What Are Parsley flakes and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with parsley flakes? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 223 recipes to put them to work.

What are parsley flakes?

Parsley flakes are dried parsley leaves, crumbled into small green bits that keep for months in the spice rack.

They are the convenience form of an herb that is usually used fresh, and the swap is not one-for-one. Drying strips parsley of most of its volatile aroma, so flakes taste muted and faintly hay-like next to the grassy snap of the fresh herb.

What they keep is color and a mild background note, which is exactly what a lot of everyday cooking needs.

When to Use Flakes Instead of Fresh

Reach for flakes when parsley is a supporting seasoning cooked into a dish, not the star. They dissolve into the moisture of a soup, sauce, casserole, or meatloaf and lend a gentle herbal lift without you keeping a fresh bunch on hand.

That is the role they play in a Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole, a pot of Easy Warm You Up Minestrone, or the topping on Garlic Cheese Bread. Stirred into Easy Garlic Chicken Thighs, they season the pan without a trip to the store.

Skip them where freshness is the point. Tabbouleh, salsa verde, and a raw finishing sprinkle all want the live herb; dried flakes scattered raw on a finished plate look dusty and taste of nothing.

How to Cook With Them

Add flakes early, with a few minutes of simmering or baking left, and a little liquid to rehydrate them. Tossed on at the very end they stay papery and gritty.

Use about one teaspoon of dried flakes for every tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley, the standard one-to-three dried-to-fresh ratio. Going heavier doesn't add freshness, only a dull dried-herb flavor, so stay light.

Flakes lose potency with age. Crush a pinch between your fingers; if it doesn't smell green, it won't season much, so add a bit more or replace the jar.

Substitutes

Fresh parsley is the obvious upgrade when you have it, at three times the volume and added later in cooking. A parsley sprig or two, chopped, covers most recipes that list a teaspoon of flakes.

Dried chervil or a light hand of dried basil can stand in for the herbal note, though each shifts the flavor. Dried celery leaves or a pinch of dried oregano also work in a savory braise. In a blend like Italian seasoning, the parsley share is already doing this job.

Buying and Storing Parsley Flakes

Buy the smallest jar you will realistically use within a year. Dried herbs don't spoil so much as fade, and a giant bargain jar is mostly stale by the time you reach the bottom.

Store the jar somewhere cool and dark, away from the heat of the stove and out of direct light, with the lid sealed tight. A cabinet beats an open rack above the range, where steam and warmth dull the flavor fast.

Whole dried flakes hold their modest aroma for about one to three years. Check by smell rather than by date: a jar that smells of nothing is done, however recently you bought it.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find parsley flakes: Parsley flakes are usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Parsley flakes are a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

香菜片

British (UK) term

Parsley flakes

en français

flocons de persil séché

en español

hojuelas de perejil seco

How much do parsley flakes weigh?

Related

Spices and Herbs

Recipes using parsley flakes

There are 223 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Grilled Burgers

Grilled burgers with sour cream, dried thyme, and parsley mixed right into the patty for extra moisture and herby savor. The juicy weeknight cookout staple in 20 minutes.

Calico Burgers

Calico burgers are ground beef patties stretched with cooked rice and flecked with onion, green pepper and parsley. The rice keeps the patties juicy while stretching the meat for budget-friendly grilling.

Open Face Spinach Egg Sandwich

This delicious breakfast sandwich takes no time to make, and it has all the nutritions you need before lunch. No excuse to skip your breakfast.

Light Tuna Salad

The addition of ingredients like curry powder and grated Parmesan make this salad special. Great for sandwiches, on crackers as an appetizer or served on lettuce leaves.

Cheese Garlic-Herb Biscuits

Cheese garlic-herb biscuits with sharp cheddar baked into the dough and brushed with garlic-parsley butter while still hot. The seven-ingredient Red Lobster-style copycat in 20 minutes.

