This Homemade Old Bay Seasoning is easy to throw together! We have so many great recipes that uses this delicious seasoning mix.
A few years ago, I went to Maryland and had the most amazing dinner. Small blue crabs that we cracked and ate at the table. They were coated in Old Bay Seasoning. We ate with our hands and the seasoning got on every piece of everything as we were eating in the most delicious way.
If you have never cooked with Old Bay Seasoning, it’s a must. This seasoning mix has been around for ages and is easy to pick up in U.S. grocery stores. We use it in a lot of our recipes. Recently we’ve gotten a lot of requests for a homemade version for those overseas or for people who need to control the exact amount of sodium in their diet.
This homemade Old Bay Seasoning went through several rounds of testing after lots of internet sleuthing to determine exactly what is in Old Bay Seaosning. My husband and I were standing at the counter tasting the store bought version and then making tweaks to ours until we got a version that was just right!
I think you will be really happy with what we’ve come up with!
Thank you for this recipe. After taste-testing five Old Bay recipes, this was our favorite – not too spicy, and not too salty. My daughter actually preferred yours to McCormick’s Old Bay. Well done!
What is Old Bay Seasoning?
Old Bay Seasoning is a mix of herbs and spices that was created in Baltimore, Maryland in the late 1930s. It’s name comes from a passenger ship line, Old Bay Line.
Old Bay Seasoning Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom of the post to get the measurements of the different spices.
- Celery Salt
- Cayenne Pepper
- Paprika
- Ground Bay Leaves (read more on this below)
- Black Pepper
- Ground Mustard
- Ground Ginger
- Ground Cloves
- Cardamom
- Coriander
- Cinnamon – yes! Cinnamon!
Ground Bay Leaves
A key to this recipe is bay leaves. It is in the original and you don’t want to leave it out of the homemade version.
Most often when we cook with bay leaves, we put the entire leaf into a pot of soup while it is cooking and then remove them at the end. They leave their great flavor behind.
For this recipe, using ground bay is essential. You can either purchase it (we found this great brand online) or you can grind it yourself. Use a coffee grinder to grind the leaves fine and then use a metal sieve to filter out the stems and bigger pieces.
How to Make Old Bay Seasoning
To make Old Bay Seasoning, combine all the ingredients and mix them very well. Store the spice mix in a dry cool place for up to 6 months.
FAQ
Yes! This seasoning mix has a kick to it. You can control that by putting in less black pepper, less cayenne pepper, or less of both.
Whether you are cooking shrimp or crab, the rule of thumb is 2 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning per pound of seafood.
Any seasoning mix can lose its flavor profile over time. If you make this with fresh dried herbs, it will last for at least 6 months.
Using Old Bay Seasoning
Old Bay Seasoning for Crab
After making crab, coat it in Old Bay Seasoning. For every pound of crab you will need 2 teaspoons of this Old Bay Seasoning recipe.
Old Bay Seasoning for Steamed Shrimp
- Toss 1 pound of shrimp that has shells off but tails still on in 2 teaspoons of homemade Old Bay Seasoning.
- Bring 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar to a boil.
- Place the shrimp in a steaming basket over the boiling liquid (make sure it doesn’t touch the liquid).
- Cover and cook until the shrimp are tender, about 5 minutes.
Recipes that use Old Bay Seasoning
If you make any of my recipes, leave me a comment letting me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Old Bay Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons celery salt
- 4 teaspoons cayanne pepper
- 4 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground bay leaves read more about this here
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.
Judith Fulton says
What is a good recipe to use the Old Boy Seasoning on?
I’m sorry I’m just seeing this! There is a section right above the recipe card that gives a lot of great ways to use it.
Denise Khorey-Harriman says
Any suggestion how to make Old Bay hot sauce with your Old Bay seasoning recipe will be greatly appreciated please!
I think what I would do is tweak a recipe for Buffalo Sauce. I would use hot sauce, heat it with butter, and then whisk in Old Bay Seasoning to taste. But I’ve never had Old Bay hot sauce. That is just my best guess.
Becky says
Hi, I made this and I loved it! I’ll never buy it in tbe store again. If you are feeling adventurous, I would love a copycat version of Obrykis seafood seasoning. I bought some YEARS ago on a trip to tbe east coast and loved it. Thank you so much for your delicious recipes. I appreciate you.
I’m so glad to hear this!
Ellie says
I liked this. It wasn’t an exact match to old bay but it was great! If you can’t find or buy old bay easily definitely use this!
I’m so glad you liked this!
Marie Davies says
Thank you for this recipe. I will definitely make some !!!
I hope you enjoy it!
Becky says
Hi Lisa! I loved this recipe and will continue to make it. If you feel inspired, I would love and be thankful for a home made version of Obryckis seafood seasoning. I bought some years ago in NYC. I had never had it before and I loved it. Im not sure if you’ve had it but its good. I think its claim to fame is boiled crab but any seafood really. Thanks for all the great recipes and inspiration. I love your site!
We will add it to the list!
jack harwood says
i only have fresh bay leaf from my tree will that make a difference?
I would just let it dry before grinding it to add it to this recipe.
Norine says
Can you please tell me how much of each ingredient to put into my blend? I’m excited to try this salad with my granddaughter who doesn’t eat meat but will eat seafood.
Hi Norine! I you click the blue circle at the top of the post that says “jump to the recipe” it will take you to the recipe card that lists the amounts.
Lola Bennet says
Thank you for this recipe; after taste-testing five Old Bay recipes, this was our favorite: not too spicy, and not too salty. My daughter actually preferred yours to McCormick’s Old Bay. well done!
Thank you so much for coming back to let me know!
Fran g. says
I love the recipes for the seasoning, do you have one for all purpose seasoning? Would like to have it, as I can’t find it anywhere. Thanks for all your contents.
I’m so sorry, I don’t. But I can add it to the list.