8 Ultimate Onion Replacements for Any Occasion

Whether you're whipping up a quick dish before your next grocery run or need a substitute because of a guest's allergy, we've all been there. Maybe you've used the last onion in the bag, and it's no longer fresh enough for your recipe.

These alternatives are great for everyday cooking, but if you're aiming to roast or pickle onions, you'll need the real deal. However, for most other dishes, there are plenty of worthy stand-ins.

Top Onion Alternatives

Shallots

Shallots are easily the top choice when replacing onions. These small, mild-flavored onions add a delicate touch to dishes. Chop, slice, or finely dice them for anything from soups to sauces and stir-fries. Due to their smaller size, you'll need to use more, but the substitution is still a one-to-one swap.

Leeks

Leeks are sweet, creamy when cooked, and offer a subtle garlic-like flavor, making them a refined replacement for onions. Use leeks in place of onions to elevate your dishes (try them in these skillet pork chops), with one large leek standing in for a medium-sized onion.

Scallions (Green Onions)

Scallions, with their milder taste, work in both cooked and raw dishes. These smaller green and white stalks provide a fresh twist and will require more to match the volume of a medium onion. Their flavor is similar, with an added crispness. For heartier dishes like Cheddar-Onion Drop Biscuits, scallions are a great choice. Typically, 6-8 scallions will replace one medium onion or one cup of chopped onion.

Fennel

Fennel resembles an onion in appearance but offers a bold anise flavor, particularly when raw. This sharpness softens as it cooks, making fennel not only a great onion substitute but also an ingredient that adds a unique, delightful twist, especially in sauces and gravies. A single fennel bulb provides about the same yield as one medium to large onion.

Celery

For those avoiding onions, celery serves as a versatile alternative. While it won't replicate the onion's flavor, it mimics the texture well. Celery is an excellent choice for dishes like soup (but perhaps not French onion). Use 2-3 stalks of celery to replace 1 medium onion or one cup of chopped onion.

Chives

If you're only using a small amount of onion, chives are a great option. You'll need quite a few of these slender green stalks to match the amount of onion you'd normally use. So, choose recipes where onions aren't the main ingredient and don't stress too much about getting the exact amount right.

Onion Powder

Not just vegetables—your spice cabinet can offer a more concentrated solution. Onion powder brings the familiar flavor but lacks the texture of fresh onions. To balance that, consider adding something like celery or carrots for added texture (this works great in a dish like spicy chicken sweet potato). Use 1 tablespoon of onion powder for every 1 cup of chopped onion or one medium onion.

Minced Onion

Dried onion flakes, or minced onion, pack a strong onion flavor, but keep in mind that substituting it for fresh onion will change the texture. Like onion powder, you may want to add ingredients like celery, carrots, or bell pepper to make up for the missing texture. 3 tablespoons of dried onion flakes are equivalent to 1 cup of chopped onion or one medium onion.