When we're young we take a lot of things for granted, especially when it comes to food that we don't have to cook ourselves. These potatoes were one of those things I took for granted. My Grandma used to make them and like most things when you're a kid, I didn't have the appreciation for them back then that I do now. And although I have often, longingly, thought about these 3 Ingredient Onion Soup Mix Baked Potatoes over the years, until recently, I've never actually made them myself.
This is such an easy baked potato with onion recipe and a simple way to add some variety and a little pizzazz to your baked potato repertoire. These are great on the grill in the summer, but I make these all year 'round in the oven; they are a great side dish! And they are ideal for a family dinner any night of the week! They pair well with my Meatloaf without eggs or milk and these Green Beans and Mushrooms.
🍒Reader Review
"I'm not sure where I found your recipe, may have been on a Meal Plan Monday, but I sure am glad I did. I made these this past weekend and my husband and I both just loved them. He gave rave reviews. Will be making these a lot from now on!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Speaking of easy side dishes, my Twice Baked Ceasar Potatoes are another scrumptious side that reinvents leftover baked potatoes!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
I guess these oven-baked potatoes would be considered old-skool hasselback potatoes because my Grandma was making these 45-ish years ago. And it's the easy way to make them, with minimal effort.
The big difference is that these foil-wrapped potatoes are not peeled or cut as thin as hasselback potatoes, meaning way less work! And that's always a good thing because I'm all about less work.
Why peel potatoes when you don't have to? Plus, the potato skins are full of nutrients! And why make 12 cuts when you only have to make 4 or 5? Am I right?
You only need 3 simple ingredients for this baked potato with onion recipe:
- Potatoes. You can use any type of potato, Yukon gold, red potatoes, etc.. Although I generally use red potatoes (because I have them on hand), the ideal potatoes for baking are Russet Potatoes because they are low in moisture with a high starch content. These qualities allow a potato to bake up with a delightfully fluffy center and crispy skin.
- Onion soup mix. I use Lipton onion soup mix- you only need one package (28 g approximately) from the 112 g box, with about 4 packages, it usually comes in.
- Margarine. I use Becel Margarine. I have tried butter, but oddly, I don't think it tastes as good as margarine!
*Please see recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
📖 Variations
- Baked or Grilled: This baked potatoes in foil recipe is something that my Grandma used to make on the BBQ, and I just loved them! However, since it's not currently barbecue season at the time of this posting, I decided to do these potatoes in the oven. But you can also do these baked potatoes in foil on the grill!
- Onion soup mix: You can use homemade onion soup mix or any brand.
- Potatoes - I use whatever type I have on hand (russet potatoes, etc)-you can use any kind of potato. However, I like to use larger potatoes, as they are easier to slice and fill. You could also substitute sweet potatoes.
- Margarine: You can use butter if you prefer, but I prefer them with margarine, the way my Grandma made them.
- Dairy-free/Vegan: I use Becel Vegan margarine to make these for my daughter (she's lactose-intolerant). Lipton Onion Soup Mix is vegan too.
- WW Points: Bring the WW points down by using lighter margarine.
Most of the sliced baked potato with onion soup mix recipes instruct the cook to pour the melted onion and butter over the potato. However, you potentially lose a lot of flavor that way.
With these Lipton Onion Soup Potatoes, you spread the onion/butter mixture, unmelted, between the slices, then you wrap in foil and bake the potatoes; it literally locks and bakes in the flavor.
It takes a little more time than just pouring melted butter over the potato, but it is well worth it for the rich buttery, onion flavor you get in the end!
🔪 How to Make Baked Potatoes with Onion Soup Mix
There are a lot of baked potato recipes out there, and even a few that use butter or margarine with onion soup mix. But I did not see any others that used the exact same method as this. And this method is far superior to the others when it comes to being an easy side dish AND locking in the flavor!
Prep: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F/204 degrees C. Scrub your potatoes and remove any eyes and unsightly marks.
- Step 1: Mix margarine (or butter) and one packet of dry onion soup mix together.
- Step 2: Using a sharp knife, make cross-cutting cuts in each potato about a ½ inch apart (you want to make about 4 -5 cuts in each potato, depending on the size of the potato), stopping about ¼ inch from the bottom of the potato. *Do NOT cut right through
- Step 3: Put the potato on a large piece of foil (shiny side facing up). With a butter knife, add a dab of the margarine onion soup mixture between each slice, dividing evenly between all slices in all potatoes. *You can always go back and add more of the margarine soup mixture to the first potatoes (or you can divide it into 6 before you start)
- Step 4: Wrap each potato in aluminum foil (tin foil) shiny side in, and place on a cookie sheet, as they may leak a little (if it's a nice-looking cookie sheet, I'll put a piece of parchment paper under the potatoes to protect it.) Bake potatoes in oven for 40- 50 minutes or until a fork easily goes through the potato. *This may take longer, depending on how big your potatoes are. Grill/BBQ method: Follow the above directions, but bake on medium-high grill/BBQ (with lid down) for 30-40 minutes until a fork easily goes through the potato. Garnish: You can garnish with sour cream, green onions, bacon bits, black pepper, or your favorite toppings, if you desire.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Choose the right potatoes. For best results, use Russet potatoes — their high starch content yields a fluffy interior and crisp skin. Avoid waxy varieties like red or new potatoes for this recipe.