Cheesy Hot Clam Dip

Minced clams with a mixture of seasonings and a bit of hot sauce, topped with shredded mozzarella, this dip is excellent served warm with crackers.

Terry's Italian Crockpot Beef

A Chicago style beef for your slow cooker. Super easy and tastes great.

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Mix

Homemade buttermilk ranch seasoning mix - why buy a packet when you can make your own and control the salt!

Farmhouse Potato Salad

Delicious non traditional salad that can be served with BBQs or just on the side.

Nutty Chicken Fingers

Super quick and easy to make, and these chicken fingers came out delicious. The aroma during the cooking made the whole house smell great...

Favourite Three Bean Salad with Bacon

Three bean salad with bacon piles baked, lima and green beans with crispy bacon, mushrooms and peppers in a honey-Dijon lemon dressing. A hearty, make-ahead party salad that feeds a crowd.

Poultry Seasoning

Make your own poultry (chicken) seasoning from scratch using ingredient that are likely already in your pantry.

Almost Indian Chicken

An easy no-fuss curry chicken but without the fat of a traditional curry chicken. Pop this in the slow cooker or crockpot and serve with some rice.

Yogurt Deviled Eggs

Try this new clean and tasty rendition of deviled eggs that uses plain yogurt to replace the mayonaise.

Easy Deviled Eggs

Easy deviled eggs with a creamy, tangy filling, mayo and sour cream brightened by honey mustard, red wine vinegar, and a whisper of curry, plus minced celery for crunch. A make-ahead cold appetizer.

Garlic Toast

Toasty garlic bread is a quick-to-make addition to a meal.

Cheese Squash Casserole

I made extra cracker crumbs and mixed them with some of the cheese to sprinkle over the top. A very rich but delicious casserole. Thanks for sharing.

Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup

Nothing is like a bowl of warm and delicious chicken noodle soup on a cold winter day.

Favorite Skillet Beef Stew

A stove-top beef stew recipe. Nothing beats a hearty, savory beef stew that warms you up a cold day and satisfies your hunger.

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

I have seen numerous recipes on the net that say they are clones but this one is the best with the closest taste to the original Reb Lobster version.

Lobster - Jamaican Style

Chunks of lobster meat sauteed in butter, peppers, garlic and onions served over bowtie pasta.

Bisquick Cheese Biscuits with Herbs

Bisquick cheese biscuits made with cheddar and brushed straight out of the oven with garlic-herb butter. A Red Lobster copycat-style drop biscuit ready in 20 minutes flat.

Breaded Parmesan Chicken Wings

Try this new twist to chicken wings that has a variety of spices that will satisfy your hunger.

Crock Pot Beef Bourguignon

This was outstanding. A huge amount of flavor was developed in the slow and low technique using my slow cooker. A classic mostly hands-free make ahead main dish that filled the house with aroma.

Crispy Smashed Mini Potatoes

Smashed potatoes are always welcomed at any time of the year, this crispy smashed mini potatoes will completely satisfy every member of your family, you can serve it with any main dish.

Crockpot Homemade Potato Soup

Make your own delicious homemade soup that's so easy to make. This recipe uses a slow-cooker so it's a simple place all ingredients into the slow cooker and let is simmer all day unattended.

Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing Mix

Skip the expensive store-bought overly salty salad dressing mix and make your own using ingredients found in most pantries. Perfect for a low-salt ranch dressing.

Slow Cooker Braciole

My version of this classic Italian dish. This is a very interesting recipe. Actually I've tried this already and I was very impressed by its taste. Try this too so that you will experience the goodness of this dish.

American Chop Suey

Somewhat similar to chili mac and American goulash found in other areas of the country, this American dish is most prevalent in New England.

100% Parmesan Chicken

Add some cheese to your succulent chicken with this delicious recipe that uses parmesan cheese and a variety of spices.

Dill Dip in Rye Bread

Try this unique recipe that creates a bread bowl that can be used to hold and eat dip. Perfect for dinner parties!

