CROIX VALLEY: Italian Barbecue Booster | Italian Seasoning | 170g (6oz) shaker

Nonna's pantry, competition-tested

Italian Barbecue Booster takes the classic oregano-and-basil backbone of a red-sauce kitchen and gives it Croix Valley's competition-grade balance. It's built by a Hudson, Wisconsin family that's spent decades chasing flavour under pressure, and it shows in how evenly this blend seasons a whole tray rather than just the top layer. One shaker covers pasta night through to the barbecue.

The flavour

Dried oregano and basil open things up, herbaceous and slightly peppery. The middle brings a savoury, garlicky warmth with a touch of onion, rounding out into something closer to a good marinara than a straight herb mix. It finishes savoury and lingering, the kind of note that makes garlic bread taste like it came from somewhere better.

How to cook with it

• Stir generously through the sauce for a baked pasta before it goes in the oven — the herbs bloom properly with sustained heat.
• Butter sliced bread, dust heavily, and grill it cut-side down for garlic bread with real backbone.
• Rub it into chicken thighs under the skin before roasting so the flavour sits close to the meat, not just on the surface.
• Toss roast vegetables in oil and a solid shake before they go into a hot oven for a herb crust that holds.
• Whisk a pinch into olive oil and vinegar for an instant Italian-style salad dressing — no measuring spoons required.

In the shaker

It's a green-flecked, herb-heavy blend with visible oregano and basil leaf through a coarser, rustic grind. It doesn't pack down in the shaker, and because the herbs are the star, it's best added with a light hand early and topped up to taste rather than dumped all at once.

Ingredients & Dietary

Ingredients (from the brand's label): Spices, Salt, Granulated Garlic, Granulated Onion, Herbs, Sugar.

Dietary: Vegan and gluten free (brand claim) — always check the physical label.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Sold as a barbecue booster, this one's really a pantry double-agent — just as at home on a Tuesday pasta bake as it is on the grill. Add it early to sauces so the dried herbs get time to soften properly. Finish roast chicken with Heavenly Hell's peach and pecan glaze for a sweeter turn. If the table wants heat, drizzle Foo Chilli Company Nonna Piccante Chilli Oil over the garlic bread.

Questions answered

What does Italian Barbecue Booster taste like?

A savoury oregano-and-basil blend with garlic and onion notes — closer to a classic Italian herb mix than a typical American barbecue rub.

Can I use it on things other than the barbecue?

Yes — it's designed as an all-purpose seasoning, so it works well on pasta bakes, roast vegetables and garlic bread as much as anything off the grill.