What Is Oregano and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with oregano? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 2,529 recipes to put it to work.

What is oregano?

Laurie's Words on Herbs - All about Oregano

Oregano is a common herb used in Greek and Italian cooking among other regions.

oregano

Oregano is high in antioxidant activity, due to a high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Additionally, oregano has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. Both of these characteristics may be useful in both health and food preservation.

The dish most commonly associated with oregano is pizza.

oregano

Variations have probably been eaten in Southern Italy for centuries.

In the US returning World War II soliders brought back a taste for what they called "the pizza herb".

Types of oregano

Specific kinds of oregano and the recipes that use them.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 tsp, leaves (1g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 3Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.1g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 0.6g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 2%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 0.1g

Vitamin A 1% Vitamin C 1%

Calcium 2% • Iron 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find oregano: Oregano is usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Oregano is a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 牛至
British (UK) term: Oregano
en français: origan
en español: orégano

How much does oregano weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 tsp, leaves	1 grams
1 tsp, ground	1 grams

Spices and Herbs

Allspice 904 Allspice berries 37 Star anise 178 Aniseed 23 Bay leaves 2049 Caraway seeds 321 Cardamom pods 100 Cardamom seeds 317 Celery seeds 283 Chervil 65

Recipes using oregano

There are 2529 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Beefy Chili

Beefy chili is a Texas-style chili made with fresh dried chili pod paste, ground beef, oregano, cumin, and red wine. No beans, no powder, just deep slow-simmered authentic flavor.

Sausage Stuffed Green Peppers

Italian sausage stuffed bell peppers with mozzarella cheese and oregano in marinara sauce. Easy baked peppers ready in under an hour, perfect for weeknight dinners.

Buffalo-Style Chicken Wings

Crispy fried chicken wings tossed in a sweet-and-spicy sauce with French dressing, herbs, and hot sauce. Served with blue cheese dressing and crunchy veggies.

Chipotle Mayonnaise

Creamy, smoky chipotle mayonnaise made with just 4 ingredients: mayo, sour cream, canned chipotles in adobo, and oregano. The ultimate spicy condiment for burgers, tacos, fries, and more.

Pressure Cooked Chili Con Chickpeas

Pressure-cooked chickpea chili swaps beef for nutty garbanzos, building heat from toasted cumin seeds, chili powder, and a generous handful of fresh cilantro. A meatless one-pot weeknight chili.

Chili Con Cervesa

Chili con cervesa simmers ground beef and kidney beans in a beer-spiked tomato base with chili powder, garlic, and oregano. A pantry-friendly chili with deep malty flavor from a full bottle of beer.

Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce

This delicious spaghetti sauce is loaded with heart healthy ingredients. After trying this sauce, you will always skip the store-bought ones.

Santoreggia Rosso Sauce (Savory Red Sauce)

My family loves Italian food so I created this recipe to fit our tastes of a savory marinara sauce that is great over pasta, in lasagna, on pizza and as a dipping sauce. We love it over cooked spaghetti squash. You can make it with the meatballs or leave them out. It very freezes well.

Basic Yummy Gazpacho

No-cook gazpacho made with Roma tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, garlic, and white wine vinegar. Five-minute blender soup, vegan, naturally low-calorie, and ready as soon as it chills. Summer in a glass.

Bread Machine Pepperoni, Olive, & Oregano Pizza Bread

Discover the ultimate fusion of flavors with our Bread Machine Pepperoni, Olive, and Oregano Pizza Bread recipe. Effortlessly bake a savory delight that combines the zest of pepperoni, the briny touch of olives, and the aromatic essence of oregano into one irresistible loaf.

Herb Chili Burgers

Mediterranean herb chili burgers blend ground beef with chopped tomato, black olives, garlic, dill, lemon zest, and chili powder. A grilled patty with serious global flavor.

Hamburger with Variations

Cheese-stuffed hamburger patties with four global variations: French with brie, Mexican with Monterey Jack, Italian with mozzarella, and Greek with feta. Grilled over charcoal.

Best Black Bean Chili

Black bean chili built on home-ground spices and dried ancho chile. Vegetarian, vegan-adaptable, with toasted cumin and homemade chili powder. Serve over melted cheese with creme fraiche and roasted poblanos.

Best Meatballs & Spaghetti Sauce

Italian meatballs and spaghetti sauce simmer parmesan-laced beef meatballs in a wine-spiked tomato sauce with onion, garlic, green pepper, basil, and oregano. Weeknight ready in 45 minutes.

Mom's Favourite Chili

Mom's chili stacks beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, and a quiet blend of cumin, oregano, and basil into a slow-simmered family-style pot. Old-school weeknight chili with a long-simmer payoff.

Chrissy's Eggs & Chorizo Omelette

Eggs and chorizo unite in a soft, family-style omelette with sautéed onion, half-and-half cream, and a hint of oregano. A quick Mexican breakfast built for sharing.

Amazing Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati's iconic chili simmers with warm spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cocoa powder, creating a Greek-influenced meat sauce perfect for ladling over spaghetti.

