5 Excellent Replacements for Thyme

Thyme adds flavor to dishes like roasted chicken, grilled steaks, savory egg sides, pasta, and sauces, and even enhances desserts. But if you're out of this cherished herb, don't worry – here are some of the best thyme substitutes.

What Exactly Is Thyme?

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a fragrant herb native to the Mediterranean, related to oregano, basil, and mint. Its small green leaves grow in clusters on woody stems. The most common variety, 'common thyme', has a subtle minty and lemony flavor. Numerous other types exist, such as lemon thyme, orange thyme, caraway thyme, and za'atar thyme.

Thyme plants bloom with tiny leaves and flowers during spring and summer. The whole stems or the delicate leaves can be harvested for use. This hardy perennial herb is easy to grow and a great choice for novice gardeners, especially when planted in a kitchen garden.

What Does Thyme Taste Like?

Thyme offers a rich, earthy flavor with subtle minty undertones. The tiny leaves from various thyme varieties provide a unique taste experience.

Thyme is versatile, used fresh or dried in dishes like meats, stews, pasta, and soups. It adds a vibrant herbal flavor to beans, eggs, mushrooms, vegetables, and seafood. It also enhances marinades, broths, cocktails, and even tea blends.

Fresh Thyme vs. Dried Thyme

Fresh thyme can be added to recipes either as whole sprigs or by removing the leaves and sprinkling them over the dish. When using a whole sprig of fresh thyme, the leaves remain attached during cooking.

Fresh thyme cuttings have tender stems, and the leaves are difficult to remove, so the entire sprig is typically chopped and used whole.

Dried thyme preserves much of the flavor of fresh thyme, making it an excellent substitute. However, its taste is more concentrated, so when swapping dried thyme for fresh, use less and adjust to your desired flavor. Dried herbs should be added early in the cooking process.

Recipe available here: Cheddar-Thyme Flaky Biscuits

Top Thyme Alternatives

Oregano

Oregano is an excellent substitute for thyme, whether fresh or dried. Both herbs share a similar flavor profile as they belong to the same mint family.

Replace fresh thyme with an equal amount of fresh oregano, and use dried oregano to replace dried thyme. Keep in mind that dried oregano can have a stronger flavor, so start with less and adjust to taste.

Marjoram

Marjoram is closely related to oregano and works well as a thyme alternative. It has a woody note but is gentler and more delicate. Use the same amount of fresh or dried marjoram as you would thyme in any recipe.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a versatile herb that can easily replace thyme in both savory and sweet dishes. Fresh thyme is milder, but in cooked recipes, simply swap equal parts of fresh or dried rosemary for thyme.

Savory

Savory, another member of the mint family, has a peppery and vibrant flavor. Use fresh savory in the same quantity as fresh thyme, and substitute dried savory for dried thyme in recipes.

Basil

Basil can replace thyme, though it brings a brighter flavor to dishes. For fresh thyme, use half the amount of chopped basil leaves. Dried basil has a subtler taste, so swap it 1:1 for fresh thyme or use double the amount for dried thyme.