A quick and easy recipe for making Italian Seasoning at home.
This super fast and simple recipe for homemade Italian seasoning can be made in under 5 minutes by combining common spices you probably already have in your pantry. Make this once, and you’ll never want to buy grocery store Italian seasoning again!
How to make Italian Seasoning
In the middle of making dinner and you just popped in to grab the recipe? Here you go so you can get back to cooking.
For (a little over) 1 tablespoon of Homemade Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, preferably crushed (optional)
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon ground sage OR ½ teaspoon rubbed sage (optional)
Mix together all of your spices and store in a small airtight container ( small weck jars or recycled empty spice containers work great) for up to 4 months.
What is Italian seasoning?
Italian seasoning is a mixture of dried herbs like basil and oregano that often appear in Italian cooking. And fun fact, though the seasoning’s name would lead you to believe it was created and popularized in Italy, its origins are shrouded in mystery.
Some believe that Italian seasoning was developed by early Italian-American immigrants as they sought to create a taste of home with spices that were not always readily available at that time in America. It is now more commonly believed that Italian seasoning was created by the ancient Greeks and Romans somewhere in the Mediterranean.
Today, the Italian seasoning that you buy at the grocery storeis typically a combo of marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, and basil.
What does it taste like?
Italian seasoning has a piney, earthy and minty flavor from the dried oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary, while also having a slight sweetness to it. By making your own Italian seasoning at home, you can manipulate the recipe in order to find the best ratio of herbs to meet your exact taste!
What can I use instead of Italian seasoning?
If you are missing some of the ingredients from the recipe, don’t worry! The two most important flavors in Italian Seasoning are basil and oregano. Combine them with any of the other recipe ingredients you have available at the time.
Although it will be missing some of the true richness of flavor, it will give you a perfectly passable substitute.
Are oregano and Italian seasoning the same things?
Although oregano is a common ingredient found in Italian seasoning, oregano and Italian seasoning are not the same thing. Italian seasoning is a mixture of herbs which typically includes dried oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary.
Can I use Italian seasoning in Spaghetti?
Yes! Italian seasoning contains dried basil, thyme and oregano, all of which make an excellent addition to any spaghetti sauce recipe.
Recipes to Make Using Italian Seasoning
Italian seasoning is a great addition to pasta sauces, sprinkled over pork or chicken before cooking or used with roasted vegetables like my crispy Italian Roasted Potatoes .
Recipe Notes
- I recommend using crushed rosemary in your seasoning blend because people don’t always like the texture of full dried rosemary leaves in some recipes, but you can use whatever rosemary you have on hand.
- This recipe calls for ground sage (the sage leaves have been ground to a fine powder). If you would like to use rubbed sage, double the amount of sage used in the recipe.
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ▢ 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
- ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons dried rosemary preferably crushed, optional
- ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons dried marjoram optional
- ▢ ¾ teaspoon ground sage optional
Instructions
- Mix together all of your spices and store in a small airtight container (small jars or recycled empty spice containers work great) for up to 4 months.
Notes
This easy and delicious Chicken Stroganoff recipe will become an instant family favorite. Bite-sized pieces of chicken simmered in a creamy, rich sour cream sauce with mushrooms, onions, and garlic, and served over a big bowl of noodles.
One of the absolute best cold-weather comfort foods is a big bowl of rich and creamy homemade stroganoff. It’s quick and easy to throw together and will make your house smell amazing simmering away on the stove.
The best part about it is that it’s a super versatile dish and you can make it with a ton of different proteins. On the blog, I’ve shared recipes for my favorite Beef Stroganoff and Pork Stroganoff, and today, I have a brand new cozy stroganoff recipe for you, Chicken Stroganoff!
Like my beef and pork stroganoff, chicken stroganoff has the same rich, creamy, and tangy flavor created by simmering mushrooms, onions, and garlic in a sour cream-based sauce. However, unlike a traditional beef stroganoff which is made with top sirloin steak, this version uses golden-brown bite-sized pieces of chicken in the sauce, which makes chicken stroganoff both significantly cheaper than its beef version and a little lighter.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Button or white mushrooms: My favorite mushrooms to use in stroganoff are sliced button/white mushrooms, but use whichever mushrooms you prefer.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: You can use chicken breast for this recipe, but I think the richer dark meat of chicken thighs works better here.
- Flour: Adding just a couple of tablespoons of flour helps to thicken the stroganoff sauce.
