Replacement for McCormick Classic Pizza Seasoning?

September 10, 2018 10:32 PM

Does anyone remember McCormick Classic Pizza Seasoning (Italian Blend)? This seasoning was the exact combination of added flavors I never knew I always wanted on pizza. It's been discontinued. Can you recommend a replacement? I'm open to buying a pre-mixed blend or blending my own. The listed ingredients are "red and green bell peppers, garlic, and spices (including red pepper, oregano, and basil)." I can get the listed stuff, but that gnomic "spices" stymies me. Help?
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

Best answer: Penzey's makes some good pizza seasoning. Fennel is a big ingredient that makes things taste "pizza-y" for me. The salt free one to me isn't as good, but YMMV.
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 10:54 PM on September 10, 2018 [10 favorites]

Seconding Penzeys-- if you don't care for fennel (like me) their Italian Seasoning is what I used to make homemade pizza.

Also they are a good company.
posted by The otter lady at 12:32 AM on September 11, 2018 [4 favorites]

I'm going to suggest Penzey's as well, although I can't speak to how close it is to the stuff you liked. They have a "frozen pizza" seasoning that I like quite a bit in addition to the Italian blend (mmm so good) and their regular pizza seasoning.
posted by thebrokedown at 1:32 AM on September 11, 2018 [2 favorites]

Penzeys Tuscan Sunset blend is my preferred pizza enhancer. The ingredients are listed as basil, oregano, red bell pepper, garlic, thyme, fennel, black pepper, and anise seed.
posted by CheeseLouise at 4:59 AM on September 11, 2018 [3 favorites]

I was going to suggest Penzeys, too. We use a bunch of their spice blends including the frozen pizza seasoning on pizza. But if you need a reason beyond the spices, there's also Bill Penzey's activism.
posted by maurice at 5:57 AM on September 11, 2018 [2 favorites]

If you sign up for Penzey's emails, you'll get fairly frequent offers for free jars (I've seen offers for a free jar of your choice with purchase and sometimes something relevant to current events--Mexican vanilla, Arizona Dreaming blend, Tsardust Memories blend are a few I remember--will be given away without a purchase) so you can try a couple of their pizza blends at a discount.
posted by danielleh at 6:50 AM on September 11, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: McCormick used to have a version that was in a spice grinder that I LOVED--I kept one at my desk at work, and was bereft when I tried to get one for home and discovered that it had been discontinued.

I am refining my version of it at home. It certainly requires basil, a little oregano (which I don't love, personally), dried garlic, salt, some red pepper flakes, and fennel seeds. Definitely fennel seeds. I'm not far off, but I'm not quite there yet. I grind each batch with a mortar and pestle.

Good luck!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:06 PM on September 11, 2018

Best answer: Another vote for Penzey's. Their Tuscan Sunset is probably best, but they have a few Italian blends.
posted by apricot at 5:36 PM on September 11, 2018

PS: Follow Penzey's on Facebook or sign up for their emails! They are very anti Trump and have a lot of great specials, sometimes in response to Trump nonsense.
posted by apricot at 5:37 PM on September 11, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yes, Penzey’s pizza seasoning is the answer.
posted by wenestvedt at 3:10 AM on September 12, 2018

Response by poster: Thankyouthankyouthankyou everyone! I'm going to check out Penzey's and attempt something like Admiral Haddock's blend!

gods i love this site
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? at 10:00 PM on September 12, 2018