Spaghetti Seasoning {Easy Pasta Sauce Spice Recipe}

Learn how to make the best homemade spaghetti seasoning with a few simple spices! This easy seasoning recipe has no weird additives and is perfect for seasoning pasta dishes, meat, veggies, and more. Keep a big batch in your kitchen for a delicious flavor boost to your meals!

The best spaghetti sauce seasoning

A few months ago, we shared our easy homemade salsa seasoning mix, and many of you fell in love. Today, I’ve got a brand spankin’ new seasoning mix you want in your recipe collection: homemade spaghetti seasoning!

If you are anything like me, then you probably have pasta night at least once per week in your house. And if not, you should. Pasta is easy to make and perfect for sharing and entertaining.

As much as I would love to, I don’t always have fresh herbs on hand. Luckily, this spaghetti seasoning has everything you need to take any pasta dish from dull to fabulous. It’s so flavorful!

And did you know that you can season pretty much anything with spaghetti seasoning? It goes way beyond pasta. Oh yes, we’re talking meat, veggies, dips, rice, beans, fish, and everything in between.

Learn exactly how to make this delicious Italian seasoning recipe, store a big jar of it, and enjoy it with your favorite meals! It’s a tasty way to elevate food that your entire family will love.

What is spaghetti seasoning?

Spaghetti seasoning is a popular spice blend inspired by Italian cuisine. It can be used to season spaghetti sauce, other pasta dishes, and all kinds of Italian and Mediterranean food. It adds incredible flavor to any dish.

Traditional spaghetti seasoning is usually a mix of Mediterranean herbs such as oregano, basil, parsley, thyme, and rosemary, along with garlic, onion, and pepper.

Many prepacked seasonings contain MSG, so I love creating my own spice blends with a few pantry staples. It tastes so good that you will ditch the store-bought version for good!

Ingredients

You’re just a handful of herbs and spices away from aromatic pasta seasoning. And the good news is you probably already have all spaghetti seasoning ingredients in your pantry, too. Please refer to the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Dried oregano gives the seasoning a warm, sunny note reminding you of warm summer days.
• Dried basil: I love the slightly sweet taste of basil in this seasoning.
• Parsley flakes add beautiful color and a delicious herbal taste.
• Onion flakes really bring out the flavors in pasta sauce. It’s something I love adding to my seasoning mixes, even if I’m already putting fresh onion in the recipe. Feel free to substitute onion powder.
• Garlic powder brings savory goodness to the seasoning.
• Dried rosemary is a staple in Italian cooking and adds so much depth of flavor. Make sure to use crushed rosemary.
• Dried thyme has a wonderful warming, earthy flavor with a peppery note.
• Ground black pepper marries beautifully with all the other herbs and spices.
• Red pepper flakes add a little heat. I like adding 1/2 to 1 teaspoon, but feel free to adjust this to your taste.

How to make spaghetti seasoning

Making spaghetti sauce seasoning mix at home could not be simpler! You’ll be done in less than 5 minutes, and ready to season all the delicious pasta dishes your heart desires. It makes a large batch that will last you a while.

To make it, you’ll simply mix together the dried herbs, onion flakes, garlic powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until everything is well combined. Transfer your spaghetti season mix to a small storage jar to save for later. So easy!

Tips for the best spaghetti seasoning

• Use dried herbs, not fresh: Although I’m usually team fresh, you want to use dried herbs from your spice rack for this spaghetti sauce spices blend as they have a much longer shelf life than fresh herbs. Fresh herbs have a higher moisture content and can lead to spoiling and growing mold.
• Adjust the herbs: If you don’t like the taste of a particular herb, simply omit it from the recipe.
• Less garlic: Feel free to reduce the garlic powder a bit if you’re cooking for anyone sensitive to garlic.

Variations

Creating your seasoning mixes gives you full control of what goes into them. There are a few simple ways you can customize these spaghetti seasoning spices and make them your own.

• Salt: The garlic powder provides plenty of savory flavor, without the need to add any extra salt. Many pasta sauces contain salt, too, so I didn’t include any in mine. However, you can always add a tablespoon of salt.
• Sugar: Tomatoes can be quite acidic, so I like to add 2 to 3 tablespoons of brown sugar to my spaghetti seasoning. I recommend doing this only if you plan to use the seasoning exclusively for pasta sauce – the sweetness may not be ideal for other dishes.
• Smoky flavor: Replace the red pepper flakes with smoked paprika to give the blend a smoky aroma.
• Fennel seeds: If you enjoy the taste of fennel, mix 1 teaspoon ground fennel seeds into the mix.
• Large batch: You can easily, double, triple, or quadruple the ingredient amounts to make lots to have on hand.

The best ways to use spaghetti seasoning

How to season spaghetti sauce

Whether you crack open a jar of plain tomato sauce, use your favorite marinara sauce or pizza sauce, or cook a sauce from fresh vegetables, my pasta seasoning recipe will deliver big flavor. Here are some tips on how to season spaghetti and pasta sauce:

• Pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan and add the seasoning mix. I like to use 1 tablespoon for every 8 oz of sauce.
• Heat over medium heat until hot and bubbly.
• Taste test and adjust the seasoning to your liking. At this point, you can also add salt or a bit of sugar if the tomato sauce tastes acidic.
• Ladle over cooked spaghetti and serve right away. Enjoy!

