted potatoes without chopping anything.

Cooking With Onion Salt

Reach for it when a dish already needs salt and you also want a gentle onion note. Sprinkle it on ground beef before forming patties, stir it into sour cream for a quick chip dip, or dust it over fries straight from the oven.

It dissolves fast. Add it near the end of cooking rather than building it into a long braise where the onion flavor fades. A little goes far in sauces and gravies like this Chickenless Gravy.

The one rule that matters: account for the salt already in the blend. The biggest mistake cooks make is treating onion salt like onion powder, then salting the dish on top of it. You end up with something inedibly salty.

If a recipe calls for onion salt and you only have the powder, add salt separately to taste.

Pairing and What Goes Wrong

Onion salt sits well with beef, pork, poultry, eggs, and cheese, and it carries garlic, paprika, and black pepper happily. It does its best work in finishing roles like spice rubs and snack seasonings, or stirred into creamy dips such as a Double-Decker Cheese Melt.

The other failure mode is using it where you actually need real onion sweetness. Onion salt cannot caramelize or soften, so it never replaces sauteed onions in a soup base. Use it for seasoning, not for body.

Substitutes

The cleanest swap is to make your own. Mix three parts fine salt with one part onion powder.

For 1 teaspoon onion salt, use ¾ teaspoon salt plus ¼ teaspoon onion powder. Plain onion powder also works if you add salt separately, which actually gives you more control over the final dish.

Garlic salt brings a similar salty-allium profile with a sharper edge. In a pinch, a little seasoned salt covers the same finishing job.

Buying and Storing Onion Salt

Most supermarkets stock onion salt with the dried spices. Brands vary in their salt-to-onion ratio, so taste a new jar before committing it to a recipe.

Keep it tightly closed, away from the steam of the stove, since salt draws moisture and the blend clumps. Stored dry and cool, it stays good for one to two years.

It does not truly spoil, but the onion aroma dulls over time. If a jar has lost its smell, it has mostly become plain salt, so adjust accordingly.

For fresh bulbs and the different onion varieties plus how to chop and cook them, see the onions hub.

Nutrition

Quick facts

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

In Chinese

葱盐

British (UK) term

Onion salt

en français

sel d'oignon

en español

sal de cebolla

How much does onion salt weigh?

Related

Spices and Herbs

Recipes using onion salt

There are 85 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Blender Broccoli Soup

A creamy chilled broccoli soup blended silky smooth with milk, half-and-half, and a hint of nutmeg. Ready in 30 minutes with just a blender, a saucepan, and a handful of ingredients.

Double-Decker Cheese Melt

Double-decker cheese melt with a creamy cheddar-butter-egg spread blended in a food processor, layered on two slices of bread, and baked until golden and bubbly. Ready in 20 minutes.

Skillet Pot Roast with Vegetables

My mother's recipe from a page torn out of a cookbook years ago. Great for leftovers.

Bentley's Sweet Red Pepper Spread

This cream cheese-based cracker spread is served free at a local pub. It was so delicious that I knew I had to try to duplicate it home after I first had it. At the pub, the spread is served with club-type crackers, but it goes well on any cracker or with crudites.

Italian Pizza Sauce & Crust

The bottom of the pizza, called the "crust", may vary widely according to style—thin as in a typical hand-tossed pizza or Roman pizza, or thick as in a typical pan pizza or Chicago-style pizza. It is traditionally plain, but may also be seasoned with garlic, or herbs, or stuffed with cheese.

10 Minute Enchilada Sauce

A quick and easy enchilada sauce that you can make in about 10 minutes.

Broccoli Soup No. 2

Chunky broccoli soup with celery, carrots, and onion in a creamy roux-thickened broth. A hearty vegetarian-friendly soup that comes together in 45 minutes from one pot.

Do-Ahead Party Mashed Potatoes

Make it ahead to save some time for your party day, and it tastes delicious when it comes out of the oven and freshly baked.

Braised Bear

Wild game braised bear steak marinated overnight, seared golden, then slow-simmered in tomato soup with chili powder and onions until fork-tender. A hearty backcountry main dish.

Elfies Vension In a Pot Casserole

Ground venison casserole layered shepherd's-pie style with green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, and melty cheese on top. A hearty one-dish dinner that puts lean game meat to good use.

