Homemade DIY Italian seasoning is a fragrant, herbaceous blend filled with basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram. It delivers that classic Italian flavor you love in pasta sauces, pizza, marinades, roasted vegetables, and homemade dressings.
Love the idea of filling your pantry with homemade seasoning blends? Check out my other recipes for spicy (or not) DIY taco seasoning and tangy DIY ranch seasoning.
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Quick Look at This Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: DIY Italian Seasoning
- 🕒 Ready In: 5 minutes
- 🍞 Method: Mix and store
- 👪 Yield: About 1 cup
- 🍽 Calories: Approximately 5 per teaspoon
- 🥄 Tools: Mixing bowl, spoon, funnel, glass jar
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly: Not necessary
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: Fresh flavor with no additives
- 👩🍳 Tip: Crush herbs slightly between your fingers before storing to release more aroma
What Makes This Recipe Unique
This simple pantry staple is earthy, slightly sweet, and perfectly balanced, giving you full control over freshness and flavor without any additives or fillers.
- Wholesome – Made with real pantry staples, free from preservatives and anti-caking agents.
- Frugal – Budget-friendly compared to store-bought blends. (Especially when you grow them and learn how to dry fresh herbs at home!)
- Versatile – Makes a delicious salad dressing, and works in a variety of other recipes, too.
- Free Printable Labels – Print off my free printable labels and pair your DIY Italian seasoning with these gifts-in-a-jar recipes for easy, handcrafted Christmas gifts!
Key Ingredients:
A full ingredients list, including measurements, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Basil – Sweet and aromatic, basil forms the foundation of this blend.
- Marjoram – Mild and slightly floral, it softens stronger herbs.
- Rosemary – Piney and bold, rosemary gives this blend character.
- Oregano – Peppery and robust, oregano delivers that unmistakable Italian flavor.
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Recipe Substitutions and Variations
One of the best things about cooking from scratch is the flexibility it offers. Check out my full list of ingredient substitutions for all your baking and cooking needs.
- Do not like rosemary’s strong flavor? Reduce it to 1 tablespoon.
- Out of marjoram? Increase oregano slightly for balance.
- Want a hint of heat? Add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes.
- Prefer a finer blend? Pulse gently in a spice grinder.
DIY Italian Seasoning Instructions
Step 1: Combine all of the herbs and spices in a medium bowl.
Step 2: Stir thoroughly until evenly blended.
Step 3: Transfer the mix into a clean, dry jar. Pro tip: Use a funnel to reduce waste.
Step 4: Close the jar tightly. Tie on a tag if gifting, and it is ready to go. (Download my free printable tags here.)
Serving Suggestions
This DIY Italian seasoning can be used in countless ways. Start with 1 teaspoon per cup of sauce or per pound of meat and adjust to taste.
- Stir into spaghetti sauce or marinara
- Sprinkle over homemade pizza before baking. (My family’s favorite is this chicken Alfredo pizza recipe.)
- Toss with olive oil and brush over chicken
- Add to roasted potatoes and vegetables
- Mix into no-knead bread dough, these quick dinner rolls, or focaccia
- Whisk into vinaigrettes and marinades
- Add to breadcrumbs for a flavorful coating.
- Sprinkle seasoning over a fresh batch of popcorn or rutabaga fries.
- Mix into these easy 5-minute homemade crackers or baked kale chips.
Recipe Tips
- Store in an airtight glass jar to preserve flavor.
- Keep away from heat and direct sunlight.
- Label your jar with the date made.
- For maximum flavor, replace dried herbs every 6 to 12 months.
- Crush rosemary slightly if the needles are large to improve texture.
Storage Instructions
Store your DIY Italian seasoning in a tightly sealed jar in a cool, dark pantry. It will maintain peak flavor for 6 months, though it can last up to a year.
Because this blend contains only dried herbs, refrigeration or freezing is not necessary. Simply keep moisture out of the jar and always use a dry spoon when scooping.
If the aroma fades noticeably, it is time to mix a fresh batch.
FAQ’s
You can combine dried basil and oregano with a pinch of thyme or rosemary to create a quick substitute that delivers similar Italian flavor.
Italian seasoning mix is typically made from dried basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram blended together for a balanced, herb-forward flavor.
Simply stir your dried herbs together in a bowl, transfer the blend to a jar, and store it in a cool pantry for easy, from-scratch seasoning anytime.
This post was originally a guest post by Andrea from Artisan in the Woods and has been updated with new links and improved step-by-step instructions.
Did you make this DIY Italian seasoning? If so, please leave a star ⭐ rating in the recipe card below (this really helps me out)… then, snap a photo and tag me on social media @melissaknorris so I can see! I love getting a glimpse of what you all make in your kitchens.
DIY Italian Seasoning Recipe (Homemade Italian Spice Blend)
Equipment
- Measuring Utensils
- Mixing Bowl
- Storage Container w/Lid I love these glass herb and spice storage jars.
Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup Basil
- 2 Tablespoons Thyme
- 2 Tablespoons Marjoram
- 2 Tablespoons Rosemary
- 2 Tablespoons Oregano
Instructions
- Combine all of the herbs and spices in a bowl.
- Transfer the mix into a jar. Pro-Tip: Use a funnel to cut down on waste.
- Close the jar, tie on a tag, and it’s ready to go.
Notes
- Stir into spaghetti sauce or marinara
- Sprinkle over homemade pizza before baking. (My family’s favorite is this chicken Alfredo pizza recipe.)
- Toss with olive oil and brush over chicken
- Add to roasted potatoes and vegetables
- Mix into no-knead bread dough, these quick dinner rolls, or focaccia
- Whisk into vinaigrettes and marinades
- Add to breadcrumbs for a flavorful coating.
- Sprinkle seasoning over a fresh batch of popcorn or rutabaga fries.
- Mix into these easy 5-minute homemade crackers or baked kale chips.
- Store in an airtight glass jar to preserve flavor.
- Keep away from heat and direct sunlight.
- Label your jar with the date made.
- For maximum flavor, replace dried herbs every 6 to 12 months.
- Crush rosemary slightly if the needles are large to improve texture.
I’ll never buy store-bought again, this DIY Italian seasoning is so fresh and flavorful and makes everything from pasta sauce to roasted veggies taste amazing!