By the way, you aren’t limited to tomato-based pasta sauces. The spice mix will elevate creamy white sauces just as well. Add a spoonful to your fettuccine alfredo or mac and cheese for a Mediterranean flair.

How much spaghetti seasoning should I use?

I suggest following the given recipe to know how much spaghetti seasoning you’ll need. I like to use 1 heaping tablespoon to season 8 oz of sauce, 2 tablespoons for 15 oz, 3 tablespoons for 29 oz, and so on.

You can even boost the flavor of store-bought, pre-seasoned marinara sauce. Great Value marinara pasta sauce + a tablespoon of this = maximum deliciousness!

Other uses

Aside from spaghetti, I literally put this pasta seasoning in almost anything I cook (it’s that good).

• Bread dipping sauce: Pour 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil into a shallow bowl. Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons spaghetti seasoning mix. Serve the oil with bread for dipping as a snack or appetizer.
• Meat + fish: It makes a great spice rub for steak, pork, any cut of chicken, turkey, salmon, or shrimp. Use about 2 tablespoons per pound of meat and rub it on before cooking. I also like to stir a spoonful into the ground meat mixture for meatballs and meatloaf.
• Veggies: Season any and all of your favorite vegetables! It’s especially delicious on roasted broccoli, asparagus, and carrots.
• Sides: Season rice, risotto, beans, chickpeas, or quinoa, or add some to your favorite soup and stews for a delicious Mediterranean flavor.
• Fries: Toss it with crispy fries for the perfectly seasoned side. My husband swears by these!

Storage instructions

Package Italian spaghetti seasoning

Fill your spice mix in a small glass jar and seal them airtight. I love 4-oz mason jars and these spice jars with bamboo lids to keep my homemade spice mixes. They are great for gift-giving, too!

Store pasta seasoning

Store the blend in a dry, cool, and dark place like a cupboard or drawer. To maintain the best flavor, you want to protect the seasoning mix from exposure to direct sunlight and moisture.

How long does homemade spaghetti seasoning last?

This pasta seasoning recipe will last for 6 months to 1 year if you store it properly. The ingredient with the shortest shelf life will determine how long you can keep the spice blend.

FAQ

What spices go in spaghetti sauce?

Wondering how to season pasta or what spices go in spaghetti sauce? When I think of classic spaghetti sauce, I always think of those fragrant herbs you find in a sunny Italian garden. Here are the best spices for pasta sauce:

• Basil
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Fennel seeds
• Capsicum
• Marjoram
• Sage
• Bay leaves
• Laurel
• Juniper berries
• Garlic
• Crushed or ground black pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Sea salt

I want extra spicy spaghetti seasoning. What can I add?

I think this spaghetti sauce seasoning recipe is plenty spicy, thanks to the addition of black pepper and red pepper flakes. Still, if you want to take it up a notch, try adding 1 teaspoon of chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon of paprika for a little extra punch of heat.

Can I use spaghetti seasoning for meat?

Of course! You have a few options to use it as spaghetti meat seasoning. My spaghetti seasoning herbs will work beautifully with all kinds of meat, from beef to pork to poultry and fish. Take a look:

• Meat sauce: When you brown the ground meat for your sauce, sprinkle the spice rub directly onto the meat in the pan. I recommend 2 to 3 tablespoons per pound of meat.
• Meatloaf & meatballs: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons to the meat mixture when making meatloaf or meatloaf.
• Spice rub: Rub steak, any kind of chicken cuts, or pork chops first with butter and then sprinkle on the spaghetti seasoning mix. Be sure to fry steak only over medium heat so the herbs don’t burn.
• Marinade + brine: Add this Italian spaghetti seasoning to marinades and brines to give the meat a richer flavor.

Can I use this to make spaghetti salad seasoning?

Absolutely! To make a quick salad seasoning, combine 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tbsp spaghetti seasoning mix, 1/2 tsp, and 1/2 tsp clear honey in a small bowl or jar. Let the mixture sit for 15 to 30 minutes so the dried herbs can soften and infuse the dressing with flavor.

How is this spaghetti seasoning different from Italian seasoning?

Though my spaghetti sauce seasoning recipe and Italian seasoning share quite a few ingredients, they are actually different. The pasta seasoning features parsley, whereas Italian seasoning often includes marjoram.

Can I use this spaghetti sauce seasoning instead of Italian seasoning?

Yes, you can swap in this pasta seasoning in any recipe that calls for Italian seasoning. It’s an excellent substitute for Italian seasoning.

Reasons to love homemade spaghetti seasoning

• Delicious flavor: These spaghetti seasoning spices give an aromatic boost to all your favorite dishes. It’s perfect for Italian pasta dishes and other Italian food, from meatballs to breadsticks.
• You know what’s in it! Homemade spaghetti seasoning is my very favorite because you have complete control over the end result.
• Customizable: Feel free to change up the heat level, add additional ingredients, or double the recipe so that you always have some on hand.

More homemade spice blends

Once you try this spaghetti seasoning recipe at home, you’ll be itching to make more! We have a few more spice blend ideas that we’ve been making exclusively at home for the past few years, and I think you’ll love them too.

• Salsa Seasoning Mix
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Apple Pie Spice
• Gingerbread Spice Mix