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Seasoning blend . oregano forward . crust to crumb

Pizza Seasoning.

The difference between sauce from a can and sauce from a pizzeria is mostly this jar.

Type
Herb blend
Base
Oregano + basil
Ratio
2:1 oregano to basil
Time
3 min
Yield
7 tbsp
Quick answer

To make pizza seasoning, whisk two tablespoons of dried oregano with one tablespoon each of dried basil, garlic powder, and onion powder, a teaspoon of lightly crushed fennel seed, a teaspoon of red pepper flakes, a half teaspoon of salt, and a half teaspoon of black pepper.

What it is

What is pizza seasoning?

Pizza seasoning is Italian seasoning that picked a side. Where the general-purpose jar balances its herbs evenly, the pizza blend puts oregano firmly in charge, backs it with basil, and adds the two notes that read specifically as pizzeria: fennel seed, the flavor your memory files under good sausage, and red pepper flakes for the table-shaker warmth.

One jar covers the whole pie. A teaspoon turns plain canned tomatoes into pizza sauce, a pinch in the dough or oiled onto the crust rim seasons the part everyone holds, and the jar itself goes to the table next to the parmesan, where it belongs.

The recipe

What goes in pizza seasoning?

2 tbsp
Oregano
×
1 tbsp
Basil
×
1 tbsp
Garlic powder
×
1 tsp
Fennel seed

Two parts oregano to one of basil, with garlic and onion at basil level and the fennel and flakes as accents. Crush the fennel just enough to crack it, whole seeds roll off a slice, powder disappears.

Method

How do you make pizza seasoning?

  1. Crush the fennel seed briefly in a mortar or under a pan.
  2. Whisk everything together until even.
  3. Jar with a shaker lid, best within three months.
  4. Sauce: one teaspoon per cup of crushed tomatoes with a pinch of sugar, no cooking needed for pizza.
  5. Crust: brush the rim with olive oil and dust with the blend before baking.
The fennel tell Fennel seed is why pizzeria pies taste seasoned even without sausage. A teaspoon in the jar quietly delivers the memory of the sausage without the sausage.
Cook's notes

What should you know before making pizza seasoning?

History

Where did pizza seasoning come from?

The oregano shaker on the pizzeria counter is as American as the slice itself, oregano only became a pantry staple in the United States after soldiers came home from Italy in the 1940s asking for the taste they had met near Naples.

Derivatives

What can you make from pizza seasoning?

Hot shaker
Double the pepper flakes, the back-corner-of-the-pizzeria version.
White-pie blend
Drop the basil, add a teaspoon of dried rosemary, for olive-oil pies and focaccia.
Sauce-only version
Skip the salt and fennel, add a teaspoon of sugar, a straight sauce packet.
FAQ

Common questions.

What is the difference between pizza seasoning and Italian seasoning?

Emphasis. Italian seasoning is an even herb chorus, pizza seasoning pushes oregano to the front and adds fennel and pepper flakes. They substitute for each other with a pinch of extra oregano.

How do I use pizza seasoning on frozen pizza?

Brush or spray the rim with olive oil, shake the blend over the whole pie, and bake as directed. The oil is what makes the herbs stick and toast instead of scorching dry.

How much pizza seasoning per cup of sauce?

One teaspoon per cup of crushed tomatoes, plus a pinch of sugar and salt to taste. Let it sit ten minutes before spreading, the herbs hydrate in the tomato.

Kyle Schulgen Founder, Speakeater
Builder of Speakeater, the cooking app that reads your fridge. Writes the recipe reference pages by hand, anchored in public-domain culinary sources.
Last updated: 2026-05-29

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