Thyme is a very earthy herb that is extremely versatile. It is used in so many dishes and is quite easy to get hold of in supermarkets and convenience stores.
However, there will come a time when you’re making a dish that calls for thyme, and you don’t have any readily available.
Although this will be a pain, that doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy some. There are plenty of substitutes you can use instead.
We’ve put together a list of 5 substitutes for thyme that will work really well with whatever dish you are making. So let’s take a look!
1. Oregano
Oregano is one of the best thyme substitutes you are going to find. The flavors of both oregano and thyme are incredibly similar.
A fun fact about both oregano and thyme is that they both belong to the mint family of plants, and this is why they grow well together and also have such a similar taste.
Though there are plenty of other thyme substitutes, oregano is really the best one you should try out first.
2. Rosemary
Rosemary has quite a distinct, woody flavor and smell, and although it is a great substitute for thyme, you need to err on the side of caution with how much you use.
Rosemary is quite a strong herb, especially in terms of flavor and smell, so you just need to make sure that you use a bit less of it in comparison to how much thyme you would use.
Just like oregano and thyme, rosemary is also a part of the mint family of plants, so this is one of the reasons it makes a great substitute.
3. Basil
Basil is a bit more difficult in emulating the taste of thyme, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it as a substitute.
You really need to make sure that you’re using fresh basil if you’re going to use this option though. Dried basil will be completely useless in your attempt to substitute it for thyme.
4. Marjoram
Marjoram is a great substitute for thyme because it has a similar minty profile. It is a bit sweeter than thyme though and its overall flavor is a bit more delicate.
Just like rosemary (see also ‘6 Substitutes For Rosemary‘), oregano, and thyme, marjoram is also a part of the mint family, which is of course another reason it works so well as a substitute for the real thing.
In terms of how much marjoram you’ll need in replacement for thyme, you should aim for about twice the amount of thyme if you want it to work out evenly.
5. Herbs De Provence
Herbs de Provence is a herb bend rather than an individual herb. It is most commonly made up of a blend of dried basil, marjoram, parsley (see also ‘8 Tasty Substitutes For Parsley‘), rosemary, tarragon, thyme, and fennel seeds.
As it already has thyme in it, as well as a couple of the listed substitutes, you will have no issues in making Herbs de Provence work when you can’t get a hold of thyme.
This herb blend does have a really distinct flavor though, so make sure you’re taste testing as you are preparing any dish that you’re making.
Conclusion
Most of the thyme substitutes on this list work so well because they belong to the same herb family as thyme itself.
The mint family is actually home to a lot of the most popular herbs we use in cooking, so if you’re curious about what other herbs belong to this family, go have a look!
Experiment with the herbs we have provided and see what works best for you!
5 Substitutes For Thyme
Have you run out of thyme and you can’t find anymore? Well, click here to learn about 5 of the best substitutes of thyme that you need to try today!
Ingredients
Oregano
Rosemary
Basil
Marjoram
Herbs De Provence
Directions
- Decide on what substitute you need
- Pick a substitute from the list above
- Read what you need to substitute with
- Create the recipe and enjoy
Recipe Video
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