Learn how to create your own secret garlic, Italian, or other special recipe herb and spice blends. Complete with gift tags for the holiday season! Making special herb mixes to season food is easy and is much cheaper than store-bought versions. You know the ingredients in them, and you know how long they've been on the shelf.
Why I Love Making Spice Blends
Herbs are a wonderful addition to any homestead. I grow as many herbs for medicinal purposes as I grow culinary herbs. I enjoy tending to them throughout the growing season and taking the time to prune my perennial herbs in the fall for an abundant harvest the following year.
Making your herb and spice blends only takes a few minutes, and you likely have most of the ingredients on hand. Many store-bought seasonings use anti-caking agents, some have GMO-derived ingredients, and many contain maltodextrin.
Commercial companies use Maltodextrin as a thickener, but studies show it can harm blood sugars and gut health. These homemade spice mixes contain only good stuff without harmful ingredients.
They also make frugal homestead gifts! Presented in a spice jar with a printed label and tied with a bow, they are as pretty as they are helpful!
Sourcing Dried Herbs
There are lots of options for acquiring herbs and spices. Growing your own is the preferred method, but if it's too late in the year for that, don't stress about it!
Grow Your Own
Herbs are easy to grow! I think the flavor depth of homegrown dried herbs is much better than store-bought herbs. It's impossible to know how long the herbs have been on the shelf when you buy them.
Fall is the time to plant your garlic. You can learn how to grow garlic to help you get yours in the ground before it's too cold.
Any time we shorten the timespan from garden to table ensures a more flavorful, nutrient-dense product. If you are new to growing them, it’s important to learn how to harvest and dry herbs.
Purchase in Bulk
- Online Co-ops – There are excellent online co-ops that sell herbs. For Azure Standard, simply pop in your zip code to see where they deliver in your area. Using that link will get you 10% off your first order of $50 or more when you use coupon code Melissa10 at checkout.
- Online Herb Companies – Ordering directly from Farmhouse Teas is a great option for culinary and medicinal herbs.
- Amazon – If ordering on Amazon, I prefer the Frontier brand in the bulk herb and spice section.
- Grocery Store – Check your local grocery stores. Depending on your location and time of year, you may be surprised by what they carry.
Using Homemade Herb and Spice Blends
- Ranch Mix – Sprinkle on popcorn, season pot roast or roasted chicken, or make my homemade buttermilk ranch dressing (pictured above).
- Italian Mix – Cover your favorite pot roast with olive oil, add some Italian seasoning, and a sprinkle of black pepper along with the ranch mix for a delicious main dish. You can also mix the Italian seasoning into stews like this old-fashioned beef stew.
- Bouquet Garni – Add to soups, pork, chicken, turkey, and stews.
- Taco Seasoning – Make nacho popcorn, or use it to season ground beef and homemade chili.
Storage
I prefer using glass jars to store spices. Glass preserves freshness for a longer time. They have the best flavor for approximately six months but are still usable past this time.
- Glass Jars – Amazon's glass herb and spice storage jars come with lids and shakers.
- Card Stock – I like this Kraft card stock paper for labels if I am giving blends as gifts, but this is optional. You can label the jars with a permanent marker as well.
- Twine – Red and white Baker's twine for tying on the labels if you are using labels
How to Make Herb and Spice Blends
Below are recipes for four of my favorite blends. To make things easy on the budget, purchase your herbs and spices in bulk, and look for spice jars at thrift stores.
Each mix makes enough for about two to three spice jars, depending on their size. You can easily double the herb recipes if you want to make a larger batch. You will want to use the leaves, not the powdered varieties, for the herbs.
Supplies
- Measuring Utensils – You'll need measuring cups and spoons.
- Medium Size Bowl – Use a bowl to fit the amount you are mixing.
- Spoon – You can easily mix these blends by hand cut and could also use a food processor to blend ingredients.
- Glass Jars – You can purchase the jars linked above, find jars at thrift stores, or use Mason jars.
- Funnel – A funnel makes the jar filling much more manageable.
Ingredients
Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 Cup Basil
- 2 Tbsp Thyme
- 2 Tbsp Marjoram
- 2 Tbsp Rosemary
- 2 Tbsp Oregano
Taco Seasoning
- 1/4 Cup Chili Powder or Chili Seasoning
- 8 tsp Cumin
- 3 tsp Paprika
- 2 tsp Granulated Garlic
- 2 tsp Onion Powder
- 2 tsp Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Peppers
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
Bouquet Garni
- 2 Tbsp Summer Savory
- 2 Tbsp Basil
- 2 Tbsp Sage
- 1 Tbsp Oregano
- 1 Tbsp Marjoram
- 1 Tbsp Rosemary
- 1 Tbsp Thyme
- 1 Tbsp Dill
Assembling the Mixes
- 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.
Did you make this recipe? If so, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. Then snap a photo of your DIY spices and herb blends and tag me on social media @melissaknorris so I can see!
More Gifts in Jars Ideas
- How to Make Celery Salt
- DIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies
- DIY No-Knead Bread Mix Recipe in a Jar
- Homemade Cake Mix Recipe in a Jar
- Homemade Pancake Mix
- DIY Oatmeal Mix
- DIY Biscuit Mix (Bisquick)
- Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix 3 Ways (From Scratch!)
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.
