Last Updated on July 27, 2023 by Toya
Can’t find dill or don’t like the taste? This list of ways to substitute for dill weed is sure to come in handy for you! The list outlines 21 dill substitute options that actually work and are easy to find!
Dill is a delicate herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. This herb has many names including dill, dill leaves, dill weed, and sometimes baby dill, and can be identified by its thin, feathery, threadlike green leaves.
This herb has a flavor that is delicately grassy with hints of citrus and anise and is usually used in seafood recipes, pickles, soups, homemade ranch dressing, salads, lamb, eggs, and uses for garnishing.
And, while it isn’t the easiest herb to replace – I recommend waiting until you have it if it is the star ingredient of a particular dish, there are a few good alternatives worth looking into.
What are the best dill substitutes?
I’m sharing the best substitutes for fresh dill, dried dill, and dill seeds. These include:
- Dried dill
- Fennel
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Parsley
- Basil
- Chervil
- Bay leaves
- Anise hyssop
- Chives
- Fresh dill
- Homemade dried dill
- Dried tarragon
- Dried thyme
- Dried fennel
- Dill Pollen
- Deliciously dill by spice hunter
- Caraway seeds
- Fennel seeds
- Coriander seeds
- Celery seeds
- Dill Pollen
- Deliciously dill by spice hunter
I’ll discuss each of these dill alternatives in more detail below, where I’ll also include the appropriate substitute ratios for each and the recipes they work in.
Best fresh dill substitute options
Substituting dried dill for fresh dill
If you don’t have fresh dill on hand, dried dill makes an excellent substitute. In fact, dried dill can be used in place of fresh dill in any recipe including eggs, salmon, salads, homemade dill pickles, homemade pickled eggs, etc.
Dried dill can be found in the spice aisle of most grocery stores.
You can use less dried dill to substitute for fresh dill or use it at a 1:3 ratio. That is if a recipe calls for a specific quantity of fresh dill, use 3x less dried dill in the recipe for an effective fresh dill substitution.
For example, if you’re a making baked salmon recipe that calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh dill, use 1 teaspoon of dried dill to replace 1 tablespoon of fresh dill in that recipe.
Also, check out other great dill substitutes for salmon here.
Fennel
Another great substitute for dill is fresh fennel fronds. This herb is aromatic like dill and has an anise-licorice-like flavor. It also has a similar appearance to dill weeds which will help with visual appeal.
Use fennel to replace dill in seafood dishes, meat dishes, soups, vegetables, salads, and garnishment as a 1:1 substitute ratio.
As an example, use 1 tablespoon of fresh fennel for every tablespoon of fresh dill needed in a recipe.
Tarragon
Tarragon can also be used as a substitute for dill weed in many dishes. Tarragon has a pungent licorice flavor that works well in recipes like fish, tuna, eggs, salad dressings, chicken, and more.
It is best used as a good dill weed substitute in dishes where dill is not the main ingredient with a 1:1 conversion ratio.
That means you can use 1 tablespoon of fresh tarragon for every tablespoon of fresh dill a recipe calls for.
Thyme
Another good substitute for dill is thyme. Thyme has a flavor that is earthy, sharp, and minty with hints of lemon.
Unlike dill, thyme can hold up to heat, so it works great in braises, sauces, and stews as a dill replacement. It also works in marinades and roasted vegetables.
I wouldn’t use thyme to substitute dill in recipes where dill is the star ingredient like a creamy potato dill soup or a dill sauce for example. But, it would work well in other recipes where the flavor of dill doesn’t need to be featured prominently.
Use a pinch of thyme then add more to the dish as needed.
Rosemary
Rosemary is another herb that will make a good substitution for dill. The rosemary herb has a woodsy, lemon-pine flavor that can sub for dill in lamb recipes, sauces, vegetables, salads, stews, and more.
In fact, rosemary is a great choice as a dill alternative if dill is not a prominent ingredient in the recipe.
Use about half the amount of rosemary to replace the amount of dill a dish calls for.
Parsley
Use parsley to substitute for dill only in recipes where dill weed is not the main ingredient. Parsley is also great for use as a garnish in place of dill.
Use 1 tablespoon of parsley to replace 1 tablespoon of dill
Basil
Basil can also be used as a substitute, but, only in dishes where dill is not the main ingredient. Use basil as an alternative to dill in recipes like soups, sauces, pasta, and even for garnish.
Chervil
Chervil is an herb with a mild anise flavor and a unique tangy flavor. Therefore, in a pinch, it is a good dill alternative in fish dishes and sauces.
Bay leaves
Most people have bay leaves in their kitchen which is a good thing since bay leaves are an excellent dill substitute due to their minty, almost piney flavor. Bay leaves are best used in hot recipes like soups, and sauces since their flavors really come out when heated.
Anise hyssop
This herb is used more often in desserts and other sweet recipes. However, the leaves and flowers of anise hyssop have a lemon-like flavor with hints of licorice and mint that will work well to replace dill in lamb and pork dishes.
