There is something deeply comforting about a warm, creamy bowl of soup simmering on the stove. This dry soup mix recipe creates a smooth, velvety base that turns homemade chicken broth into a rich cream of soup in just minutes.
It is thick and hearty, with gentle notes of garlic, onion, celery, and herbs that make it taste homemade, not canned. Keep a jar in your pantry, and you are always just a whisk away from cream of chicken, mushroom, celery, onion, or even bacon soup.
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Quick Look at This Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Dry Soup Mix Recipe
- ✅ Ready In: 10 minutes to mix, 5 minutes to cook
- ✅ Yield: About 3 cups dry mix
- ✅ Calories: Approximately 150 per prepared serving, depending on broth and add-ins
- ✅ Tools: Large mixing bowl, whisk, airtight Mason jar, vacuum sealer optional
- ✅ Freezer Friendly: Yes, though best stored dry in pantry
- ✅ Why You'll Love It: Creamy, versatile, shelf-stable, and made with real ingredients
- ✅ Tip: Vacuum seal the jar between uses to extend shelf life and protect freshness
What Makes This Recipe Unique?
- Quick - Learning how to make cream of chicken soup is already fast, but having this dry soup mix makes it even faster.
- Wholesome - No mystery ingredients, just simple pantry staples that make cooking from scratch realistic.
- Customizable and Versatile - This recipe can be adapted for different flavor variations to make an easy soup or use in a wide variety of recipes.
- Convenient - This mix is easy to put together and has a long shelf life when stored properly.
⭐ Featured Reader Review
@roshammann3611 says, “Thank you for the dry version. This is great to take camping or when you don't have refrigeration.”
Key Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, check out the recipe card below.
- Dry Milk Powder - This is what gives the soup its creamy texture. Non-fat dry milk powder will store for up to a year, while full-fat dry milk powder stores about six months.
- Potato Flakes - They add body and help create that thick, comforting consistency without being gummy.
- Cornstarch - This is your thickener.
- Seasonings - Nothing fancy. Just classic, cozy flavors that make this taste like it simmered all afternoon.
Recipe Variations
- Dairy-Free - Use dry rice milk powder instead of traditional milk powder.
- Corn-Free - Swap cornstarch for arrowroot powder.
- Optional Add-Ins - Chicken bouillon, mushroom powder, dried mushrooms, celery powder, or dried celery all allow you to tailor the mix to your needs.
- Fresh Mushrooms or Celery - You can sauté fresh vegetables in butter before adding them to the prepared soup for deeper flavor.
- Lower Sodium - Reduce the salt and use unsalted broth when cooking.
Dry Soup Mix Recipe Instructions
Preparing the Mix:
Step 1: Layer milk powder, potato flakes, cornstarch, and seasonings directly into a quart Mason jar.
Step 2: Screw on the lid tight, and shake to mix together the ingredients. Label your jar and store it away from direct light until ready to use.
To Prepare the Soup:
Step 3: Add ⅔ cup dry soup mix to one cup of broth (I love homemade chicken bone broth).
Step 4: Whisk together and allow it to thicken. This takes just a few minutes.
Step 5: Customize your soup with the following options:
- Cream of Chicken: Add 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon or freeze-dried broth powder and optional cooked, cubed chicken.
- Cream of Mushroom: Add 2 tablespoons mushroom powder, ¼ cup dried mushrooms, or ½ cup sautéed fresh mushrooms.
- Cream of Celery: Add 2 tablespoons celery powder or celery pieces.
- Cream of Onion: Add ½ cup diced onions, sautéed first for best flavor.
- Cream of Bacon: Stir in 2 to 4 cooked, crumbled bacon pieces at the end.
Step 6: Add dry soup mix and broth mixture. Stir and cook for about a minute to thicken.
Recipe Tips
This recipe is very forgiving. The key is whisking well while it thickens so you do not get lumps. If you do see small lumps, keep whisking over gentle heat, and they will smooth out.
Also, label your jar with the date and the preparation instructions. When life is busy, having that reminder right on the jar makes it easy to follow through.
Always use clean, dry utensils when scooping from your jar. Moisture is the enemy of long shelf life.
Serving Suggestions
This dry soup mix recipe becomes the foundation for so many family favorites:
- Served over steamed rice, whole wheat biscuits or homemade egg noodles
- Green bean casserole
- Creamy chicken pot pie filling
- Homemade tuna casserole
- Slow cooker creamy soups
- Skillet meals that need a rich base
Storage Instructions
Store your dry soup mix in an airtight Mason jar in a cool, dark place.
- Non-fat milk powder version: up to 1 year
- Full-fat milk powder version: about 6 months
- Dairy-free rice milk version: follow package storage guidelines
For best results, vacuum seal between uses to remove excess air and protect freshness.
If you notice clumping, off smells, or moisture, discard and make a fresh batch. Pantry staples are about safety and confidence.
Did you try this dry soup mix recipe? If so, please leave a star ⭐ rating and your comments in the recipe card below. Then snap a photo and tag us on social media @homesteadingfamily so we can see!
Dry Soup Mix Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring Utensils
- Airtight Storage Container I like to use glass canning jars.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry milk powder or dry rice milk powder
- ½ cup potato flakes
- ½ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- 4 teaspoons parsley flakes
- 4 teaspoons dry minced onion
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons celery seed
- 1 teaspoon marjoram
- 1 teaspoon salt We use Redmond Real Salt. Use that link to automatically get 15% off your order!
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
Optional Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons chicken bouillon or freeze-dried broth powder
- 2 Tablespoons mushroom powder or ¼ cup chopped dried mushrooms or ½ cup fresh mushrooms
- 2 Tablespoons celery powder or ¼ cup chopped dried celery, or ½ cup fresh or freeze-dried celery
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Store in an airtight Mason jar (seal the lid with a vacuum sealer between uses).
To Make Cream of Soup
- Add one cup broth to a sauce pan and heat until steaming.
- Add ⅔ cup dry soup mix and whisk well to combine.
- Continue whisking until soup has thickened.
- Add additional ingredients to make cream of chicken, cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup (see notes below).
Notes
- Served over steamed rice, whole wheat biscuits or homemade egg noodles
- Green bean casserole
- Creamy chicken pot pie filling
- Homemade tuna casserole
- Slow cooker creamy soups
- Skillet meals that need a rich base
- Non-fat milk powder version: up to 1 year
- Full-fat milk powder version: about 6 months
- Dairy-free rice milk version: follow package storage guidelines
