How to Use Herbes de Provence in Everyday Cooking
By Red Stick Spice Company | Published: 2026-10-26
Category: How-to Guides
Learn simple, practical ways to cook with herbes de Provence—from roast chicken to roasted vegetables. This salt-free French herb blend adds authentic flavor without extra sodium.
Quick answer
Use herbes de Provence as a dry rub for chicken before roasting, stir it into olive oil for bread dipping, or sprinkle it over vegetables before grilling—it's salt-free, so you control the sodium.
Why this blend works for everyday meals
Herbes de Provence is a salt-free mixture of summer herbs common to southern France—think thyme, rosemary, marjoram, and savory. Because it has no salt, you can add it to almost any dish without worrying about over-seasoning, then adjust salt separately. This makes it especially useful for low-sodium cooking or for recipes where you want the herb flavor to shine without competing saltiness.
One common mistake is treating it like a finishing salt or adding it too late. The herbs need heat to release their oils, so apply them before or during cooking for the best aroma.
How to cook with herbes de Provence
- 1. Rub onto chicken before roasting: Pat chicken pieces dry, then coat lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle 1–2 teaspoons of herbes de Provence per pound, rubbing it into the skin. Roast at 400°F until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Don't skip the oil—it helps the herbs stick and prevents burning.
- 2. Mix with olive oil for bread dipping: Combine 1 teaspoon of herbes de Provence with 3 tablespoons of good olive oil and a pinch of salt. Let it sit for 5 minutes so the herbs soften. Serve with crusty bread. Use a shallow dish so the herbs stay suspended in the oil rather than sinking to the bottom.
- 3. Sprinkle on vegetables before grilling: Toss sliced zucchini, bell peppers, or eggplant with olive oil and 1–2 teaspoons of herbes de Provence. Grill over medium heat until tender and lightly charred, about 4–5 minutes per side. Add the herbs before grilling, not after—the heat releases their flavor. Avoid adding extra salt until after grilling since the herbs are salt-free.
Featured product
- Herbes de Provence: Hand-blended at Red Stick and part of our French Herb Blend collection, this mixture of summer herbs is common to southern France. It is salt-free and available in a 1/2-ounce size. Because it's salt-free, you can use it generously on chicken, vegetables, or bread without over-salting—perfect for everyday cooking where you control the salt level.
Herbes de Provence