Elfies Vension In a Pot Casserole

Ground venison casserole layered shepherd's-pie style with green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, and melty cheese on top. A hearty one-dish dinner that puts lean game meat to good use.

Elfies Vension In a Pot Casserole

Ground venison casserole layered shepherd's-pie style with green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, and melty cheese on top. A hearty one-dish dinner that puts lean game meat to good use.

Mushroom Turkey Burgers

Turkey burgers seasoned with Worcestershire and onion salt, topped with butter-sauteed mushrooms. A leaner burger with savory depth, ready in 30 minutes.

Gramma Bahrt's Salmon Piroghi

Gramma Bahrt's salmon piroghi, a hearty double-crust pie layered with stock-cooked rice, flaked salmon, hard-boiled eggs and buttery chives. A Russian-style salmon pie baked golden and glossy.

Baked Potato Spears

Thick-cut potato spears brushed with mayonnaise and baked until golden and crispy. Just four ingredients and the crunchiest oven fries you'll ever make.

Lemon Pot Roast

Chuck roast marinates in a bright lemon-onion bath before roasting until tender in this citrus-forward pot roast where fresh lemon slices and marjoram create unexpected flavor that breaks from traditional brown gravy.

Snack Mixes

One base recipe, five crunchy flavor combos: Tropical, Barbecue, Hot & Spicy, Herbed Pecan, and Curry. Baked cereal snack mix for parties, game day, or straight-from-the-oven snacking.

Crepes with Tuna Sauce

Italian crepes stuffed with tuna and anchovy filling, folded into half-moons and baked until crisp. Migliaccini, a savory Italian crepe you won't find everywhere.

Surprise Cheeseburgers

Surprise cheeseburgers are stuffed patties hiding a molten core of sharp cheddar cheese spread, dill relish, and mustard. Broiled until juicy and served on toasted buns: think Juicy Lucy meets American Sunday lunch.

Party Snack Mix

Toss cereal, pretzels, Bugles, and corn chips with butter and bold spices, then bake low and slow for an addictive party snack mix coated in Parmesan.

Marinated Ginger Chicken

Marinated ginger chicken with lemon juice, soy sauce, and double ginger (fresh and ground) soaked overnight then grilled or broiled. Bold flavor, simple prep.

Barbecue Sauce for Hot Dogs

Sweet and tangy peach barbecue sauce with brown sugar, ginger, and mace for basting grilled hot dogs, pork, or chicken. This fruity twist on classic BBQ sauce comes together in 10 minutes flat.

Veal Steak Milan

Butter-browned veal steaks simmered in white wine with rosemary and a hint of umami from Mei Yen seasoning, finished with sautéed mushrooms folded into a lush sour cream sauce. Comfort food with continental flair in one hour.

Chickenless Gravy

Vegetarian gravy made with nutritional yeast, mushrooms, and vegetable bouillon. Rich, savory, and ready in 30 minutes with zero chicken required.

Basic Vegetarian Broth

Vegetarian broth that mimics chicken stock using nutritional yeast, mushrooms, onions, and poultry seasoning. The 5-minute meatless replacement for chicken stock in any recipe.

Barbecued Beef on Buns

Tender sliced roast beef smothered in a tangy homemade BBQ sauce with brown sugar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire. Made entirely in the microwave in just 10 minutes for the fastest weeknight sandwich fix.

Beefsteak En Roquefort En Champignons

Premium steaks marinated in a Roquefort, sour cream, and red wine marinade, charcoal-grilled and topped with butter-sautéed mushrooms. A show-stopping steakhouse dinner for a crowd.

Salmon Timbales with Mornay Sauce

Classic baked salmon timbales with olives, tarragon, and a tomato-tinted Mornay sauce. Retro custard-cup fish bakes that unmold neatly for a proper dinner party.

Vegan Pesto Tofu Manicotti

Vegan pesto tofu manicotti: shells stuffed with mashed soft tofu, basil pesto, scallions, peppers, and mushrooms. Topped with marinara and shredded soy mozzarella, baked until bubbly. Plant-based dinner-party comfort food.