Chives
Flavorwise, chives taste like garlic and onions. However, because of its appearance and the fact that it adds a nice brightness to the dish, it can act as an excellent 1:1 substitute for dill as a garnish.
Dry dill substitute options
Fresh dill
One of the best substitutes for dried dill is fresh dill. This is so because fresh dill will effectively replace the flavor of dried dill and it can be used in pretty much all recipes that call for dried dill like dips, marinades, potato salads, etc as a 1:3 ratio.
That is, if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of dried dill, replace this with 1 tablespoon of fresh dill.
Homemade dried dill from fresh
If a recipe calls for dried dill and you have fresh, you can easily dry your own dill. Simply place it in a dehydrator or oven and let that moisture evaporate. Then crumble, store in a jar, and use this homemade dried dill substitute just like you’d use store-bought dried dill as a 1:1 ratio. It can work in all recipes.
Dried tarragon
If you have it, dried tarragon is a suitable substitute for dried dill. Use dried tarragon in any recipe that calls for dried dill as long as dill is not a prominent ingredient in the said dish. A 1:1 substitute ratio is ideal.
Dried thyme
Like dried tarragon, dried thyme can also be used as a dry dill substitute especially if dill is not the star ingredient in the dish. Use less thyme to start, then adjust the amount as desired.
Dried fennel
Dried fennel is another good choice if you want to replace dried dill in a recipe at a 1:1 ratio.
Deliciously dill by spice hunter
Deliciously dill by spice hunter is a blend of ingredients including onion, dill, lemon peel, ginger, garlic, and chives. This blend is salt-free and can easily enhance the flavor of dips, seafood, fish, pork, lamb, salmon, eggs, and more in the absence of fresh or dried dill. You can grab this spice on amazon at a very reasonable price to ensure that you always have a dill weed substitute handy.
Dill pollen
Most people don’t even know this spice exists but if you’re out of dill, or want to keep a great dill alternative on hand for emergencies, dill pollen is your best bet. It is an excellent dill sub for dried dill and dill seeds. Dill pollen is a yellow-green pollen collected from dill plants. It works because it has a very concentrated, bittersweet dill flavor with hints of licorice, citrus, mint, and floral finish that pairs well with seafood like salmon, cream sauces, vegetables, salads, and more! A little goes a loooong way with this one so use it sparingly.
Substitutes for dill seeds
If you have a recipe that calls for dill seeds, here are the best dill seed substitutes:
Caraway seeds
These seeds have a strong flavor that is similar to that of dill seeds and anise and therefore make a great substitute for dill spice with a 1:1 substitution. For example, use 1 teaspoon of caraway seeds as a substitute for 1 teaspoon of dill seeds.
Fennel seeds
Like caraway seeds, fennel seeds can be used as an alternative to dill seeds. Fennel seeds have a light anise-like flavor that works well in many different dishes like soups, sauces, fish dishes, potato dishes, lamb dishes, and even pickles at a 1:1 substitute ratio!
Coriander seeds
Coriander seeds can also be used as a substitute for dill seeds. Use coriander seeds to replace dill seeds in marinades, soups, and even stews.
Celery seeds
Celery seeds can also act as a stand-in for dill seeds in fish dishes, potato dishes, eggs, chicken dishes, brines, marinades, pickles, and even vegetable juices. Celery seeds have a strong almost bitter flavor that works well as a dill spice substitute at a 1:1 ratio.
Use 1 teaspoon of celery seeds to replace 1 teaspoon of dill seeds.
FAQs about dill weed
Can I use pickle juice instead of dill?
No. While dill flavor is used in making pickle juice, there are also other ingredients like water, vinegar, and salt in the pickle juice. Therefore, the flavor of pickle juice will not effectively replace the flavor of dill in a dish.
What is the conversion of ¼ cup of fresh dill to dried dill?
A good conversion for fresh dill to dried dill is a 3:1 ratio. Therefore, to replace ¼ cup of fresh dill with dried dill, you will need 1.3 tablespoons of dried dill.
Keto chicken salad with boiled eggs
21 Best Dill Substitute Options That Work In A Pinch
21 best dill substitute ideas including + a very simple method for making homemade dried dill to store for later if you find yourself with lots of fresh dill!
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of fresh dill
Instructions
Air drying
- Wash the fresh dill, then gather them into a bundle and tie the stems securely together with some string or a rubber band. Like this:
- Find a dark, dry, well-ventilated area and hang the bundle of dill there.
- It will take about 2 weeks for the dill to dry completely. Once dried, remove the leaves from the stem and store them in an air-tight container or some spice jars.
Oven drying
- Preheat your oven to the lowest possible setting.
- Wash and dry the dill using paper towels to get them ready for the baking sheet. Lay some parchment paper or a nonstick silicone mat on the baking sheet.
- Evenly spread the dill on the lined baking sheet.
- Place in the oven for 20 minutes. Check on the dill. If it is really dry and crumbly, then take it out. If not, add an additional 10 minutes.
- Pull the baking tray out of the oven, then remove the dill leaves from the stems and place your oven-dried dill in a spice jar or air-tight container.