If anyone ever tried to tell you that there is no substitute for Italian seasoning, I'm here to say that they were mistaken! We are reaching into our spice cabinet today to combine basil, oregano, thyme, and a few others to help make an easy homemade mix of dried herbs and spices that are the perfect replacement for Italian seasoning in all of your WHOLE LOTTA YUM recipes. Oh, and it only takes just a few minutes to whip up!
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Italian Seasoning Substitute
As I personally love it, we use a lot of Italian seasoning in our home. It's a wonderful blend of herbs and spices that is savory and inviting - plus it pairs well with a wide variety of meats and recipes. But sometimes the jar is empty and I need to get a quick Italian seasoning replacement made because there just isn't always time to run to the store.
Luckily, I have perfected this go-to mix that is the perfect replacement for Italian seasoning. It works whether we are using it in cheese-stuffed sausage, Italian baked zucchini and squash, or Italian tortellini soup, seamlessly adding that classic Italian seasoning flavor so well that no one will know you actually used an Italian seasoning substitute.
Why You'll Love This!
- Never again worry about running out of Italian seasoning or making a mad dash to the store mid-meal when you have our substitute for Italian seasoning.
- By using our quick and easy DIY version, you can experiment with different herbs and spices until you find just the right blend for your homemade Italian seasoning.
- Perfect for keeping you on track with your healthy eating plan, you can use our Italian blend of herbs and spices with gluten-free, keto, low-carb, and paleo lifestyles.
- No need to grab special ingredients, our Italian seasoning substitute is made using common household seasonings.
Ingredient Notes
Italian seasoning is simply a blend of herbs and spices and we are making our homemade Italian seasoning using the same blend.
- dried basil
- dried oregano
- dried thyme
- dried marjoram
- dried parsley
- minced dried rosemary (optional- see recipe tips)
- garlic powder (optional - see recipe tips)
** Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the exact quantities **
How to Make Italian Seasoning
Making a substitute for Italian seasoning is as simple as measuring out the correct amounts of each individual herb or spice and then combining them in a storage container with a lid.
Assemble
Add all of the dried spices to a small bowl and combine. Alternately you can put the seasoning mix ingredients into a small jar with a lid and shake. We like to store homemade seasonings in 4 oz mason jars.
Store
Store the spice mix at room temperature in a cool dark place like the pantry or a spice cupboard for 6-12 months.
Recipe Tips
- We are using a blend of the most common ingredients to make our homemade Italian seasoning, but feel free to swap, skip, or change based on your own personal preferences.
- Dried seasonings will last longer than 12 months but slowly lose their flavor over time.
- The main Italian seasoning replacement ingredients are dried basil, thyme, oregano, marjoram, and dried parsley. Rosemary and garlic are completely optional, many recipes add rosemary, and just as many do not, so it's a personal preference. Likewise, garlic isn't a traditional addition but adds flavor to any dish. It's just as easy to add it to the dish directly since many recipes already call for garlic.
- Common swaps for Italian seasoning if you don't want to make your own DIY recipe or just don't have all of the ingredients for the homemade version are replacing the seasoning with Herbs de Provence, or using a mix of dried basil and dried oregano.
Common Questions
Ironically enough, while Herbs de Provence is from Provence, a region in France, Italian seasoning is as American as apple pie. They both share similar herbs and spices including thyme, basil, and oregano, but herbs de Provence includes lavender and is quite floral.
Technically dried herbs last indefinitely; however, they do being to lose their potency and flavor after 6-12 months. Storing your herbs in a cool, dry place in containers with lids can help keep your dried herbs fresher longer.
Yes, you can freeze dried herbs for 3-6 months. This is especially helpful if you are buying your herbs in bulk.
More Spice Mixes
Looking for more seasoning recipes?
- Homemade blackened seasoning recipe
- Smoked turkey seasoning rub
- Substitute for chili powder
- Poultry seasoning substitute
- Cajun seasoning substitute
Come connect with us on Instagram! Be sure to tag us (wholelotta.yum) when you make a recipe. You can also find us on Facebook, and Pinterest.
Substitute for Italian Seasoning (Recipe + Tips)
An easy homemade Italian seasoning recipe when you've ran out of the dried grocery store spice mix and don't want to drive to the store. We also include simple substitutes for Italian seasoning in the Notes!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried marjoram
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon minced dried rosemary (optional- see Notes)
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder (optional - see Notes)
Instructions
- Add all of the dried spices to a small bowl and combine or you can put the seasoning mix ingredients into a small jar with a lid and shake. We like to store homemade seasonings in 4 oz mason jars.
- Store the spice mix at room temperature in a cool dark place like the pantry or a spice cupboard for 6-12 months.
Notes
Dried seasonings will last longer than 12 months but slowly lose their flavor over time.
The main Italian seasoning replacement ingredients are dried basil, thyme, oregano, marjoram, and dried parsley. Rosemary and garlic are completely optional, many recipes add rosemary, and just as many do not, so it's a personal preference. Likewise, garlic isn't a traditional addition but adds flavor to any dish. It's just as easy to add it to the dish directly since many recipes already call for garlic.
Common swaps for Italian seasoning if you don't want to make your own DIY recipe or just don't have all of the ingredients for the homemade version are replacing the seasoning with Herbs de Provence, or using a mix of dried basil and dried oregano.
Nutrition Information
Yield 20 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 4Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 1mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g
The nutrional information is just an estimate and was calculated by an automated calculator. If you're on a restricted health program please manually calculate this information using the brands of ingredients you have since brands can vary.
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