Homemade Italian Seasoning & Italian Dressing - Happy Mothering (2024)

If you’ve been wondering what’s in Italian Seasoning, the ingredients are quite simple and it’s so easy to make!

Our amazing homemade blend uses dried basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, onion flakes, garlic powder, sea salt, parsley, paprika and crushed red pepper flakes.

This Italian seasoning mix recipe will fill an entire pint-sized mason jar and it tastes so much better than the stuff from the grocery store! Make a big batch once and use it over and over again for your favorite Italian dishes. It’s such a time saver!

Ingredients

• ¼cupof dried basil
• ¼cupof dried oregano
• ¼cupof dried rosemary
• ¼cupof dried thyme
• ¼cupof dried onion flakes
• 3tablespoonsof garlic powder
• 2tablespoonsof sea salt
• 2tablespoonsof dried parsley
• 1tablespoonof paprika
• 1tablespoonof crushed red pepper flakes

Equipment

• Small mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing spoon
• 16 ounce glass jar

By the Numbers: How to Make Italian Seasoning Mix

Step 1: Measure Out Your Italian Seasoning Ingredients.

I like to measure out all of my ingredients to make Italian seasoning before mixing it together to make sure I’m not low on any of my bulk spices.

Step 2: Mix to Combine.

Take all of your ingredients and add them to a mixing bowl, then stir together until everything is really mixed up well.

Step 3: Transfer to Mason Jar.

Transfer your own Italian Seasoning blend to a pint-sized mason jar. Even though you mixed it up really well in step 2, you’ll want to shake the jar before each use.

Tips for Making & Using Italian Seasoning

How do I make Italian Dressing?

All you have to do is mix 2 tablespoons of this seasoning blend with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil and ⅔ cup of white wine vinegar and shake vigorously. Let it sit overnight so the dried herbs can infuse and flavor the oil and vinegar.

Of course, you can use fresh herbs in place of the dried spices for the dressing, but I love being able to quickly grab my jar of Italian Seasoning mix. It should store nicely in your refrigerator for a couple of weeks too.

While it’s best if you use my Italian seasoning substitute, you can use a store-bought mix as well. I don’t recommend the Good Seasons Italian dressing packets from the grocery store as they have lots of unnecessary added ingredients.

And if you’re looking for another dressing idea, check out our homemade ranch dressing recipe.

What else can I make with this mix?

This is one of the most flexible spice mixes I make – it has so many uses! Add it to Italian food like soups and pasta sauces or sprinkle it over your chicken or pot roast before putting it in the oven or crock pot. I use it in my Gluten Free Lasagna and Instant Pot Gluten Free Pasta recipes.

Another favorite seasoning use is roasted potatoes! Toss chopped potatoes lightly with olive oil before sprinkling Italian seasoning over them and roasting. Delish!

Is this a copycat McCormick Italian Seasoning recipe?

Not exactly. McCormick contains only marjoram, basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, savory and sage. Our recipe has more ingredients and a more complex flavor that we’ve spent years working on developing, which is why homemade is always better than store bought, in my opinioCan I make it in smaller batches?

Of course. Just cut the recipe in half and it’ll make 8 ounces. Cut it in quarters and it’ll make about 4 ounces. I like to make it by the quart (double this recipe), then keep smaller amounts in cool spice jars in the kitchen that I refill.

How to make a smooth Italian seasoning.

If one of your favorite dishes calls for a smooth Italian seasoning, you can go ahead and pop it into a spice grinder or food processor to blend it right up.

How to store spice mixtures?

The best way to store your Italian herb blend is in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place like your spice cabinet or pantry. Expiration dates will vary based upon the bulk spices you use.

Best place to buy bulk spices?

I buy all of my spices in bulk because I make all of our spice blends like this homemade Italian seasoning from scratch. Starwest Botanicals has great prices on bulk spices, so that’s who I source most of my spices and seasonings from to make my own mixes.

If you want to make some of my other homemade spice blends, these are popular choices:

1. Ranch Seasoning
2. Cajun Seasoning
3. Onion Soup Mix
4. Homemade Taco Seasoning

Homemade Spice Blend & Condiment Recipes