No-Tahini Herb Hummus with Sautéed Onion & Garlic

Bright, herb-forward hummus with no tahini needed. Sautéed onion and garlic blend with fresh parsley, basil, oregano, and coriander into silky chickpeas for a lighter Middle Eastern dip that skips the paste but keeps all the flavor. Ready in 25 minutes.

Protein/Paleo Burger

Protein paleo burger: a seasoned beef patty mixed with scallion, garlic, and serrano, stacked bunless on lettuce with a fried egg, grilled portobello, avocado, and chimichurri. High-protein, grain-free.

Chili, Chuck Morford

A hearty beef and two-bean chili loaded with jalapenos, kidney and black beans, and a deep spice blend, slow-simmered with an optional splash of beer. Big-batch, crowd-pleasing, and seriously warming.

Chili Spiced Beef & Bean Stew

A succulent dish that brings some variety to dinner and a tantalizing flavor everyone will enjoy!

Chili N'Awlins

Chili N'Awlins is a New Orleans-style beef and pork chili with green chiles, oregano, and a Cajun edge. Topped with corn chips, sharp cheddar, and shredded lettuce for a hearty crowd-feeder.

Chili Ala Capt. James Mcdonnell

Beef and Italian sausage chili with a tablespoon of instant coffee for depth, two kinds of beans (kidney and refried), and a Monterey Jack topping. Captain's recipe.

Easy Meatballs in Sauce

Easy meatballs simmered in a quick tangy tomato sauce of puree, onion, vinegar, and oregano, then spooned over rice or pasta. A simple stovetop dinner that comes together in under an hour.

Chili Super Bowl

Big-batch Super Bowl chili with ground beef, pinto beans, and tomato juice base, simmered low for hours with a deep spice blend of cumin, cayenne, and paprika. Feeds a crowd.

Chili with Beef & Beans

Classic stovetop chili with ground beef, dried pinto or kidney beans, fresh tomatoes, and a hit of cumin and hot chili. Slow-simmered for three hours until the beans turn velvety.

A Very Tasty Chili

Smoky beef chili with toasted dried chiles, habanero heat, and kidney beans. Toast, blend, and simmer for deep chile flavor that'll ruin you for canned chili powder forever.

Yummy Spaghetti with Meatballs

Spaghetti and meatballs simmered in a slow-cooked tomato sauce with red wine, mushrooms, green pepper, basil, and oregano. Tender pan-fried beef meatballs and a deeply layered sauce that builds for two hours.

Vegan Enchilada Corn Tortillas

Melt In Your Mouth Vegan Corn Tortillas! Yellow Corn Tortillas Were Used In This Dish!! Quick And Easy To Make!5

Fresh Tomato Salsa (Salsa De Jitomate Cruda)

Quick, easy and delicious. No need to run to the store. This homemade version tastes so much better, and it's good for you.

Hummus #2

Herb-loaded hummus made with chickpeas, sauteed onion and garlic, toasted sesame seeds, and a blend of basil, coriander, and oregano. A fresh take on classic hummus.

Bev's Meatballs

Try something new when it comes to meatballs with this tasty recipe that uses mushrooms, cheese and oregano.

Bev's Meatballs

Try something new when it comes to meatballs with this tasty recipe that uses mushrooms, cheese and oregano.

Pan Roasted Pork Loins

Pan-roasted pork loin chops coated in a bold homemade dry rub of chili powder, cumin, garlic, and oregano, marinated overnight, then seared and roasted. A simple spice-rubbed dinner with big Southwestern flavor.

Mexican Chicken Chili

Mexican chicken chili blends home-ground chicken breast with a little lean beef, simmered low and slow with warm spices and tomatoes. Topped with avocado, a dollop of yogurt, and fresh cilantro for a lighter bowl.

Easy Chickpea Soup

Easy chickpea soup with canned garbanzos, tomato paste, onion, and oregano. A pantry-staple dump-and-simmer one pot recipe that purees into a creamy, satisfying meal.

Modified Chili Con Carne

A from-scratch chili con carne made with dried pinto beans, lean ground beef, and a smoky blend of cumin, oregano, and chili powder. Simmers into a thick, soul-warming bowl that's lower in sodium than most.

Cowboy Pintos Vegan

Cowboy pintos are a hearty vegan bean pot: dried pintos slow-simmered with tomatoes, onion, carrot, celery, thyme and cilantro until creamy. Spoon it over rice or barley for a stick-to-your-ribs meatless bowl.

Fantastic Focaccia Bread

Fantastic focaccia bread layers garlic, mozzarella, romano, plum tomatoes and olives on a pre-made pizza shell for a fast, cheesy Italian-style flatbread baked in 35 minutes.

Vegetarian Chili Texas Style

Hearty vegetarian Texas-style chili with meaty textured vegetable protein, kidney beans, peppers and tomatoes. A high-protein, meatless pot simmered low and slow, and even better the next day.

Amazing White Bean Chilli

Delicious, savory winter-recipe ingredients that will surely satisfy are white beans and Oso Sweet Onions, an onion grown at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Onions are not only believed to be a cancer preventative, their low-salt, low-fat health benefits are the proactive equivalent to superhero powers.