Easy Italian Seasoning Recipe

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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. So when you run out unexpectedly, which happens, you 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 you'll love this seasoning recipe

• As flavorful as any store-bought version.
• You save money because you utilize what you have on hand.
• There's no sugar or salt added to this recipe.
• It's customizable - Alter this 5-ingredient recipe by using herbs and spices I've included in the recipe footnotes.

It pays to have a substitute for Italian seasoning, or any seasoning. When you make your own Italian herbs, you cycle through your spice rack items in a timely manner. As a result, these dried herbs don't suffer the loss of potency and flavor from a long-term lack of use.

Also, store-bought seasonings are expensive, so every time you make this blend from your dried herb base, you'll get a return on those purchases.

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 from Deluxe Food Lover's Companion, 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: Tomato Sauce Recipe, 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

📖 Recipe