The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I Don't Leave the Store Without

When I was a mom of one, I tried to make a lot of my food from scratch. As a mom of two, that thought seems laughable now. During that time, I worked myself to the bone on a French onion soup recipe for a client that, for the life of me, I could not get to taste the way I wanted.

After laboring over the recipe for several weeks, I finally decided to add a little onion soup mix to it. The deeply caramelized onions, good broth, and cheesy toasts, with the addition of a hint of onion soup powder, finally bloomed into something worthy of a feature.

That moment changed everything for me. I no longer considered packaged ingredients cheating and began using them (though still sparingly) to add oomph and flavor to dishes that needed a little help. Given all that, you might understand why the Dollar Tree's three-pack of Continental Chef Onion Soup Mix is now a pantry staple. It acts as a versatile, "quick fix" flavor-booster for a variety of dishes.  

You might be skeptical about shopping for groceries at the Dollar Tree. As a professional "food person," I certainly was. Not everything they stock is a win. But, ever since discovering my favorite freeze-dried fruit at a local Dollar Tree, I've been keeping close tabs on what's on their shelves. And I'm happy to say that I've found some premium products!

With that in mind (and with the thought that "it's only $1.25"), I tossed the onion soup mix into my cart on a whim. This humble box quickly became a reliable little helper in my kitchen lineup. It's versatile and cheap, and a little of it makes some of my favorite dishes taste a lot better. 

Why I Love Dollar Tree's Onion Soup Mix

First things first: the flavor. It's got a great balance of savory, salty, and slightly sweet oniony goodness. Unlike other brands I've tried, it doesn't taste like I just licked a salt block. It's seasoned well, letting the onion flavor shine through without being overwhelming.

Each box contains three one-ounce packets, so I always have a flavor boost on hand. It's like having a sous chef in my pantry, ready to step in and save dinner at a moment's notice. And $1.25 for a pack of three is practically stealing (don't tell Dollar Tree I said that).

How I Use Dollar Tree's Onion Soup Mix

I love to add a bit of this seasoning to my favorite meatloaf recipe; sometimes I sprinkle it into burger patties for an instant flavor upgrade; and because my kids will eat any potato, a bit of this mix tossed with olive oil, garlic powder, pepper, and new potatoes makes a quick and easy side. Roasted until they're crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, there's never a tater left over.

Of course, it also makes a mean addition to French onion soup, creates a dip that'll have you swearing off store-bought forever, and, stirred into sour cream, becomes the only baked potato topping you'll ever need.

The next time you're at Dollar Tree picking up, I don't know, a pack of balloons or a new fly swatter, head down the pantry aisle and grab a box of this onion soup mix. While you're at it, pick up a package of this gnocchi, some packs of Bumble Bee tuna, and, of course, my favorite freeze-dried strawberries! You'll be pleasantly surprised at these affordable pantry finds.