Spaghetti seasoning is the blend you need in your spice cabinet to transform a basic tomato sauce into an herbal, aromatic dish. Whether you make a sauce from scratch or want to liven up sauce straight from the jar, this seasoning mix might just be the key to your secret sauce!

Seasoning shaker with Homemade Spaghetti Seasoning Recipe with some of the mixture being pouted onto the plate

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Ingredients Needed

Spaghetti seasoning enhances bold tomato flavors and contains plenty of herbal elements. This blend goes beyond a basic Italian seasoning by incorporating a peppery element with a hint of sweetness. Your spaghetti sauce will be anything but bland!

Garlic powder – This seasoning uses a larger ratio of garlic powder than others. It makes a bold, robust statement without being overpowering and pairs perfectly with rich tomato flavors.
Onion powder – Onion powder brings a bit of the sweetness of an onion without the added texture.
Dried basil – Basil is (in my opinion) the non-negotiable herb to pair with anything tomato! You’ll love how the flavor of dried basil is easily detectable in this blend.
Dried rubbed sage – This version of sage is airy and adds a textural element to the blend. It’s not quite as concentrated as ground sage and adds depth to other ingredients.
Thyme – Thyme is such a pleasant, aromatic herb, and it adds earthiness to any dish.
Sugar – Sugar provides a nice balance to the acidity of tomato sauce.
Salt and black pepper – Of course, you need this pairing to round out the blend!
Red pepper flakes – You might also see this labeled as “crushed red pepper.” This is one of the best elements of this seasoning blend. A bit of red pepper creates just enough heat to add complexity but still creates an overall flavor that works for the family!

1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes laid out in cups and spoons on counter

How To Make Homemade Spaghetti Seasoning

Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine.

Store in a sealed jar or container in a cool, dry location.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Everyone likes a classic spaghetti dish just a little bit differently, and there are plenty of options to vary the seasoning. This is the best spaghetti seasoning recipe because it is easy to customize and can work with multiple dishes!

You can swap any of the dried herbs for other herb options. I wanted to keep my blend simple and basic, but other possible options are oregano, marjoram, rosemary, etc. My personal favorites are basil and thyme, but use what you like the most!
You can leave the herbs in their original dried format, or if the texture is an issue, toss them in a grinder or mini-food processor to grind them into a uniform texture.
To make a spicier spaghetti seasoning, add more red pepper flakes.
Leave out the sugar if you want to reduce overall sugar content in your diet.

How To Use Spaghetti Seasoning

Of course, you can use spaghetti seasoning to spice up a delicious, made-from-scratch recipe with crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce.

Or, you can save a step and season a premade jar! Most store-bought pasta sauces will already include spices, but this seasoning can also take them up a notch and add a home-cooked element. If you do add the seasoning to jarred pasta sauce, you may want to leave out the salt since it will already be included.

There are also many additional ways to infuse spaghetti flavor into other recipes! Add seasoning to meat such as ground beef or turkey, or mix it into casseroles, lasagnas, or a variation like Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti. You could also roast vegetables with olive oil and spaghetti seasoning to serve over noodles or rice.

Note: Use 1 tablespoon per 24-ounce jar of pasta sauce (more or less to taste) or about 1 tablespoon per pound of meat.

Small measuring cup fill of Homemade Spaghetti Seasoning Recipe

Storage Instructions

Store spaghetti seasoning in an airtight dry container – preferably glass – for up to 6 months. Be sure the lid has a tight seal, and use clean utensils when measuring from the jar.