Homemade Spice Mixes and Herb Blends for Gift Giving + Free Printable Tags
Ingredients
Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 cup basil
- 2 Tbsp thyme
- 2 Tbsp marjoram
- 2 Tbsp rosemary
- 2 Tbsp oregano
Ranch Dip Mix
- 1/3 cup parsley
- 6 tsp dill
- 4 tsp chives
- 4 tsp onion powder
- 4 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp salt
Taco Seasoning
- 1/4 cup chilli powder
- 8 tsp cumin
- 3 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp granulated garlic
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Bouquet Garni
- 2 Tbsp summer savory
- 2 Tbsp basil
- 2 Tbsp sage
- 1 Tbsp oregano
- 1 Tbsp marjoram
- 1 Tbsp rosemary
- 1 Tbsp thyme
- 1 Tbsp dill
Instructions
Directions for all mixes:
- Combine all of the herbs and/or spices in a bowl
- Transfer the mix into a jar. A funnel can be helpful!
- Close the jar, tie on a tag, and it's ready to go!
Love this! Thank you!
You always have such great ideas. I will be using these for gifts for all my special people .Thank You.
Georgina, I’m so glad you enjoyed these and I’m sure your special people will, too. Andrea did a great job on the fun gift tags.
Thank you very much for the spice mixes – a wonderful idea to have on hand instead of pulling out all the jars separately.
Melissa
thank you for these seasons and herbs. I have started making my own as much as possible I have started to use more and more as well using my dehydrator. Again thank you for sharing this information,
Thank you. I love making my own spice and herb blends. I also grow herbs and dehydrate them.
Nice mixes, I don’t expect to EVER receive the free printables. I just get sent in a continuous circle of signing up and never getting the e-mail link to get the printables. I must be “signed up” for your posts three or four times over by now.
Check your spam folder. I tested this numerous times and I got them to my email in less than a minute. You can also email me at Melissa@melissaknorris.com and I can send them to you manually.
Hi Melissa, I just printed out the recipes for your homemade spice mixes and couldn’t find anything on the free printable labels. Are those still available and if so could you please send me a link to them? By the way I love your videos and books! I watch them and read them every chance I get. Thank you! I have learned so much all ready!
Shared your post today on my FB page (pameperedchef with connie ruff) Thanks for your wonderful posts! Merry Christmas
I wanted to try making my own ranch mix because I don’t like having the chemical and preservative filled packets from the store. I wrote down the recipe and was wondering why my mix was so red when it’s usually white in the store once I made it. I obviously couldn’t read my own handwriting, by mistake I put in chili powder instead of dill. However, it was a happy mistake as the dip came out really good, a bit more spicier, and it was gone almost right away!
I bet that was good, I might try that for our Christmas dip!
I’ve tried several ranch dip recipes, and none were quite right. This one is delicious and exactly what I was looking for! Thanks so much.
I’m so glad you liked it! It’s my favourite dip! 🙂
Thank you for these blends. Homemade is always the best! I am hoping to start growing my own plants this year. I don’t have much room though.
Thank you so much for the seasoning recipe .
Going to make some up .
Thank you for sharing this idea! Love that I can tailor each spice for the person it’s intended for as well.
Hi Melissa,
Im preparing for making my xmas gifts like I have to do every year due to money..I wanted to pin this page..i tried several times using my Microsoft edge browser it kept saying something was wrong with your page. It had just done that to me on another website so I thought it was msn I hate it anyway. I usually used internet explorer but pinterest is always bugging me to update my browser-so I went and signed in with that browser came back here tried to pin..same thing says something is wrong on your end.
How do I make the ranch dip with the mix
I like your webpage and ideas. Thanks Happy Merry xmas to you all. I live the same kind of life too. Healthy and enjoyable too.
You forgot to list how much to mix when you what to use it. how much & what else do you use for the ranch dip. (FOR EXAMPLE)
That’s what the free printable tags are for, they say on them how much to use of each item. 🙂 Just click on the orange text under the Resources for Homemade Spice Mixes and Herb Blends
Glass heading and the words –> Click Here for your FREE Printable Tags
Thank you for sharing these delicious spice mixes!
The link to the free printable tags is no longer functional. Do you have a new link for us?
Right above the heading, “Where to get your spices and herbs” is the form that says free printable labels, just fill that out and the labels will show up on the next screen and a download link will come to your email.
Only one has how much to use
Nope, no link for the tags above where to find herbs.
I have tried several times to get the printables, but it just sits there with a circle spinning away and never goes through? It’s still spinning now and has been for 20 minutes. Can you please just email them to me?
I love this idea! Can’t wait to try. I’ve been looking for a good homemade ranch…so I’m especially excited to try that!
How do you print the tags?
Thank you for sharing your favorite homemade spice mixes!! A few years ago I put together little gifts for my staff that included a decorative ramakin that included festive shred and a Christmas bulb shaped craft item (they come in glass or plastic) filled with an assortment of my favorite homemade mixes! I added a gift tag on how to turn the mixes into either a dip or dressing and enjoy with friends and families for the Christmas Holiday season. They were adorable and a big hit!
Thank you. How do I get the printable tags. Love your resources you are so kind to offer.
how much taco seasoning do you use for 1Lb of meat?
Love your spice jars. How do I get the free labels? I have spice jars on order from Amazon.
Where do I get the labels for the herb mixtures please.
By putting in your name and email and clicking the button on the form that says send me the labels. It’s about half way down the article
thank you for the recipes for the four homemade spice blends. i cannot find the link for the printable labels to use as gifts. would you please send them to me? i was able to print the labels for the bread mix alright but not for the four spice blends. thank you susan