This homemade Italian seasoning blend comes together in minutes with pantry staples, and it’s just as flavorful (if not more) than the store-bought kind.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Why make your Italian herb seasoning?
You're in charge: You control the ingredients, there are no preservatives or additives, and you can tweak it to fit your taste. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about mixing up your own spice blends using the dried herbs you have in your pantry cabinet.
Economical: Making your own seasoning also incredibly cost effective. With the cost of groceries right now, I'll take the cuts where I can get them!
It makes sense: Spices have a limited shelf life, so it makes sense to work your way through them and replenish with new, fresh spices.
While you're at it, make a batch of my homemade taco seasoning, too.
Jump to:
🛒 INGREDIENTS
Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs commonly used in Italian-inspired dishes. It adds instant depth of flavor to sauces, meats, pasta dishes, and Mediterranean roasted veggies.
The best part? You probably have most of these herbs in your spice cabinet already!
- dried oregano - This is the signature herb of Italian seasoning and has a robust, slightly bitter profile.
- dried parsley - Parsley adds a fresh, green pop to the mix.
- dried basil - Adds a sweet, slightly peppery note to your spice blend.
- dried thyme - We're adding this for a subtle warmth and complexity to the mix.
- dried rosemary - This one adds a woodsy, piney type flavor. If you’re not a fan, you can leave it out or go easy on it.
- dried marjoram - This herb has a mild, floral sweetness that balances the bolder herbs. No marjoram? More oregano will do in a pinch—just don’t tell the Italians.
See recipe card for quantities.
📋 Variations
Want to customize your Italian seasoning mix? Try these variations:
- Add ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Mix in 1 teaspoon garlic powder or onion powder for extra savory flavor.
- No marjoram? No problem! Just leave it out.
- Toss in ½ Tablespoon dried sage for an earthier flavor.
🥣 How to make homemade Italian seasoning
This might be the easiest recipe I've ever posted! Gather all your dried herbs and spices before you get started.
- Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir thoroughly to ensure that everything is mixed together.
- Step 2: Transfer your freshly mixed Italian seasoning blend into an airtight container, preferably a glass jar with a tight seal.
Label it with today’s date so you don’t forget when this deliciousness was made!
Tip: Want to go the extra mile? Lightly crush the rosemary and oregano with your fingers or the end of a wooden spoon. This boosts those heady aromas and flavors.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
- Add 1-2 Tablespoons to crushed tomatoes for an easy pasta sauce or sprinkle on kid-friendly buttered noodles.
- Sprinkle over sourdough discard pizza dough before baking for extra flavor.
- Mix with butter and spread on bread for homemade garlic bread.
- Stir into soups, stews, and marinades for an herby boost.
- Rub on chicken, pork, or beef before roasting or grilling.
- Use this blend in my Million Dollar Spaghetti Squash Casserole, Italian green beans, or One Pan Chicken Parmesan for an herb boost.
Save This Recipe For Later!
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later!
Make It Meaningful 🥰
Double or triple the batch to keep a larger stash on hand or gift to a friend. I promise they'll love that you thought of them!
Top tip
To prevent clumping, shake before using and avoid sprinkling directly over steaming food—scoop out what you need instead!
Storage
Store your homemade spice blends in airtight containers like glass jars or spice tins, and keep them in a cool, dark place away from heat and moisture to maintain freshness. I have these glass spice jars with labels in my kitchen along with this roll out spice organizer.
The best flavor is within six months, but they can stay pretty fresh up to a year.
FAQ
Definitely. Just be sure to keep it sealed tight and away from light and heat. The flavor will slowly fade, but six months is a good rule of thumb for peak freshness.
Fresh herbs have a different moisture content, so you’d need a lot more to replicate dried herbs. This recipe is designed for dried since it grips flavor longer and blends easily.
You can, but I like to salt dishes separately. This way, you avoid over-salting and keep your flavor options flexible.
This homemade Italian seasoning recipe is a great substitute for store-bought Italian seasoning, and it’s completely adaptable. If you like more basil, go for it! Prefer a little extra rosemary? Add a pinch more. Cooking should be fun, and making your own spice blends is an easy way to take your meals up a notch.
If you tried this Italian seasoning substitute or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments.
Do you make your own spice blends? I’d love to know how you customize yours! Drop your favorite flavor combinations in the comments below and let’s swap spice secrets!
Related
Looking for other spice blends? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with homemade Italian seasoning:
Recipe
Homemade Italian Seasoning Substitute
Send me this recipe!
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons dried oregano
- 2 Tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 Tablespoons dried basil
- 1 Tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 Tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 Tablespoon dried majoram
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir to blend.
- Store in an airtight container or spice jar for 12 months. I prefer to use glass containers.
Notes
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. Calories and other nutritional values vary depending on which brands were used.