Instant Soup Mix
This creamy instant soup mix combines a simple mix of pantry staples into a handy homemade soup base. Whisk the dry ingredients together, keep them in a sealed jar, and use the mix when you want a creamy, savory soup.
Pair a bowl of steaming hot soup with some crusty bread or a biscuit made using my homemade biscuit dough for a hearty meal.
If you love quick, easy-to-make soups, batch-making this over a weekend can be a game changer. I usually make this and my homemade baguette every couple of weeks.
Simply mix a couple of spoonfuls of this soup mix with a cup of water, simmer for a few minutes and top with some Parmesan croutons or add in some cooked homemade cheese tortellini.
Quick Look: Creamy Instant Soup Mix
- 🔪 Prep time: About 2 minutes to combine the dry ingredients
- ⏲️ Cook time: 5 minutes of simmering per prepared portion, plus time to heat
- 👪 Yield: 1 batch of dry soup mix; use 2 tablespoons per 1 cup of water
- 📋 Main ingredients: Flour, milk powder, chicken broth powder, onion flakes, garlic and dried herbs
- ♨️ Method: Whisk dry ingredients → store airtight → cook with liquid before serving
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
- 🥣 Serving ideas: Topped with croutons, garlic bread or chia microgreens.
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Pantry-friendly ingredients: The base uses dry ingredients you can measure and mix in one bowl.
- Easy to portion: Make the dry batch once and take out what you need for cooking- just like with my homemade yellow curry cubes.
- Flexible flavors: Add cooked vegetables or shredded chicken to the prepared soup without changing the stored mix.
Recipe Ingredients
All-purpose flour: Thickens the soup when it is cooked with liquid. It is a raw ingredient, so do not taste the dry mix or serve it uncooked.
Milk powder: Gives the soup its creamy base. Choose plain, unsweetened milk powder rather than a sweetened milk drink mix.
Onion flakes + garlic granules: To create that savory base.
Chicken broth powder: Supplies the stock flavor. Salt levels vary considerably by brand, so check the label before adding extra salt.
Dried parsley + Italian seasoning: I used my Air Fryer dried parsley and some mixed herb seasoning.
Salt: Add cautiously, especially if the broth powder already contains plenty. Adjust the seasoning after the soup has cooked.
See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Vegetarian option: Use vegetable or mushroom broth powder instead of chicken broth powder. I like dehydrating my homemade vegetable bouillon cubes in the dehydrator and using the powdered version here whenever I don't have stock powder at hand.
- Dairy-free option: An unsweetened plant-based milk powder can replace the dairy milk powder, but the flavor, thickness and liquid requirement may change. For a vegan version, change the broth powder too.
- Vegetable additions: Stir cooked peas, carrots, corn or sautéed mushrooms into the soup while heating. Store these separately from the dry mix. I like adding my Air Fryer dehydrated bell peppers for a nice pop of color.
- Tomato variation: Add chopped oven roasted sun dried tomatoes when cooking, rather than mixing moist or oil-packed tomatoes into the storage jar.
How to Make Instant Soup Mix
- Whisk the flour, milk powder, onion flakes, garlic granules, broth powder, parsley and Italian seasoning together until evenly distributed. Add salt cautiously; do not taste the uncooked mix.
- Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar. Label it with the date and a reminder that it must be cooked before eating. Store according to the guidance below.
💭 Top Tip
Whisk the mix into cool liquid before heating it. Adding the powder straight to hot liquid can form lumps as the flour begins to thicken. Keep stirring as it heats, scraping the bottom and corners of the pan.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Mix in a bowl before transferring to the jar so the fine powders and larger herb flakes are evenly combined. I always do this whenever I add my homemade jalapeno flakes in!
- Gently shake the sealed jar before measuring a portion; the ingredients can settle during storage.
- Always use a completely dry spoon, and keep the open jar away from steam rising from the stove.
- Keep the heat controlled and stir regularly when cooking the soup. Milk powder and flour can catch on the bottom of the saucepan.
- Add cooked extras when preparing the soup instead of changing the entire dry batch. This keeps the base versatile.
- Wait until the soup is cooked before deciding whether it needs more salt. Broth powders vary in strength. Use an infused salt like garlic parsley salt or celery salt for extra flavor.
Preparing & Serving the Soup
For one portion: Whisk 2 tablespoons of dry soup mix with 1 cup of cool water in a saucepan until smooth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring continuously. This mix needs stovetop cooking; simply pouring boiling water over it is not enough.
Finish the cooked soup with croutons and a drizzle of olive oil. Use habanero infused oil for a spicy kick. Top with chicken floss or crushed carrot bacon, or drizzle some basil Gremolata over the soup before serving.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
No. This blend contains all-purpose flour, so it needs to be cooked in liquid before eating. It is a homemade cooking mix rather than a ready-to-eat instant cup soup.
The powder may have been added directly to hot liquid or may contain clumps. Break up dry lumps first, whisk into cool liquid, and stir as the mixture heats.
No. The recipe contains all-purpose wheat flour. A gluten-free version would need a tested thickener substitution, and the broth powder would also need to be gluten-free.
It has not been specified as a direct substitute. Condensed soup has a particular thickness and salt level, so do not assume equal amounts will work in a casserole or sauce.
Keep the dry mix tightly sealed in a cool, dry, dark cupboard, away from the stove and direct sunlight. Label the jar with the mixing date
More Easy Recipes to Batch-Make
Looking for more savory recipes? Try these:
If you tried this instant soup mix, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Instant Soup Mix
Ingredients
- 2.5 cup All-purpose flour
- 2 cup Milk powder
- 2 tablespoon Onion flakes
- 2 tablespoon Garlic granules
- ¼ cup Chicken broth powder
- 1 tablespoon Dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients together in an airtight glass jar and store it in a cool and dark place.
- To prepare one portion, whisk 2 tablespoons of dry soup mix with 1 cup of cool water in a saucepan until smooth.
- Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring continuously. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use fine milk powder for the smoothest texture. Whole milk powder will give the soup a richer, creamier consistency, while skimmed milk powder works for a lighter version.
- Make sure all the ingredients and utensils are completely dry before preparing the mix to prevent clumping during storage.
- Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly so the flour, milk powder, herbs, and seasonings are evenly distributed.
- To prepare one serving, whisk 2 tablespoons of the dry soup mix into 1 cup of cold water. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring continuously until smooth, thickened, and fully cooked.
- Add a little extra water or milk if the soup becomes too thick, or use slightly less liquid for a thicker consistency.
- Adjust the salt according to the saltiness of your chicken broth powder, as some brands are already heavily seasoned.
- Replace the chicken broth powder with vegetable or mushroom stock powder for a vegetarian version.
- Add dehydrated vegetables such as carrots, peas, corn, or mushrooms to the dry mix for extra flavor and texture.
- Stir in cooked shredded chicken, sautéed mushrooms, or cooked vegetables when preparing the soup for a heartier meal.
- Add a pinch of black pepper, paprika, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
- Store the dry mix in a clean, airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place, following the shortest storage period recommended for the individual ingredients.
- Use a clean, dry spoon each time you scoop out the mix to prevent moisture from getting into the container.