- Slice evenly. Try to make slices as evenly spaced and equal in depth as possible (about ½ inch apart, stopping ¼ inch from the bottom) to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Use the shiny side of the foil. Always place the potato on the shiny side of the foil facing inward, as it reflects heat better and helps bake the potato more efficiently.
- Don't overfill the slices. A small dab of the onion soup/margarine mixture in each slice is enough — overfilling can cause leakage and uneven cooking.
- Double-wrap for grilling. If you’re making these on the BBQ, double-wrapping the potatoes in foil helps prevent burning or butter leakage, especially over direct heat.
- Add fresh herbs after baking. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, thyme, or chives after cooking to brighten the flavors without overpowering the seasoning.
- Let them rest before unwrapping. Let the potatoes sit in the foil for 5 minutes after baking to allow the centers to finish softening and to lock in moisture.
- Make ahead and reheat. These potatoes can be baked a day in advance and reheated in the oven at 350°F for 15–20 minutes — perfect for meal prep or busy nights.
- Line your baking sheet. Even though the potatoes are wrapped in foil, melted butter can leak out, so line your pan with foil or parchment paper for easier cleanup.
👪 Serving Size
This easy side dish recipe makes 6 servings. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You may need an additional sheet pan.
🔢WW Points
These potatoes are 5 WW points using light Becel margarine, as potatoes are no longer 0 (zero) points on the plan.
And these onion baked potatoes are lower fat than indicated in the nutrition label, as some of the margarine does melt off.
🥗What to serve with Onion Baked Potatoes
If I'm making these baked potatoes with onion on the grill, I like to serve them with Maple BBQ Pork Loin Steaks and a vegetable. If I'm baking them in the oven, they pair well with Baked Hoisin Chicken!
OR...if you're making these potatoes on the grill, then why not try them with my Weight Watchers friendly BBQ Beer Can Chicken?! (shown). And if you're looking for more side dishes to accompany this BBQ Beer Can Chicken, check out my What to Serve with Beer Can Chicken post!
🌡️Storage
Store these potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. You can keep the foil on them or take them out. However, if you reheat them in the microwave, be sure to remove the foil!
They do not stand up well to freezing.
❔ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can prepare and wrap the potatoes ahead of time, then refrigerate them until you're ready to bake or grill. However, for best flavor and texture, bake them just before serving.
No, peeling is not necessary. In fact, keeping the skins on adds nutrients and texture, and saves time!
Yes, most store-bought onion soup mixes like Lipton Onion Soup Mix are vegan. Be sure to check the ingredient list to confirm, especially if you're cooking for someone with dietary restrictions.
These Lipton Onion Potatoes are an easy recipe, as well as a delicious and economical way to add some excitement to your baked potatoes. So if you're looking for the perfect baked potato that the entire family will love, give this one a try!
🥔 More Potato Recipes
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📋 Onion Soup Mix Baked Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 potatoes
- 1 ounce - pkg onion soup mix (dry) 28 g (approximately)
- ⅔ cup margarine * I use Becel olive oil margarine
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F/204 degrees C.
- Mix margarine (or butter) and a packet of dry onion soup mix together in a medium bowl.
- Using a sharp knife, make crosswise cuts in each potato about a ½ inch apart, (you want to make about 4 -5 cuts in each potato) stopping about ¼ inch from the bottom of the potato. *Do NOT cut right through.
- With a butter knife, add a dab of the margarine (or butter) onion soup mixture between each slice, dividing evenly between all slices in all potatoes.
- Wrap each potato in aluminum foil (tin foil) , shiny side in, and place on a cookie sheet, as they may leak a little.
- Bake potatoes in oven: for 40- 45 minutes or until fork easily goes through the potato.Grill/BBQ method: Follow the above directions, but bake on med-high grill/BBQ (with lid down) for 30-40 minutes until fork easily goes through the potato.
Garnish:
- You can garnish with sour cream, green onions and bacon bits, or your favorite toppings, if you desire.
Gail Evans
Potatoes are 33 carbs not 1
That is misleading
Terri Gilson
Hi Gail,
Thanks for pointing out this error! There seems to be an issue with the nutrition calculator on the blog. I’ll try to figure out the issue and get it fixed!
Thanks, Terri
Eileen Kelly
My Mum always made these with cut up potatoes. I love how you make them on whole potatoes and sort of Hasselbeck them for intense flavor. The family will love them.