You know how sometimes you reach for that jar of Italian seasoning and it just smells… dusty? Yeah, I totally get it. That’s why I stopped buying it years ago! Seriously, making your own Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend is the ultimate pantry upgrade, and honestly, it takes about five minutes flat. Trust me, once you try this super simple method for making your own **Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend**, you will never go back to the store-bought stuff again.
When you make it yourself, you can actually taste the bright, vibrant herbs—that’s the difference quality makes! Plus, I love knowing exactly what goes into the mix; no fillers, no weird anti-caking agents. It just tastes *better*, and that’s all the encouragement I need to whip up a batch every few months.
Why You Need This Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend
Why bother making your own? Simple: the flavor payoff is huge for almost no effort! Store-bought mixes often lose their punch sitting on the shelf, but when you mix these up fresh, wow, the aroma is immediate.
- You control the salt—or lack thereof!
- The flavor of fresh-dried herbs is way brighter.
- It’s ready faster than deciding what to have for dinner.
Honestly, the simplicity just can’t be beaten for an instant kitchen win.
Ingredients for Your Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend
Okay, the ingredient list looks long, but it’s just measuring spoons, people! This is where the flavor magic happens, and since we are sticking strictly to dried herbs, measuring is crucial for a balanced Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend. We want big basil and oregano notes, right?
Here is exactly what you need to gather up before you start mixing:
- 2 tablespoons dried basil (This is our main hug!)
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (If you like a little kick, otherwise skip these!)
That’s it! Keep your dried herbs fresh, and you’re halfway to a powerhouse seasoning!
Mastering the Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend: Step-by-Step
Can we talk about how easy this is? This Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend is truly a dump-and-stir situation, which is just what I need on a hectic weeknight. There’s zero cooking involved, but stay with me on this—I have one little trick if you have an extra minute! If you want the absolute deepest flavor possible, gently toast your dry herbs in a completely dry skillet over medium-low heat for about 60 seconds. Seriously, only 60 seconds, until you can really smell them wake up, then immediately take them off the heat before they scorch. This wakes up their essential oils!
Once toasted (or if you skip that part, which is fine!), it’s just a matter of combining everything. You can use a little whisk, but honestly, a spoon works just as well. This mixture is what you’ll use when making things like my favorite Arancini di Riso!
Combining the Herbs for Your Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend
Grab a small bowl—any bowl works! Measure everything you just gathered right into that bowl. Basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, sage, and optional pepper flakes. Use a spoon or a tiny whisk to mix it all up thoroughly. Make sure those big amounts of basil and oregano are evenly distributed throughout the smaller amounts of the other herbs. Stir until it’s one beautiful, fragrant green puddle of flavor!
Storing Your Perfect Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend
Once it’s all mixed, you need to get this gorgeous seasoning blend into an airtight container right away. Jars with tight-sealing lids are the best, but any container that locks out air and moisture works. Don’t leave it sitting out uncovered while you clean up! Always store this blend in a cool, dark place, like a cupboard away from the stove, so it stays potent for months.
Tips for the Best Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend Flavor
This is where we separate the good batches from the *great* ones! Honestly, the biggest flavor booster in this Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend isn’t adding something new; it’s making sure what you already have is top-notch. I learned this the hard way when I used some ancient, dusty thyme because I thought, “It’s just dried herbs, who cares?” Ugh. Never again!
My rule is this: if your dried herbs are older than a year, you really need to replace them. You’ll notice the difference immediately—the colors pop, and the scent is so much stronger. You can check out how vibrant these herbs make something like my Garlic Herb Roasted Chicken!
Also, feel free to tweak the main players! If your family loves that pungent, earthy oregano flavor common in Southern Italian cooking, just add an extra half-tablespoon of oregano. If you aren’t a huge fan of the subtle flavor of marjoram, knock it down to just a half-teaspoon instead of a full one. It’s your blend, so make it taste exactly how you want!
How to Use Your Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend
Now that you have this glorious, fragrant Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend, the real fun begins! Sticking to store-bought usually means you only use it for one specific thing, but because ours is so fresh and customizable, you should be slapping it on everything. It’s amazing stirred right into your jarred pasta sauce; just a teaspoon perks it right up. It instantly transports that sauce straight to Italy!
I swear by this blend when I’m prepping meat, too. Whisk it with some olive oil, garlic powder, and a little lemon juice for the best marinade for chicken or fish. It’s perfect for brushing onto focaccia bread before baking or mixing into olive oil to make the best dipping bread oil you’ve ever experienced.