- Tomato paste: I use a little tomato paste to add flavor. You will not need to use a full can, so check out my post What to Do With Leftover Tomato Paste for recipe ideas and tips on how to store leftover tomato paste.
- Dry sherry: I love using dry sherry in my stroganoff, but you can substitute for it with any dry white wine.
- Lemon juice: I use lemon juice to help brighten up the sauce. You can use either fresh or bottled.
- Egg noodles: Egg noodles are usually paired with stroganoff. However, you can also serve your stroganoff over mashed potatoes or rice.
How to Make Chicken Stroganoff
Prep your chicken by cutting your chicken thighs and coating them in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Cook your chicken until it is a beautiful golden brown.
Cook your onion, garlic, and mushrooms in butter on the skillet.
Stir in the tomato paste and thyme and cook for one minute.
Add in the chicken broth, sherry, and lemon juice and keep it at a simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the chicken back into the skillet and simmer for 1 more minute to heat the chicken through.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sour cream.
Serve over egg noodles and enjoy!
Variations
Not feeling like chicken today? Try my favorite Beef Stroganoff or Pork Stroganoff .
What do you eat with Stroganoff? (What to serve with Chicken Stroganoff?)
Because stroganoff is a very rich dish, it is best served with simple sides like steamed broccoli or roasted green beans and maybe a couple slices of good bread with butter.
What is the difference between goulash and stroganoff?
Stroganoff is a Russian sauce generally made by sauteing chunks of beef with mushrooms and onions in a sour cream sauce. Meanwhile, goulash is a Hungarian stew usually cooked with pieces of beef that are then stewed with onions, other ingredients, and paprika and then sometimes topped with sour cream.
How long does chicken stroganoff last in the fridge?
You can store chicken stroganoff tightly covered in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
More Cozy Comfort Food
- Mom’s Famous Red Wine Pot Roast
- Cozy Cottage Pie
- 20-Minute Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch pieces
- ▢ ¼ cup ( 33g ) all-purpose flour
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon paprika optional
- ▢ 4 tablespoons ( 56g ) butter divided
- ▢ ½ medium white or yellow onion finely diced
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic pressed with a garlic press or minced
- ▢ 8 ounces button mushrooms sliced
- ▢ 12 ounces (about 6 cups) egg noodles
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 16g ) tomato paste
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon dried thyme *
- ▢ 1 cup chicken broth
- ▢ ¼ cup dry sherry *
- ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice bottled is fine
- ▢ ½ cup ( 120g ) sour cream
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of lightly salted water to boil for pasta.
- Place cut chicken thighs in a medium bowl and sprinkle with flour, salt, pepper, and paprika. Toss until the chicken is well-coated.
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and spread it out in a single layer. (Discard any flour that is left in the bowl.)
- Cook the chicken undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom of the chicken is golden brown. Give everything a good stir, turn the heat down to medium, and continue to cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 2 to 4 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean bowl or plate and return the skillet to medium heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, add the onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes, until the onions and mushrooms begin to soften. Use a wooden spoon to stir occasionally, scraping any cooked-on bits from the bottom of the pan as you go.
- To the pot of boiling water, add egg noodles and cook according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- While your pasta cooks, into the skillet of onions and mushrooms, stir the tomato paste and thyme and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the chicken broth, sherry, and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, and then add the chicken back to the pan and simmer for 1 minute more, until chicken is heated through.
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in the sour cream.
- Serve sauce over the egg noodles and enjoy!
Notes
- *Dried thyme: To use ground thyme, cut the amount of thyme in the recipe by half.
- Button/white mushrooms: Feel free to swap in your favorite mushrooms.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: You can use chicken breast for this recipe, but the dish won’t be as rich.
- *Dry sherry: I love using dry sherry in my stroganoff, but you can substitute for it with any dry white wine.
- Egg noodles: You can also serve your stroganoff over mashed potatoes or rice.
Ground turkey chili is a great lighter option for busy weeknight meals. This easy one-pot recipe is full of flavor and comes together in just a little over 30 minutes.
A solid chili recipe is one of the best recipes to have in your arsenal because it is endlessly versatile. You can serve it as a hearty main smothered with cheese and sour cream, as a simple side with ribs or a good sandwich, or add it as a topping to something that could use a little spicing up.
And unlike most chili recipes that take hours to cook, this turkey chili can be on your table in a little over 30 minutes with very little hands-on cooking time. It’s a modified version of my super speedy Beef Chili Recipe that I posted a couple of years ago, but with ground turkey swapped in for ground beef.