Favourite Party Mix

Classic party mix tosses Chex-style cereals and pretzel sticks in a Worcestershire butter sauce, baked low until every piece turns deeply seasoned and crisp. The original snack-bowl staple, ready in an hour.

Parsley Cheese Ball

Add a new taste to your party platters with this easy recipe that will have you making a scrumptious appetizer everyone will love!

Hamburger Hot Dish

Minnesota-style hamburger hot dish with ground beef, egg noodles, American cheese, celery, and olives in a tomato-ketchup sauce. A one-pot comfort food classic that simmers in 30 minutes.

Knights Turkey Jerky

Homemade turkey jerky marinated in soy sauce, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, and hot sauce. Dehydrate in the oven or a dehydrator for a high-protein, smoky snack.

Lazy Perogi Casserole

Lazy perogi casserole layers lasagna noodles with mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, cheddar, and buttery onions. All the flavor of homemade pierogies, none of the folding.

Lazy Perogi Casserole

Lazy perogi casserole layers lasagna noodles with mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, cheddar, and buttery onions. All the flavor of homemade pierogies, none of the folding.

Jo's 2-Cheese Meatloaf

Two-cheese meatloaf with Parmesan mixed into the meat and Monterey Jack melted over the top until bubbly. Green olives and tarragon give this loaf a bold, briny twist you won't find in a standard recipe.

Jo's Two Cheese Meatloaf

Two cheese meatloaf with Parmesan baked inside and Monterey Jack melted over the top like frosting. Loaded with green olives, Worcestershire, tarragon, and crushed saltines.

Mock Parmigiana

Mock parmigiana shapes seasoned beef patties, bakes them in a mushroom-tomato sauce, then tops with melted mozzarella. The veal parmigiana shortcut for any weeknight.

Mock Parmigiana

Mock parmigiana shapes seasoned beef patties, bakes them in a mushroom-tomato sauce, then tops with melted mozzarella. The veal parmigiana shortcut for any weeknight.

Sourdough Steak

Sourdough steak uses tangy sourdough starter as a wet dip before dredging round steak in seasoned flour for a crispy, pan-fried crust. A frontier-style take on chicken fried steak.

Speedy Gazpacho

Speedy gazpacho blends vegetable juice cocktail with fresh cucumber, green pepper, celery, and red wine vinegar for a chilled Spanish-style [soup](/recipes/soups) ready in 10 minutes. A hot-weather lifesaver when tomatoes are not in peak season.

Family-Style Nuggets

Homemade baked chicken nuggets with a seasoned bread crumb and cornmeal coating. Crispy, golden, and ready in 30 minutes with no deep frying. A kid-friendly dinner from scratch.

Linguine with Clam Sauce

Linguine with white clam sauce keeps it simple: heavy cream, chopped clams with their briny juice, thyme, and onion salt tossed with hot pasta. A 20-minute weeknight Italian classic.

Red Cheese Ball

Cheddar and cream cheese ball with sherry, ripe olives, and Worcestershire, rolled in dried beef. Make-ahead appetizer that improves with a few days in the fridge.

Vegetable-Stuffed Meat Loaf

Vegetable stuffed meat loaf with shredded carrot and potato tucked inside lean ground beef, slow cooker friendly with a ketchup mustard glaze. The classic comfort dinner with a hidden vegetable surprise.

Potato Salad Monte Carlo

Classic creamy potato salad with hard-boiled eggs, scallions, garlic powder, onion salt, and mayonnaise. A simple, old-school potato salad that rests 2 hours for the best flavor.

Hot French Cheese Sandwiches

Hot French cheese sandwiches with whipped sharp cheddar, butter, and eggs baked until golden and puffy. A retro open-topped baked sandwich that's freezer-friendly for quick meals.

Et Cetera Sandwiches

A cheesy chicken sandwich with bacon and avocados. Perfect for company brunch.

Crab Burgers

Broiled open-face crab burgers loaded with cheddar, hard-boiled eggs, and a tangy mayo-ketchup spread on toasted bun halves. Bubbly, golden, and ready in 20 minutes.

Uncle Buck's Venison Kabobs

Grilled venison kabobs marinated in cranberry juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs with mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers. A hunter's favorite that tames game meat with a fruity, savory marinade.

All 85 recipes