Easy Italian Seasoning Recipe

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