Italian Seasoning Substitute

Name: Italian Seasoning Substitute
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2¼ tsp dried marjoram; 2¼ tsp dried rosemary; 2¼ tsp dried basil; 2¼ tsp dried thyme; 1 tsp dried parsley; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp dried sage

Amazing herb blend that combines all your favorite Italian flavors. It tastes great with pizza, pasta and many other Italian dishes.

Jump to Recipe

bowl of mixed up Italian seasoning substitute

Do you also love Italian food in every shape and form? Then this best homemade Italian seasoning substitute is perfect for you. This amazing combination of dried herbs and spices makes all your Italian recipes taste out of this world good. It comes together in just 5 minutes and only uses household staples. Equal parts of marjoram, rosemary, basil and thyme, as well as parsley, garlic powder and sage, determine the flavor of our delicious Italian seasoning. Add it to pizza, pasta, salad dressings or garlic bread, and your dishes will be bursting with irresistible Italian flavor.

Table of Contents

bowl of Italian seasoning with a wooden spoon

What is Italian Seasoning?

Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs and spices that can be used in many of your favorite Italian inspried recipes. Even though its name suggests an Italian origin, Italian seasoning is not really common in Italy. It is in fact more of an Italian American staple. Traditionally its key ingredients are aromatic herbs such as marjoram, basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley or oregano, for example. Additionally flavorful spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper or cayenne pepper are also added to give it its distinct flavor. It is the best alternative to fresh herbs.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: flavorful blend of Italian herbs and spices that adds immense flavor to pizza, pasta sauces, salad dressings and more
Main Ingredients: majoram, rosemary, basil, thyme, parsley, garlic powder, sage
Cooking Method: no bake
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time
Pairs well with: pizza, calzones, Italian meatballs, pasta dishes, salads
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan
Special Equipment Needed: mixing bowl, small whisk

homemade Italian seasoning in a bowl with a wooden spoon in it

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this substitute Italian seasoning recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this homemade Italian seasoning you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Italian Seasoning Ingredients

2¼ teaspoon dried marjoram
2¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
2¼ teaspoon dried basil
2¼ teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried sage

Variations and Substitutions

Oregano: Another herb that blends well with Italian dishes is oregano. Add 1 teaspoon of oregano to this good Italian seasoning substitute if you prefer.

Dried Lemon Peel: For a slight hint of bright citrus flavor, add ¼ teaspoon of dried lemon peel to your homemade seasoning.

Spicy kick: If you like a bit of spicy kick with your Italian cuisine, then add some black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to taste. Be careful, however, or your Italian spice will end up having a peppery taste.

Italian seasoning ingredients like majoram, rosemary, basil, thyme, parsley, garlic powder, and sage

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this flavor packed Italian spice blend recipe, use it for our Air Fryer Pizza Bites. These fluffy and delicious pepperoni pizza bites are super easy to make and will sure impress every pizza lover in your life.

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Mixing Bowl — For best results use a clean and dry glass or porcelain bowl to mix your own homemade Italian blend of herbs.

Instructions

This section shows how to make Italian seasoning substitute, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MIX SPICES: Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Stir together to combine. Pour into a small container with an airtight lid. Close the lid and label.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Italian inspired juicy and tender chicken then you’ll love our Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs. This easy chicken dish is rubbed with olive oil, Italian seasoning and spices, then cooked to perfection in the air fryer.

Stef says….

I love using this amazing substitute for Italian seasoning in my easy Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake. It has the same traditional flavors, except it’s so much easier to make, and it’s ready in 35 minutes!

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best replacement for Italian seasoning.

Tip: Make sure your dried herbs are fresh. Older spices often lose their flavor. In case your herbs are discolored or have lost their aroma, toss them and buy new ones.
Tip: Measure amounts carefully to create the perfect combination of flavors.
Tip: Store homemade Italian seasoning substitute in a dry, airtight container, so it stays fresh for a long time.

What to Make with Italian Seasoning

There are countless ways of using this good Italian seasoning substitute.

We love using this excellent and easy substitute for Italian seasoning in salad dressings, like for our Easy Italian Salad or Tortellini Pasta Salad.

This great homemade Italian seasoning additionally tastes great in all our pizza and calzone recipes. Have you tried our White Pizza with Garlic Pizza Sauce, Hot Pizza Dip, Easy Three Meat Calzones, Chicken Pesto Calzones, Meatball Calzones or Pizza Dough Garlic Knots?

Italian Seasoning also adds immense flavor to sandwiches. We love using in for our Air Fryer Three Cheese Bombs, Meatball Sub Sandwich or Meatball Stuffed Biscuits.

Main dishes such as Air Fryer Salmon, Creamy Chicken Bake, Air Fryer Meatballs, or Caprese Chicken Thighs all taste better with a teaspoon of this Italian seasoning.

Andrea says….

Mix 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar as a marinade for chicken.

More Homemade Spice Blend Recipes

It is surprisingly easy to make the most delicious homemade spice blends with pantry staples that you probably already have at home. They are so much better than store-bought versions. Here are some of our favorite seasoning blends:

How To Store

Room Temperature: In case you are not using your substitute for Italian seasoning right away, store your mix of herbs in an airtight container, ziploc bag, spice jar or other tightly sealed container until ready to use. We recommend keeping your Italian seasoning mix in a dry place such as a spice rack or a dark place such as a spice cabinet. If the spices you used for this recipe were fresh, this blend of Italian herbs will last for a long time. Even up to 2 years.

white bowl full of Italian seasoning with a wooden spoon

Common Questions

How do I store spices to keep them fresh longer?

We recommend storing common spices as well as diy blends in an airtight container in a dry and dark spot like a spice cabinet. It is important to protect spices from direct sunlight, to prevent discoloration.

How do I turn this homemade seasoning into a gift?

A jar of amazing Italian seasoning blend makes a great gift for family, friends or co-workers all year around. Simply make a big batch of substitute Italian seasoning and fill it in cute little spice jars, small mason jars or other tightly sealed containers. Add a homemade or handwritten label and decorate with a ribbon and some dry bow tie pasta if you like.

What can I use this great substitute for Italian seasoning for?

Most of us don’t always have fresh herbs, such as fresh basil or fresh oregano, at hand. Therefore, one of the best substitutes is having a jar of Italian seasoning on the spice rack. It is one of the best ways to add Italian flavors to your dishes. It can be used as a pizza seasoning, for pasta dishes, salad dressings, garlic bread, or meat dishes.

Does Italian seasoning have any health benefits?

This unique blend of dry herbs does have many nutrients, such as vitamins, antioxidants, fiber and minerals. Moreover, there are no excessive amounts of sea salt or any other additives in this homemade blend. In addition, it is also gluten free.

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