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Don’t have any Italian seasoning on hand while you’re making a recipe? Here are the best Italian seasoning substitutes to use in cooking.
Italian seasoning is a popular Mediterranean herb blend, but it’s actually not Italian at all, despite the name! It’s a spice blend created as a convenience for cooks to quickly add Mediterranean flair to dishes.
Most mixes you’ll find at the grocery have oregano, basil, and thyme, but there’s quite a bit of variation. If you don’t have time to pick some up at the store for a recipe that calls for it, you may have what you need in your pantry. Here are the best Italian seasoning substitutes!
Best Italian seasoning substitutes
1. Make your own homemade Italian seasoning!
The best Italian seasoning substitute is a homemade version! It’s very easy to make Italian seasoning at home. Here’s what to mix together to make 3 tablespoons of Italian seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme (not ground)
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
2. Dried oregano and basil
Another great Italian seasoning substitute is a combination of oregano and basil! These dried herbs have the strongest flavor profile in Italian seasoning. If you have dried thyme, you can throw in a little of that, as well. Here are a few ideas:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning = ½ teaspoon dried oregano and ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning = ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon each dried basil and thyme
3. Herbes de Provence
The herb blend Herbes de Provence Seasoning has a lot of similarities to Italian seasoning. Of course, it’s a little more niche than Italian seasoning, so it’s possible you might not have that on hand, either. But if you do, it works in a pinch!
Italian Seasoning Substitute
Don’t have any Italian seasoning on hand while you’re making a recipe? Here are the best Italian seasoning substitutes to use in cooking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About 7 tablespoons 1x
- Category: Spices
- Method: Spice Blend
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme (not ground)
- 1 tablespoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Instructions
- Whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Transfer to an airtight container or jar. Store for 6 months to 1 year in a cool, dry place.
Related recipes
Here are some of our favorite recipes featuring those Mediterranean flavors:
The ingredients you have for Italian seasoning is close to the one I bought from family dollar for only $1 dollars,except it has parsley and garlic,it doesn’t have sage,so I don’t know if that’s good or not, but I love the flavor of the seasoning in a meatloaf and the aroma when you cook a meatloaf, it makes your meat smell like a expensive piece of beef,like prime rib.
Made this with the mayonnaise and it was the most tender chicken breast I’ve made in a long time. Will always do it this way from now on.