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 — with 2,529 recipes to put it to work.

What is oregano?

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".

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

Where found

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.

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

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

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.