• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinners
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Thai
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegetarian

Inquiring Chef

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Easy Dinners
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Seasonings and Spices

    Italian Herb Seasoning

    Published: Sep 2, 2019 · Modified: Mar 15, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Italian Herb Seasoning
    Italian Herb Seasoning in a small white ramekin
    Italian Herb Seasoning

    Italian Herb Seasoning in a small white ramekin

    This classic Italian Herb Seasoning works in any Italian dish - to season meat, folded into meatballs, pasta sauce, sprinkled over pizza, in soups, or in marinades. 

    Red sauce Italian meals are a staple in our house. When I’m really stumped for a meal, a quick batch of ragu, meatballs from the freezer, store-bought tortellini with red sauce, or DIY pizza night (using crust from the freezer) can save the night. And these meals are almost always an easy win with kids...making them a win, well, with me.

    Ingredients for Italian Herb Seasoning

    • Dried Herbs - Dried oregano, dried parsley, dried thyme, dried basil, and dried rosemary give this seasoning a lot of fresh herb flavor. Feel free to skip one of the herbs on the list if you don’t have it on-hand or know you don’t prefer the flavor. Make sure you get dried herbs that are in small flakes (not ground herbs which can taste chalky or muted in some recipes where this seasoning blend might be used). 
    • Garlic Powder - Even though you may end up adding fresh garlic to an Italian recipe, some garlic powder in this seasoning mix really helps ensure you get that classic Italian flavor.
    • Red Pepper Flakes - Totally optional, but a small amount of red pepper flakes gives the seasoning a subtle heat. 
    • Salt  - It’s up to you if you’d like to add salt to this seasoning mix. If you prefer, you can make and store the seasoning without salt - just be sure to add it later when you use the seasoning in a recipe.

    Italian Herb Seasoning ingredients in a wooden bowl

    Ways to Use Italian Herb Seasoning

    • Rub for whole cuts of meat (chicken, pork, or beef)
    • Marinade (like for Herb Marinated Pork Chops)
    • Meatballs (like these One-Pan Italian Turkey Meatballs with Marinara)
    • Pizza (sprinkled on top or to make the sauce like in this Deep Dish Pizza)
    • Soups / Stews (like Italian Meatball and Orzo Soup) 
    • Pasta Sauce
    • Topping breads like focaccia
    • Italian Vinaigrette
    • Sprinkled over salad

    How Long Do Dried Herbs and Spices Last?

    We’ve all been guilty of letting dried herbs and spices linger in our spice cabinet for years (decades?). If kept in a cool, dry place, it’s rare for any of these pantry staples to actually go bad, but they will definitely lose flavor. If you ever find yourself thinking that a dish you cooked is bland or lacking in flavor, old dried herbs and spices might be the culprit. 

    Here’s a general guide to how long dried herbs and spices last for maximum flavor:

    • Ground spices - 1 year (for the best flavor, use within 6 months)
    • Dried Herbs - 1 year
    • Whole spices - 2 to 3 years

    Seasoning blends will taste best if used within 6 months (but most can be safely stored in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year).

    Italian Herb Seasoning in a small wooden bowl
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Italian Herb Seasoning

    This classic Italian Herb Seasoning works in any Italian dish - to season meat, folded into meatballs, pasta sauce, sprinkled over pizza, in soups, or in marinades.
    Makes 3 teaspoon or enough for a recipe that will serve 4 (use the slider below adjust).
    Prep Time4 mins
    Total Time4 mins
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 3 teaspoon
    Calories: 2kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $.50

    Equipment

    • 4 oz Mason Jars

    Ingredients

    • ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
    • ½ teaspoon Dried Parsley
    • ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme
    • ½ teaspoon Dried Basil
    • ¼ teaspoon Dried Rosemary
    • ⅛ teaspoon Garlic Powder (not garlic salt)
    • 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
    • ½ teaspoon Salt (optional; see note)

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.
    • Seasoning blends will taste best if used within 6 months (but most can be safely stored in a cool, dry place for up to a year).

    Notes

    This recipe makes enough to season 1 lb of meat or any dish that will serve 4 people. Want to make a big batch? Use the handy slider next to “servings” above to customize the measurements.
    Storage: A glass or plastic container saved from store-bought spices works great for storing your own seasoning blends. I have been using 4-oz mason jars for all of my spices and seasoning blends for nearly a decade. It’s inexpensive and looks super organized.
    Salt: It’s up to you if you’d like to add salt to this seasoning mix. If you prefer, you can make and store the seasoning without salt - just be sure to add it later when you use the seasoning in a recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5teaspoon | Calories: 2kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 292mg | Sugar: 1g | Iron: 1mg

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

    « Freezer Meals for New Moms and Dads
    One-Pan Italian Turkey Meatballs with Marinara »

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Welcome! We're Jess and Frank. Since 2010, we have been serving up easy, original recipes here on Inquiring Chef.

    More about us →

    Latest Recipes

    • Cashew Cream Sauce
    • Vegetable and Rice Stuffed Peppers
    • Lasagna Bolognese
    • Falafel Sandwich

    Trending Recipes

    • Crispy and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • Honey Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
    • Mason Jar Overnight Oats
    • Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir-Fry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

    Contact

    • Email Us

    Copyright © 2023 Inquiring Chef