Homemade Italian Seasoning

Let’s make Homemade Italian Seasoning Mix! This easy Italian herbs blend is SO much better than store-bought! Don’t miss all our favorite ways to use it below!

Full disclosure: I have zero qualms about store-bought spice blends. I love buying taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, and a few other blends that are just quick and easy to keep on hand. Ain’t no shame in that shortcut game!

But sometimes a recipe calls for a blend you don’t have on hand, or your budget is tight, or the flavor is lacking, or you don’t feel like running to the store to pick up a jar of spices or a packet of seasoning. And that’s when a good homemade spice blend totally delivers!

This homemade Italian seasoning recipe was born from just such an occasion. I feel like most Italian seasoning blends just don’t deliver on flavor for me. I often find they just feel like an overwhelming mess of herb flavor without any additional depth.

So this is one case where I think a batch of our homemade spice blend totally beats store-bought. In just a few minutes with some pantry staples, you can whip up this gorgeous Italian herb blend that adds instant savory flavor to all sorts of delicious dishes!

Here’s what you’ll need for this easy Italian seasoning recipe…

Here’s What You Need To Make Our Italian Seasoning Recipe:

• A Mix Of Dried Herbs. I use a mix of dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, and dried thyme. I prefer using a higher proportion of basil & oregano to the others, as those two herbs are the one my tastebuds think of when I’m craving Italian flavors. I skipped marjoram since I don’t really use it for anything else, so it’s not something I usually keep on hand.
• Dried Garlic Flakes & Onion Powder. Most Italian seasoning mixes don’t contain garlic or onion powder, but much like our Everything Bagel Seasoning, I love using dried flaked garlic (sometimes labeled dried minced garlic), and a little garlic powder. It really adds so much depth keeps the seasoning from tasting too intensely herby.
• Red Pepper Flakes. For a very subtle warmth (or a big kick, if you want to add more!), I use a little red pepper flakes in our seasoning mix. The amount shouldn’t make your mix taste spicy, rather it’ll just be a subtle layer of warmth. If you *want* more kick, feel free to add more!

How To Make An Italian Seasoning Blend, Step By Step:

1. In a small bowl or jar, combine basil, oregano, garlic flakes, onion powder, rosemary, thyme, and red pepper flakes.
2. Whisk the spices to combine (or cover your jar with a lid and shake until well blended)
3. Transfer to a small jar or airtight container, as needed.
4. Store at room temperature up to 1 year.
5. Use for all kinds of recipes! Here are some of our favorites…

Yummy Ways To Use Homemade Italian Seasoning

• ON POTATOES OR ROASTED VEGETABLES. This Italian herb blend adds gorgeous flavor to roasted or steamed potatoes, roasted veggies, etc. It’s an easy way to add depth to any simple veggie blend!
• IN A SEASONED DIPPING OIL FOR BREAD. Make a gorgeous restaurant-worthy seasoned oil blend for dipping your favorite bread (or our homemade focaccia!) by sprinkle some of our Italian herbs seasoning in a shallow bowl with a sprinkle of coarse flaky sea salt and drizzlewith good-quality olive oil (and maybe a splash of balsamic!).
• IN PASTA SAUCE. Perk up a jar of store-bought pasta sauce, or mix up your own and stir in a bit of Italian seasoning, to taste. It’s great in lots of different sauces!
• SPRINKLED ON PIZZA. Add a final pinch of pizzaz to your pizza by sprinkling a little of this herb blend on your finished pizza, or mixing it into the pizza sauce.
• FOR EXTRA AMAZING GARLIC BREAD. Spread your bread slices with butter or olive oil, then sprinkle lightly with our homemade Italian seasoning mix.
• WHISKED INTO SALAD DRESSING. Make a quick Italian salad dressing and use our Italian seasoning mix with lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt & pepper. Or use it to season veggies in a Greek Salad & finish with olive oil, lemon juice, and vinegar.
• MIXED INTO MARINADES. Sprinkle over chicken breast before grilling, or whisk a pinch into a marinade with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

FAQ + Tips & Tricks For The Best Italian Seasoning:

A Pretty Trick For Labeling. For Christmas last year, I got a few things to organize my kitchen and pantry with. I love these pretty jar labels (I got the 1.25″ size). I put them on these 4oz. jars to make all my spices look uniform. (The jars come with a chalk marker you can use to write an expiration date on the bottom of the bottles–so handy!)

Use Fresh Spices For Best Results! Dried herbs and spices lose flavor over time. If your spices or herbs are expired (or you can’t remember when you bought them!), it’s time to replace them! The flavor you’ll get from a fresh jar of dried herbs is MUCH stronger and vibrant than the flavor you’ll get from an old bottle. The spice blend will only be as good as the spices!

What’s The Best Store-Bought Italian Seasoning? I find specialty spice stores often carry great blends, so that’s my first pick! But out of commonly available brands, I like McCormick Gourmet, or Fontier Co-Op brands.

What Can I Use Instead Of Italian Seasoning? If you need a quick substitute, I find that a 50/50 mix of dried basil & oregano can get the job done in a pinch. Herbs de Provence can also be a substitute. But you’ll always get more flavor if you make your own mix or pick up a store-bought blend since they’ve got such a nice blend of herbs and seasonings.

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