Sage Substitutes

No sage in your pantry? Check out our list of the best sage substitutes to use in recipes. Learn which herbs and seasonings have a similar flavor to sage and information on how to swap these out.

Sage is an "assertive, woody" flavored herb that is mainly used to season poultry and in Thanksgiving turkey, dressings, stuffing, casseroles and sausage. Sage can also be described as "savory and slightly peppery."

There are several forms of sage: fresh, dried (rubbed) or ground. You can substitute among these forms if you have any of them. A good rule of thumb for converting fresh herbs to dried is to use ⅓ the amount of dried herb for the amount of fresh herb called for. Example: 1 Tablespoon fresh sage = 1 teaspoon dried sage. If you are needing alternatives to sage then read on!

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Herbs and seasonings that can replace or substitute for sage

Poultry Seasoning

The main ingredients of this dried seasoning mixture are sage and thyme. It can also include marjoram, rosemary, pepper and nutmeg. Poultry seasoning can be used as a coating for poultry, in stuffing and dressing, meat loaf, casseroles and sauces- among many other things. The flavor of poultry seasoning is strong and assertive-just like sage. Substitute poultry seasoning for dried sage on a 1 to 1 basis. (1 teaspoon sage =1 teaspoon poultry seasoning)

Marjoram or Sweet Marjoram

Marjoram's flavor profile is considered sweet, fresh and woody. It is a top sage substitute because both are members of the mint family. Marjoram is commonly used to flavor meat, stuffings, poultry and vegetables- especially tomatoes. Substitute marjoram for sage on a 1 to 1 basis. (1 teaspoon marjoram = 1 teaspoon sage)

Rosemary

A distinctly flavored herb- "woody and citrus"- rosemary is used for seasoning poultry and meats. Because of its intense flavor profile, use less rosemary than sage. Substitute rosemary for sage on a ⅓ basis. (1 teaspoon sage = ⅓ teaspoon rosemary)

Thyme

Thyme is a staple item in the herb rack. The flavor profile can be described as woody, sweet and peppery. It is used frequently in recipes for poultry, meats, stuffings, veggies and soups among many others. Thyme can be substituted for sage on a 1 to 1 basis. (1 teaspoon thyme = 1 teaspoon sage)