The Homemade Italian Seasoning I Add To Everything

This Italian seasoning recipe enlivens soups, stews, vegetables, and more.

Oct 30, 2024 - 14:06
The Homemade Italian Seasoning I Add To Everything
An open jar of Italian seasoning
Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

I'm really quite proud of my spice drawer. It's jam-packed with a variety of fragrant options and in alphabetic order to boot. And while I have real love for my single-origin spices like sumac and turmeric, I still lean on seasoning blends for day-to-day cooking. They're a one-stop shop for adding delicious flavor to whatever I'm cooking.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to ​​zhuzh up a dish is with a spice mix. While you can buy pre-mixed spice blends at the store, they’re incredibly easy to mix up at home. By making your own, you can customize it to suit your tastes and ensure that the spices are fresh and flavorful.

This Italian-style seasoning is one I reach for again and again. The blend of dried green herbs is a must for Italian-American-style foods like red sauces, cheesy pasta, and cold-cut sandwiches. It also adds a punch of herby flavor to roasted vegetables, soups, and more.

What’s in Italian Seasoning?

The ingredient list can vary, but almost all Italian seasoning blends contain dried oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme. Many also include marjoram and/or sage, as ours does. Store-bought seasoning will sometimes include garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and/or salt.

This blend sticks to dried herbs, but you can customize it and add other spices to make it your own.

Italian Seasoning in a Jar with a Spoon, Sitting on a Cutting Board
Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

How To Use Italian Seasoning

Use Italian seasoning whenever you want to add tasty herbal flavor to a dish. It pairs well with red wine vinegar, balsamic, lemon, olive oil, mild cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella, and so much more. 

This is also an incredibly versatile seasoning, and you can use it with meats of all kinds, soups, and roasted, grilled, or sautéed vegetables. Add it to a vinegar-based dressing or sauce, or sprinkle some in olive oil for an easy but tasty dip for bread. Sprinkle it on pizza, into pasta, or onto your next Italian sub.

Here are more ways to use Italian seasoning:

Make This Italian Seasoning Recipe Your Own

  • Spicy: Add a little kick by adding up to 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes.
  • Garlic: Add 2 tablespoons garlic powder. Be sure to give it a good mix before using, since the granules can sink to the bottom.
  • Other herbs: You can adjust the herbs depending on your tastes or what you have on hand. The marjoram can be omitted or replaced by more oregano, and the sage is optional but adds a nice earthy flavor.

How To Store Italian Seasoning

Store your Italian seasoning in an airtight container (such as a jar) in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. It will still be good after that, but its flavor will gradually fade over time.

More Homemade Seasoning Mixes

Combine the spices:

In a small bowl, add all of the spices and stir to combine.

Italian Seasoning in a Ramekin
Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

Use or store:

Use Italian seasoning to add flavor to meats, vegetables, sauces, soups, dips, and more. Store it in an airtight container, like a jar, in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

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Italian Seasoning in a Jar
Simply Recipes / Lori Rice