It’s an instant upgrade to many of my favorite dishes.

When I was a mother of one, I tried to make many of my own meals. Now, as a mother of two, that idea seems ridiculous. Back then, I worked myself to the bone on a French onion soup recipe for a client that I couldn’t get to the point where I wanted it to be.

After tinkering with the recipe for several weeks, I finally decided to add some onion soup. The deeply caramelized onions, good broth and cheesy toasts, with a dash of onion soup powder, finally evolved into something worthy of a post.

That moment changed everything for me. I stopped thinking of pre-packaged ingredients as cheating and started using them (albeit still sparingly) to add more oomph and flavor to dishes that needed a little help. Given all that, you might understand why Dollar Tree’s three-pack of Continental Chef Onion Soup Mix is ​​now a pantry staple. It acts as a versatile, “quick” flavor enhancer for a variety of dishes.

You may be skeptical when it comes to grocery shopping at Dollar Tree. As a professional “grocery person,” I certainly was. Not everything they stock is a winner. But ever since I discovered my favorite fruit, freeze dried, at a local Dollar Tree, I keep a close eye on what’s on their shelves. And I’m happy to say I’ve found some top-notch products!

With that in mind (and thinking that it was “only $1.25”), I threw the onion soup mix into my cart on a whim. This humble box quickly became a reliable little helper in my kitchen arsenal. It’s versatile and inexpensive, and a little bit of it adds flavor to some of my favorite dishes. a lot better.

Why I love Dollar Tree onion soup

First things first: the flavor. It has a great balance of savory, salty and slightly sweet onion deliciousness. Unlike other brands I’ve tried, it doesn’t taste like I just licked a block of salt. It’s well seasoned so the onion flavor shines through without being overpowering.

Each box contains three 1-ounce packets, so I always have a flavor booster on hand. It’s like having a sous chef in my pantry who can step in and save dinner at any time. And $1.25 for a three-pack is practically theft (don’t tell Dollar Tree I said that).

How I use Dollar Tree onion soup

I like to add some of this seasoning to my favorite meatloaf recipe; I also sometimes sprinkle it into burger patties for an instant flavor boost; and since my kids all eat potatoes, a little bit of this mix mixed with olive oil, garlic powder, pepper, and new potatoes makes a quick and easy side dish. Roasting them until they’re crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside means there’s never a potato left over.

Of course, it also makes a great addition to French onion soup, makes a dip that will make you swear off store-bought forever, and, stirred into sour cream, is the only baked potato topping you’ll ever need.

Next time you’re at Dollar Tree buying, I don’t know, a pack of balloons or a new fly swatter, head to the pantry and grab a package of this onion soup. And while you’re at it, also pick up a package of this gnocchi, a couple of packages of Bumble Bee tuna, and of course my favorite freeze dried strawberries! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by these affordable pantry finds.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.