Hog Head Cheese

Southern hog head cheese: pork and pig's foot simmered with onions, green onions, parsley, and red pepper flakes, then set into a sliceable terrine. Spread on crackers.

Easy Bisquick Zucchini Quiche

This easy quiche is a delicious way to make your zucchini into something delicious without any fuzz.

Garlic Cheese Bread

Garlic cheese bread scaled for a crowd: French bread slabs slathered with garlic butter, blanketed in mozzarella, and showered with parmesan, oregano, and parsley. Built for parties, potlucks, and catering.

Hearty Potato & Leek Chowder

Hearty potato and leek chowder with carrots and onions simmered in chicken broth, finished with milk and fresh parsley. Thick, creamy, and warming.

Natcho Cheese Potato Slices

Oven-baked nacho cheese potato slices tossed with taco seasoning, barbecue sauce, green peppers, and onions, topped with melted cheese. A hearty Tex-Mex side or meatless main.

Cajun 3-Pepper Bread

A crusty Cajun yeast bread loaded with three kinds of pepper: black, cayenne, and hot sauce. Polenta adds grit and crunch while garlic and parsley bring herby depth. Baked with steam like French bread.

Creamed Ham & Asparagus

Cubed ham, tender asparagus, and hard-boiled eggs in a cheesy cream sauce over toast points or biscuits. A hearty brunch or easy dinner that uses up leftover ham.

Chunky Clams & Pasta

Ten-minute clam pasta using canned New England clam chowder as the sauce. Toss with cooked spaghetti, parsley, and garlic powder for a creamy weeknight shortcut dinner.

Wedding Soup

Hearty Italian wedding soup simmered for hours with beef shanks, tiny meatballs, vegetables, tomatoes, and small pasta shells. Topped with grated Parmesan for a soul-warming bowl.

Perfect Pot Roast

Classic pot roast rubbed with seasoned salt, onion powder, and garlic, then browned and braised low and slow with onion, green pepper, bay leaves, and thyme. Pan juices thicken into rich gravy.

Mom Cambareri's Lasagne

Italian-American lasagne with layers of seasoned ground beef, ricotta-egg filling, mozzarella, and sliced hard-boiled eggs. A family recipe with a from-scratch tomato-basil meat sauce.

Cheesy Chicken Quiche

Slow cooker cheesy chicken quiche with fork-tender chicken breasts topped with a fluffy cheddar-egg batter. Set it and forget it for a hands-off brunch or easy dinner that practically cooks itself.

Bean'N' Burger Pockets

Sloppy joe meets three-bean chili, stuffed into pita pockets with melted cheddar. Ground beef simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and brown sugar for a thick, scoopable filling.

Snack Mixes

One base recipe, five crunchy flavor combos: Tropical, Barbecue, Hot & Spicy, Herbed Pecan, and Curry. Baked cereal snack mix for parties, game day, or straight-from-the-oven snacking.

Super Creamy Dill Dip

Super creamy dill dip made from sour cream, mayo, and dried dill, stirred together in five minutes and chilled overnight so the herbs bloom. The cool, tangy partner for fresh veggies and chips.

Garlic Head Soup

Garlic head soup built on three whole simmered bulbs blended into a brothy base with barley, wild rice, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms, herbed with thyme, rosemary, and dill.

Crockpot Beef Stock

Crockpot beef stock made hands-off with beef soup bones, onion, celery, and peppercorns simmered all day. The set-it-and-forget-it foundation for soups, stews, and sauces.

Carbonnade

Belgian carbonnade braises beef chuck and smoked ham in dark beer with onions, carrots, and herbs, finished with scotch, vinegar, and toasted walnuts. Deep stew flavor in every spoonful.

Scalloped Turkey & Cauliflower

Scalloped turkey and cauliflower baked in a light turkey stock gravy. A low-calorie main dish that puts leftover turkey to good use.

All 223 recipes