Turkey chili is perfect when you want the same deep flavors you get from the traditional beef chili, but could go for something a little lighter. It maintains all the rich taste and is just as thick and delicious.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground turkey: I call for 85% lean ground turkey in this recipe, but whatever you have on hand will work.
- Tomato paste: This recipe uses tomato paste to help add depth of flavor to this chili. You will be left with some leftover tomato paste in the can. To get recipe ideas and information on how to store the leftovers, check out my post What to Do With Leftover Tomato Paste .
- Beans: For chili, I like to use a mix of pinto and kidney beans, but feel free to substitute the combination of canned beans you prefer. Just make sure to drain and rinse the beans before you add them to your chili.
Chicken broth: I use chicken broth in this recipe to add a bit of flavor to the chili, but you can substitute for it with either beef broth or water.
How to Make Ground Turkey Chili
Prep your ingredients. Before starting the chili, open all cans, drain the beans, line up/portion out your spices, dice your onion, prep your veggies, etc. This recipe moves quickly once you start, so get your ingredients prepared before you start cooking.
In a large pot, cook your diced onion in olive oil until softened.
Add the ground turkey to the pot. Salt and brown the turkey.
- Add garlic, tomato paste, and spices to the pot and cook altogether for 1 to 2 minutes. This will give the flavors a chance to deepen before you add the liquid ingredients.
- Stir in all of the remaining ingredients and bring everything to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes, until the chili has reached your desired level of thickness.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy!
Variations
There are a lot of different ways you can customize your chili.
- Meat: Instead of ground turkey, you can replace it with ground chicken. Ground beef can also be substituted if you prefer a heavier chili. You can also make this recipe vegetarian by using your favorite plant-based crumbles.
- Peppers/veggies: If you like your chili with more veggies, before you add the spices, add chopped up peppers or different types of veggies like corn or zucchini to the ground turkey just after browning.
The Best Turkey Chili Toppings
Try adding some toppings to your chili! Some of my favorites are:
- Cheese
- Fritos/tortilla chips
- Green onions/chives
- Jalapenos
- Sour Cream
- Cilantro
- Chopped Avocado
What goes well with turkey chili?
Ground turkey chili makes a great main dish served with a salad and cornbread . It can also be a filling side with a light sandwich. I particularly enjoy this chili used as a topping on hot dogs, cheese fries , baked potatoes or sweet potatoes .
How do I store turkey chili and how long does it last in the fridge?
Chili is one of those recipes that gets better the longer it sits. You can store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Can I freeze it?
Chili actually freezes really well. To freeze chili, place it in a freezer bag either altogether or in individual servings. I like to freeze my chili flat for easier storage. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months for best results. Once you are ready to eat, defrost in the refrigerator and reheat in either the microwave or on the stove with a little water added.
How do you thicken turkey chili?
If you want a thicker chili, simmer uncovered until your chili has reached your ideal level of thickness.
Is turkey chili healthier than beef chili?
Turkey chili has fewer grams of fat than beef chili. Compared to my beef chili which has 16 grams of fat per serving, this turkey chili has just 12 grams of fat.
More Cozy Comfort Food Recipes
- Super Easy Country Style Pork Ribs
- Baked Ziti, The Ultimate Cheesy Pasta Bake
- Reader Favorite Ham and Potato Soup
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ▢ 1 large yellow or white onion diced
- ▢ 1 pound 85% lean ground turkey
- ▢ 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- ▢ ¼ cup ( 66g ) tomato paste
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- ▢ 2 tablespoons chili powder
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ▢ 14 ounces crushed or diced tomatoes
- ▢ 1 15-ounce can pinto beans drained and rinsed*
- ▢ 1 15-ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed*
- ▢ 1 cup chicken broth *
Toppings
- ▢ Sour cream optional
- ▢ Shredded cheese optional
- ▢ Cilantro optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add your diced onion and cook until onions just begin to turn translucent around the edges, about 5 minutes.
- To the onions, add the turkey and salt. Cook, stirring often, until turkey is browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and pepper, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until aromatic.
- Add the tomatoes (with their juices), drained beans, and broth. Bring to a low simmer and simmer the chili uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes, until the meat is cooked through and chili has thickened.
- Taste and add additional salt and pepper if necessary.
- Spoon into bowls, top with sour cream and cheese if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
Homemade Italian Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried rosemary preferably crushed, optional
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried marjoram optional
- ¾ teaspoon ground sage optional
Instructions
- Mix together all of your spices and store in a small airtight container (small jars or recycled empty spice containers work great) for up to 4 months.