If you’re looking for main dish inspiration, this seasoning is key in my Bruschetta Chicken Pasta, and it gives that amazing herbaceous kick to anything cold, like a Classic Italian Pasta Salad. Seriously, think of any savory dish that needs a little Mediterranean sunshine, and this blend is your secret weapon.
Variations on the Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend
While our core Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend is perfect as is, you absolutely have room to play around depending on what you’re cooking! Think of this basic mix as the foundation, and then you can build your own masterpiece on top of it. It’s really fun to customize!
If you are making something that needs a little more savory depth, try adding a teaspoon of dried onion powder or perhaps some dried celery flakes. Those always boost the overall vegetable base flavor, which is so important in Italian cooking.
My favorite addition for things like bread dipping oil is definitely fennel seed. I know, it adds a slight licorice note, but when you grind it a bit when mixing, it gives this warm, aromatic depth. If you like making spice kits or gifts, you might want to check out how I assemble a big Christmas Spice Jar Mix because the concept of layering flavors is similar!
Always remember, if you add something new, give it a really good stir so that the flavor distributes evenly throughout your entire batch of Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your Homemade Blend
I know you might have a few lingering questions after whipping up the greatest Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend ever! That’s totally normal when you start making things from scratch. People always ask me about keeping the flavor strong or changing up the recipe for picky eaters. We’ve got you covered!
How long does this Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend last?
This is the best part about making your own Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend—it lasts ages compared to those fancy pre-mixed jars that lose flavor fast! If you keep it stored properly in that cool, dark spot we talked about, it should stay powerfully flavorful for about six months. Honestly, I sometimes get a good year out of it, but I recommend aiming for six months for the absolute best intensity when you’re seasoning food.
Can I use fresh herbs instead of dried for the Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend?
You totally can, but you have to adjust the ratio because fresh herbs are much more intense than dried ones. Generally, you need three times the amount of fresh herbs for the dried amount we listed. For example, if we call for 2 tablespoons of dried basil, you’d need 6 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil! If you use fresh, you also need to use the blend right away in something that’s going to be cooked, like a sauce, because the fresh leaves will wilt and can start to mold if stored dry.
What if I don’t like rosemary in my Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend?
Oh, that’s easy! Rosemary is wonderful, but if it’s too piney or sharp for your taste, just leave it out entirely. The blend will still be fantastic! If you want to keep that herbaceous feel but just dial back the intensity, use only half a tablespoon instead of a full one. Remember, this is *your* Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend; customize it until it tastes exactly like home to you!
Estimated Nutritional Data for Italian Seasoning
Okay, so this is the least exciting part, but I promised you the details! Since we are mixing up pure herbs here, the nutritional profile for this amazing Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend is super low-key. Remember this is per one-teaspoon serving, which feels tiny, but this stuff is concentrated!
Generally, you are looking at about 5 calories per serving, with almost no fat, protein, or sugar to worry about. That said, since we didn’t add any salt, the sodium is zero mg, which is a bonus! Just know that this is an estimate based on standard ingredient brands, so if you add salt or oil later, those numbers change, of course!
Share Your Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend Success
Whew! That’s it! You now have a jar of the most potent, freshest Italian Seasoning Easy Homemade Blend sitting on your counter. I am so excited for you to use this because I know you are going to notice the difference immediately!
Now, I absolutely love hearing how you use the blends I share. Did you use it in a fantastic tomato sauce? Did you mix it with olive oil for dipping bread while you waited for your chicken recipe to finish cooking? Please tell me all about it!
Don’t be shy! Head down to the comments below and leave a rating—five stars if you think this blend is the easiest and best homemade herb mix you’ve ever made! If you snapped a picture of your freshly blended spices, please share it on social media and tag me; seeing your spice cabinets makes my day! And if you ever have any questions about adjusting ratios or need to get in touch about another recipe, the contact page is always open for you over at this link. Happy seasoning!
Print
Easy Homemade Italian Seasoning Blend
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: About 1/2 cup 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A simple recipe for making your own Italian seasoning mix at home.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Measure all dried herbs into a small bowl.
- Stir the herbs together until they are evenly combined.
- Transfer the seasoning blend to an airtight container for storage.
Notes
- For best flavor, use dried herbs that are less than one year old.
- You can adjust the amounts of basil and oregano to suit your preference.
- Store the blend in a cool, dark place.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Spice Blend
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 teaspoon
- Calories: 5
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Italian seasoning, homemade blend, dried herbs, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, sage