Make a savory Italian seasoning substitute with only 5 dried herbs straight from your spice rack. Use this homemade Italian seasoning in pasta, soups, sauces, and marinades just like you would use any store-bought version.

What is Italian seasoning?
Italian seasoning is a dried herb blend used for flavoring Italian-inspired recipes. It's a common grocery item, but it's expensive – and sometimes we run out unexpectedly, which is why we need a substitute. Surprisingly, dried Italian seasoning is not common to authentic Italian kitchens, but it is a pantry staple in the American kitchen. So, it pays to know how to make Italian seasoning the easy way.
Why we love this recipe
This simple substitute for Italian seasoning is equally as flavorful as any store-bought version.
Utilize what you have on hand - When you make this seasoning mix from your spice rack, you'll likely cycle through individual herbs faster. As a result, your dried herbs won't suffer the loss of flavor and potency that naturally happens from long-term lack of use.
Save money - We know that packaged seasoning blends are expensive. So, every time you make this blend from your dried herb base, you'll get a return on those purchases.
No sugar and no salt in this recipe - These often dilute the quality and value of a store-bought Italian herb seasoning blend. You can easily add these ingredients to your homemade version, if desired.
Homemade Italian seasoning is customizable with endless ingredient combinations. I've included several suggestions in the recipe footnotes.
It's always more convenient to open only one jar of homemade Italian seasoning. Also, you won't find yourself guessing which dried herbs and quantities are needed.
What's in Italian seasoning?
Parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary are combined to make this Italian seasoning substitute equally as good as any store-bought version. This simple blend adds savory and earthy flavors with a hint of spice and sweetness to all your foods. My herb notes, sourced here, should give you an idea of why we love and rely on Italian seasoning so much.
oregano - This herb, along with marjoram, belongs to the mint family. Both are often used interchangeably, but oregano is less sweet with more intense flavor.
thyme - Garden thyme is the most commonly used herb in this family. It has a minty flavor and a subtle lemon aroma.
parsley - This brings a slight pepper flavor and bitterness to the seasoning blend, which is necessary for balancing flavors.
basil - One of the most common Italian herbs and known for its fragrant, peppery, and sweet flavors.
rosemary - This is another mint family herb that adds a bold piney flavor to everything it touches.
How to make this recipe
To make Italian seasoning, it's as easy as combining dried herbs in a mixing bowl or airtight storage container. You can store the seasoning for up to 3 months in a cool, dry place.
Pro tip: Create a finer texture of this Italian herb seasoning by grinding the mixture in a mortar and pestle or your preferred grinder. I also do this with my taco seasoning recipe because grinding herbs and spices releases flavors in a way that stirring doesn't.
Uses for Italian seasoning
You won’t find a more versatile seasoning than this Italian herb blend. Here are my favorite ways to use it.
Soups: Minestrone Soup, Lasagna Soup, Homemade Vegetable Soup, White Bean and Kale Soup, Italian Sausage Soup, Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
Pasta and Pizza: Instant Pot Spaghetti, Penne Alla Vodka with Chicken, Pepperoni Tortilla Pizza
Sides: Season Air Fryer Mushrooms, Grilled Portobello Mushrooms, and Marinated Mushrooms Recipe
Sauces: Homemade Tomato Sauce, Marinara Sauce Recipe
Other: Use as a seasoning for Air Fryer Chicken seasoning, homemade Croutons Recipe, garlic bread, bread crumbs, or Italian vinaigrette.
Recipe variations
Sage, marjoram, and savory will enhance the bold flavor of this blend, however these herbs are not required to make a great seasoning.
You can really personalize this seasoning mix by adding spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and red chili flakes. The combinations are endless – I've included suggested amounts in the recipe footnotes below.
Frequently asked questions
If you don't have all five dried herbs to make this Italian seasoning substitute, use any combination such as thyme and oregano, basil and thyme, or parsley and oregano, etc. – any combination will work!
Yes! Use any combination of the recommended herbs for this recipe in fresh form and in larger quantities. This will also deliver a more authentic Italian cooking experience.
Yes. You can dry or dehydrate any fresh herbs to make this recipe. Once the herbs have completely dried, strip the leaves from the stems and follow the recipe accordingly.
Easy Italian Seasoning Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon Dried Oregano
- 1 tablespoon Dried Thyme
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- 1 tablespoon Dried Basil
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dried Rosemary
Instructions
- Combine OREGANO, THYME, PARSLEY, BASIL, and ROSEMARY in a mixing bowl or storage container.See recipe footnotes for additional herb options.
- Store in an airtight container up to 3 months.
- Use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to create a finer seasoning blend.
Traci's Recipe Notes
- 1 teaspoon Dried Marjoram
- 1 teaspoon Dried Sage
- 1 teaspoon Dried Savory
- ½ teaspoon Granulated Garlic
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
NUTRITION
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Kathleen says
Big fan of homemade spice blends. Will be adding this simple Italian blend to my spice rack ASAP!
Traci says
Yayy! So glad to hear it 🙂 Thanks for the feedback!
Anjali says
This italian seasoning blend was easy to make, so rich in flavor and so much better than store bought!
Traci says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the feedback 🙂
Gina Abernathy says
Great way to make Italian Seasoning and perfect when you're in a pinch.
Traci says
Yay! Glad you're enjoying it 🙂 Thanks so much for the feedback!
Nancy says
I just ran out of Italian seasoning at home but so happy to know if only takes a few ingredients to replicate. Thank goodness I had it all already. Thanks
Traci says
Yayy! That's exactly why I created this recipe because it kept happening to me LOL. Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Caitlin says
Such a delicious recipe, and so much better than store bought. Love it!
Traci says
Thank youu! I couldn't agree more 🙂 I appreciate the feedback!
JB says
We run out of Italian seasoning more frequently than any other herbs in our spice rack and this substitute is a life saver. Even when we only have 3 out of 5 ingredients, it totally works. Thanks for another winner!
Traci says
Yesss! No statement is more true about the running out part, which is exactly why I created this substitute LOL. I'm glad you love it as much as I do 🙂