FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• The Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe I Make Every Month
• What Is In Italian Seasoning?
• My Recipe Tips
• Italian Seasoning Recipe Recipe card
• 10 Ways I Use Italian Seasoning
• More Homemade Seasoning Recipes
• Recipe Reviews

The Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe I Make Every Month

I started making my own Italian seasoning when I happened to be out of the store-bought stuff. Instead of a one-time thing, it made me realize how often store-bought blends went stale or tasted flat. Mixing it myself takes just a couple minutes, but the flavor is better. Not to mention more affordable. Here’s why I make this Italian seasoning recipe every month or two:

• Better than store bought – I usually find fresher herbs individually, so homemade Italian seasoning tastes more fresh, too. Plus, you can customize it if you like more of a certain herb.
• Simple pantry ingredients – No mystery fillers or additives. Just 6 classic dried herbs you probably already have.
• Endlessly useful – I keep this on hand for everything from roasted vegetables to chicken dinners . Sprinkle it on meats, veggies, soups, or sauces to instantly add flavor without extra work. It’s amazing on Italian , American, and Mediterranean recipes !

Let me show you how to make Italian seasoning, and I think you’ll see why I do it every month. You might never want to buy it from the store again. Make it with me!

“My wife decided to try this Italian seasoning mix out as a replacement for a store-bought Italian mix and we found that we loved this seasoning recipe a lot more! It was simple to make and tasted amazing on shrimp!”

-Joshua

More Reviews

What Is In Italian Seasoning?

Here I explain the best Italian seasoning ingredients, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Italian seasoning is a flavorful blend of dried herbs used to season Italian-inspired dishes.

Out of dozens of herb and spice mixes I’ve tried and made, this is the one I use by far the most! I use it in my cooking multiple times a week. It includes just 6 dried herbs, but they pack a punch:

1. Dried Oregano
2. Dried Marjoram
3. Dried Basil
4. Dried Thyme
5. Dried Rosemary
6. Dried Sage

Together, these herbs give Italian seasoning a warm, earthy, peppery, and fragrant flavor.

This blend is also similar to two others I make sometimes: Greek seasoning and herbs de Provence. Unlike Greek seasoning, which is a blend of both herbs and spices, Italian seasoning mix contains only dried herbs. Herbs de Provence is very similar, but has dried lavender added.

My Recipe Tips

• What if you don’t have one of the required herbs? I’ve been there, and I say you can still make homemade Italian seasoning if you’re missing one. While it won’t be quite the same, I’ve just left one out before or replaced it with one of the others, and it still turned out quite flavorful.
• Does Italian seasoning have salt? No, my recipe does not include salt, and store-bought mixes usually don’t, either. You’ll need to add salt to your dishes separately.
• If you want to use a shaker or just prefer a uniform texture, chop your dried rosemary. The pieces are longer than the other herbs, so chopping makes them closer to the same size. This is optional and I usually skip this step.
• The easiest way to mix Italian seasoning is to just to shake the herbs together in a jar. Just make sure it’s large enough for the herbs to mix together. While you can just whisk them together in a bowl, what I love most about the jar method is you can store it in the same jar and there are zero dishes to wash!
• If you prefer a powdery texture, grind your spices. You can do this with a coffee grinder, spice grinder, food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle. I don’t usually bother, though, and prefer the Italian herbs the way they come.
• How to store it: Any airtight container is fine, but I recommend spice jars with lids (my personal fave because they match my other spices!) or small multi purpose jars . A spice organizer like this is a nice touch, too! This blend tastes best within a year, but lasts up to 2 years, or even longer if you freeze it.
• Feel free to scale this Italian seasoning recipe. I wrote it up to make 1/2 cup, but if you use it a lot like I do, this really does not last long. Feel free to double or triple it if you want more!

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 2 tbsp Dried oregano ▢
• 1 1/2 tbsp Dried marjoram ▢
• 1 1/2 tbsp Dried basil ▢
• 1 tbsp Dried thyme ▢
• 1 tbsp Dried rosemary ▢
• 1 tbsp Dried sage ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Stir all ingredients together. Store in an airtight jar .

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 teaspoon

• Storage: You can keep homemade Italian seasoning in spice jars with lids , small multi purpose jars , or even a spice organizer like this . It’ll last 1-2 years, but tastes the best within the first year. You can also freeze it to keep it fresh for longer.
• Recipe yield: 1/2 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Italian Seasoning Recipe

10 Ways I Use Italian Seasoning

You can use this homemade Italian seasoning in so many different ways! It pairs very well with common ingredients in Italian cuisine , like tomatoes, cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Here are 10 ideas I make often to get you started:

1. Sauces – Add it to homemade marinara sauce or pizza sauce .
2. Chicken – Use it to season chicken recipes , from basics like shredded chicken and baked chicken breast to special meals like marry me chicken or balsamic chicken .
3. Other Proteins – Sometimes I use this homemade Italian seasoning to upgrade pan seared salmon , baked shrimp , sausage and peppers , or juicy burgers .
4. Pizza – Sprinkle it on top or mix it into homemade crusts. I’ve even used it in pizza casseroles .
5. Noodles – Sprinkle it over your favorite pasta, or try lighter options like zucchini noodles , spaghetti squash , or even zucchini lasagna .
6. Eggs – Make some cloud eggs , baked eggs , or coddled eggs and add some of this Italian herb mix on top. So good!
7. Roasted Veggies – From roasted cauliflower or broccoli to roasted zucchini or eggplant , this versatile Italian seasoning recipe goes with any vegetable. And I always use it when I make sun-dried tomatoes !
8. Bread – Mash these dried herbs into garlic butter before spreading on your favorite bread, or mix with a little olive oil for dipping.
9. Dressings & Dips – You can’t have Italian salad dressing without it, but I use it for other kinds, too. It’s a great addition to creamy balsamic dressing , tahini sauce , or lemon vinaigrette .
10. Soups – This seasoning is perfect for my healthy detox soup , ground turkey soup , or hamburger soup .

TIP: Use 1-2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning mix for recipes serving 4-8 people.

The ideal amount varies depending on how you’re using it and individual preference, but this is the rule of thumb I often start with where the seasoning is the main event. If I want it more subtle, I start with 1-2 teaspoons.

More Homemade Seasoning Recipes

If you like my Italian seasoning recipe, don’t miss my other popular seasoning recipes to add flavor to your meals:

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Italian Seasoning Recipe

Learn how to make Italian seasoning with only 6 ingredients! My easy homemade recipe adds bright, herby flavor and takes just 5 minutes.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/how-to-make-italian-seasoning-mix/

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tbsp Dried marjoram
• 1 1/2 tbsp Dried basil
• 1 tbsp Dried thyme
• 1 tbsp Dried rosemary
• 1 tbsp Dried sage

Instructions

1. Stir all ingredients together. Store in an airtight jar .

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 teaspoon

• Storage: You can keep homemade Italian seasoning in spice jars with lids , small multi purpose jars , or even a spice organizer like this . It’ll last 1-2 years, but tastes the best within the first year. You can also freeze it to keep it fresh for longer.
• Recipe yield: 1/2 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)