23 Best Substitutes For Italian Seasoning: When You’re Out of Options

If you’re anything like me, your spice cabinet is always stocked with the essentials.

But sometimes, you find yourself in a bind and need a substitute for Italian seasoning.

Whether you’re out of Italian seasoning or just looking to mix things up, these substitutes will do the trick.

Try them now!

23 Substitutes For Italian Seasoning

1. Herbs de Provence

Herbs de Provence is the top substitute because it contains the same ingredients as Italian seasoning.

Except it also contains lavender which gives it a floral aroma. Lavender is not a constituent of Italian seasoning.

Herbs de Provence has an earthy and savory taste because of which it is good for sprinkling on both meat and veggies.

You can also use it for making marinades.

How to Substitute

You can take Italian seasoning and herbs de Provence in a 1:1 ratio. Don’t forget to exclude lavender from Herbs de Provence while using it as a substitute.

Try this recipe of Chicken Breasts with Herbs De Provence: 

2. Homemade Italian Seasoning 

 A DIY substitute

Italian seasoning contains a mixture of herbs readily found in your kitchen. So, you can easily make your Italian seasoning by mixing the following ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons of dried basil
• 2 teaspoons of dried thyme (not ground)
• 1 teaspoon of dried sage
• ½ teaspoon of dried rosemary

The above measurements will give you 3 tablespoons of Italian seasoning.

You can use it in the same way as store-bought Italian seasoning.

Check out this video to know how you can make your Italian seasoning blend:

3. Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs like thyme, oregano, and rosemary contain aromatic oils which instantly enhance the overall flavor of your dish.

Therefore, it acts as an excellent substitute.

Besides, since dry herbs are more concentrated, there is a chance that they might make your dish taste bitter.

Always add fresh herbs towards the end of your cooking procedure to retain their color and softness.

How to Substitute

For one tablespoon of Italian seasoning, take 1½ tablespoons of any fresh herb. 

Watch this video to make BBQ Brie with Fresh Herbs:

4. Pizza Seasoning

Great for low-fat dishes 

Pizza seasoning contains dried basil with oregano. Since these two ingredients form a major part of Italian seasoning, you can conveniently use them as an alternative.

Other than pizza, it also fits well into soups, garlic bread, baked beans, and many other side dishes.

How to Substitute

You can take an equal quantity of pizza seasoning to replace Italian seasoning.

Here’s how you can make your pizza seasoning at home: 

5. Dried Oregano and Basil

If you’re making an Italian dish, then a combination of dried oregano and Basil is the perfect alternative because they both dominate the flavor of Italian seasoning.

Oregano has a mixture of sweet and spicy taste with a sharp and somewhat bitter undertone, while basil produces an intense, herbal aroma with a robust sweet flavor. 

When combined, they give your recipes an authentic and delicious touch.

How to Substitute

Mix half a teaspoon of basil with half a teaspoon of oregano to replace 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning. 

See this video to make a tomato soup using basil and oregano:

6. Creole Seasoning

If you like your food hot and spicy, then creole or cajun seasoning is a must-try substitute.

It contains a combination of highly savory, peppery, and smoky flavors that come from herbs. 

Its taste is spicier than Italian seasoning. So, you can drizzle it on top of popcorn, soups, meat, and seafood. 

How to Substitute

Take ½ tablespoon of creole seasoning for every 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning.

Try this recipe of chicken drumsticks made using Creole/Cajun seasoning:

7. Za’atar Seasoning 

Za’atar seasoning contains a wide variety of flavors like salty, earthy, herbal, and tangy.

Its sweet and somewhat bitter taste makes it suitable for use in most savory recipes.

You can use it as a salad dressing, for making chicken marinades, and to top seafood and other meat dishes. 

How to Substitute

Use Za’atar seasoning in the same quantity as Italian seasoning.

Here are some ways to use Za’atar seasoning while cooking:

8. Greek Seasoning 

Greek seasoning has oregano, parsley, thyme, onion, garlic, and marjoram. It has a mint-like and savory taste with undertones of pepper. 

So, it works excellently for beef, turkey, chicken, lamb dishes, and salads. You can also incorporate it in greek yogurt and add a few drops of lemon to make a tasty dip.

How to Substitute

Take 1 tablespoon of Greek seasoning to replace 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning.

Check out this recipe of Oven-Roasted Potatoes With Greek Seasoning:

9. Herbes De La Garrigue

Herbs De La Garrigue is a spice blend that contains basil, thyme, fennel, rosemary, marjoram, and sage.

It has a more strong, savory taste to Italian seasoning. So, it fits well into slow-cooked dishes, grilled meat, and as a bread seasoning.

Its robust flavor with a mesmerizing minty aroma replaces Italian seasoning perfectly in sausages, beans, and stews.

How to Substitute

Take a 1:1 ratio.

Here’s how you can cook Grilled Beef Rib Roast: 

10. Dried Basil, Oregano, and Thyme

The taste of Italian seasoning mainly comes from basil, oregano, and thyme.

So, if you have these individual spices, then you can mix them to achieve a similar taste.

The mixture goes well with chicken, meat, roasted fish, and dishes that contain lemon and garlic. 

How to Substitute

For 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, you can combine half a teaspoon of dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon of dried basil, and a quarter teaspoon of dried thyme.

Watch this video to make a classic Italian salad dressing using Dried Basil, Oregano, and Thyme: 

11. DIY Italian Spice Mix with Sage

Sage has a savory and earthy taste with an intense herbal aroma. It also contains traces of citrus flavor.

So, you can readily substitute it in risotto, meat dishes, roasted potatoes, and pasta.

How to Substitute

To make a dry blend, mix 1 tablespoon each of dried basil, marjoram, oregano, thyme, and rosemary with 2 tablespoons of dried sage.

If you don’t have any one or two of the above ingredients, you can leave them. The spice blend will still give your dishes a great flavor.

Watch this video to know how you can make a Herbal salt mix using sage and garlic:

12. Italian Dressing Seasoning Packet

You can find Italian dressing seasoning packets in any grocery store. It is a blend that generally contains various spices, peppers, herbs, onion powder, and sometimes sugar. 

It fits well into Italian salads, pizza, buttered popcorn topping, and casseroles.

How to Substitute

You can start by adding a small quantity and then gradually increase it according to the taste you desire.

Here’s how you can make Italian Dressing Seasoning Mix at home: 

13. Homemade Italian Seasoning with Fennel Seed

Fennel seeds have a sweet, licorice-like taste with a slightly grassy undertone. They are used in both cooked and raw forms in most Italian recipes.

Their mild aroma makes them work as a great substitute when combined with a DIY Italian seasoning mix. You can use it in soups, fish dishes, and even confectionaries. 

How to Substitute

Take 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds and 2 tablespoons each of oregano, thyme, and basil. Mix them in a blender to achieve the desired consistency.

The mixture lasts for 6 months.

Try this recipe for Italian Fennel Sausage:

14. Homemade Italian Seasoning With Black Pepper

Black pepper has an intense, spicy flavor with a floral touch. You can mix it with other commonly available spices to create your own customized Italian seasoning substitute.

How to Substitute

Blend 1 tablespoon of each of the following ingredients:

• Oregano
• Basil
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Marjoram
• Back pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• And, red pepper flakes

You can use this mixture in the same way as Italian seasoning.

Check out this recipe to make White Sauce Pasta using Black pepper and mixed herbs: 

15. Basil, Oregano, Thyme, And Rosemary Blend

Another homemade alternative that works excellently is a mixture of thyme, basil, oregano, and rosemary.

How to Substitute

Combine 1 teaspoon each of basil and oregano and ½ teaspoon each of thyme and rosemary. 

If you make this blend in a large quantity then it can last for as much as 2 years given that you keep it safely in an airtight bottle.

Try this recipe of Herbed Basil Brown Rice:

16. Dried And Fresh Basil

Fresh basil has a mellow flavor, so it goes well with salads and desserts.

Dried basil is great for cooking. You can put it into soups, and sauces or use it for seasoning chicken and other meat dishes. 

Here’s how you can make fresh basil pesto:

17. Parsley

Parsley has an earthy and peppery taste.

Its taste is milder than other ingredients of Italian seasoning. So, it’s a good option when you don’t want to go overboard with the flavors.

Try out this Parsley Potato recipe: 

18. Fresh Basil and Oregano

Since basil and oregano are the main flavoring agents of Italian seasoning, so if you don’t have all other spices, using only these two also works.

But you should not cook fresh herbs for a long time because they lose their aroma and flavor. Add them only towards the end of your cooking. 

You’ll need a higher quantity of fresh basil and oregano since they’re not as concentrated as dried herbs.

Try this recipe of fresh tomato soup using basil and oregano: 

19. Dried Oregano

Oregano has an intense earthy taste with bitter undertones.

The flavor is a perfect combination of sweet and spicy, and it contains a lot of essential oils. Therefore, it performs excellently as an Italian seasoning replacement.

How to Substitute

Use ½ teaspoon of dried oregano for every 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning.

You can also add salt and pepper to improve the taste.

Watch this video to make Chicken using oregano powder: 

20. Dried Rosemary

Rosemary is an aromatic herb with a robust minty, sage-like, and lemony-pine taste.

It is good for seasoning meat dishes like lamb and chicken and veggies like peas, beans, and potatoes.

Dried rosemary has a very strong aroma, so you can mix it with pinches of pepper and sage to create a good balance.

How to Substitute

For every 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, take ⅛ teaspoon of dried rosemary.

Check out this video to know how you can make Rosemary Potatoes:

21. Marjoram

Marjoram contains a flavor similar to thyme, but it is sweeter, and its aroma is much stronger. Its taste is a combination of hot and sour with slightly bitter undertones. 

Since marjoram is also a part of the Italian seasoning mixture, it acts as a good substitute.

You can use it for garnishing salads, with rice and Tomatoes and incorporate it into meat marinades. 

See this video to make Pea bacon and Marjoram Risotto:

22. Tuscan Seasoning

The flavor profile of Tuscan seasoning is much similar to that of Italian seasoning. Except, it contains some extra ingredients like garlic powder and fennel seeds.

It gives your dishes a sweet, peppery taste with a fresh aroma. You can substitute it with salads, pasta, fish and bread. 

How to Substitute

Take a 1:1 ratio.

Here’s how you can make Taco Meat using McCormick Taco Seasoning (Tuscan seasoning):

23. Mediterranean Seasoning

Mediterranean seasoning has a sweet and minty taste that fits well into salad dressings, soups, stews, and sauces.

It contains dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried basil which is also found in the Italian spice mix. In addition to these, it has garlic powder, cumin, ground black pepper, and paprika. Hence, it works as a great substitute.

Watch this video to know how you make 5 easy Mediterranean Recipes:

FAQs

Bottom Line

We hope that through the above guide, you were able to gain enough knowledge about how to substitute Italian seasoning in your recipes. 

Still, if you know about any other substitution choices, then please let me know.

Don’t forget to share this list with your cooking buddies who love to try out different cuisines.