Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (2024)

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5 from 7 votes

by Lisa Longley

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posted: 08/19/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

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by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 08/19/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Jump to Recipe

This Homemade Old Bay Seasoning is easy to throw together! We have so many great recipes that uses this delicious seasoning mix.

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (2)
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

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!

Reader Review

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.

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (3)

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!
Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (4)
Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (5)

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.

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (6)

FAQ

Is Old Bay Seasoning spicy?

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.

How much Old Bay Seasoning should I use for shrimp?

Whether you are cooking shrimp or crab, the rule of thumb is 2 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning per pound of seafood.

Does Old Bay Seasoning go bad?

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.

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (7)

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

  1. Toss 1 pound of shrimp that has shells off but tails still on in 2 teaspoons of homemade Old Bay Seasoning.
  2. Bring 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar to a boil.
  3. Place the shrimp in a steaming basket over the boiling liquid (make sure it doesn’t touch the liquid).
  4. Cover and cook until the shrimp are tender, about 5 minutes.

Recipes that use Old Bay Seasoning

  • Crab Salad
  • Crab Dip
  • Shrimp Pasta Salad
  • Seafood Salad

If you make any of my recipes, leave me a comment letting me know what you think. I love hearing from you!

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (8)

5 from 7 votes

Old Bay Seasoning

Serves: 8 tablespoons

(tap # to scale)

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Total: 10 minutes minutes

This Homemade Old Bay Seasoning is easy to throw together! We have so many great recipes that uses this delicious seasoning mix.

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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.

Author: Lisa Longley

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (9)

did you make this

Old Bay Seasoning

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

you might also like . . .

  • Everything Bagel Seasoning
  • Hamburger Seasoning
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • Italian Seasoning

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (14)

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (15)

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Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (16)

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    LEAVE A COMMENT

  1. Judith says

    Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (17)
    Love your recipes! Thank you…

    Reply

    • Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (18)Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you are enjoying them!

      Reply

  2. Kathleen says

    Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (19)
    I made the Old Bay chicken wings last night. So easy and delicious! I think I’ll have to make more than 3 pounds next time. Wings were devoured very quickly!! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (20)Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy to hear they were a hit!

      Reply

  3. Karen Bernard says

    I want to use the Old Bay seasoning but I can’t have the spice what can you recommend?

    Reply

    • Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (21)Lisa Longley says

      Which spice can’t you have? Or do you mean that you can’t have spicy food? In the FAQ it talks about how to cut back on heat.

      Reply

older comments

Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I use as a substitute for Old Bay seasoning? ›

Celery salt and paprika are two of the main ingredients in Old Bay seasoning. If you happen to have these spices in your cupboard, then you have a good substitute. When substituting, mix 1/4 teaspoon of celery salt with 1/4 teaspoon of paprika. Use this for every 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning.

What gives Old Bay its unique flavor? ›

Most of the flavor comes from mustard, paprika and celery salt, along with mace, nutmeg, bay leaf, red pepper and cardamom, and while it's an obvious pairing with seafood, it's also a surprising twist on fried rice and chickpeas. Even now, I'm eating fistfuls of popcorn dusted with Old Bay.

What makes Old Bay seasoning so good? ›

It is the key ingredient that brings dishes to life with an extra kick of unique, bold flavor anchored in salt, celery seed, paprika and mustard. OLD BAY Seasoning's blend of 18 herbs and spices not only provides distinct flavor, it also adds excitement and zest to every moment. There truly is no substitute.

Are there bay leaves in Old Bay seasoning? ›

While the exact ingredients are not revealed on the label or the brand's website, Old Bay reportedly has a mix of 18 spices. It has a complex savory flavor, with bay leaf, celery salt, dry mustard, and pepper at the forefront. Paprika and various other spices add depth and make this a well-rounded seasoning.

Why is there no Old Bay Seasoning in stores? ›

Demand for Old Bay Seasoning is still so strong that McCormick is having a hard time keeping it in stock, the company's CEO says. "Oh, my gosh, the demand for Old Bay has been extraordinary, and we've been hard-pressed to keep up with it," Lawrence Kurzius told Yahoo Finance Live.

What happens if you use expired Old Bay Seasoning? ›

Dried herbs and spices don't truly expire or “go bad” in the traditional sense. When a spice is said to have gone bad, it simply means that it has lost most of its flavor, potency, and color. Fortunately, consuming a spice that has gone bad is unlikely to make you sick.

What is the main flavor of Old Bay seasoning? ›

OLD BAY® Seasoning delivers authentic, legendary flavor originating right from the Chesapeake Bay area: OLD BAY Seasoning features a premium blend of 18 herbs and spices including celery salt, red and black pepper and paprika to add beloved, unmatched taste that enhances any chef-inspired recipe.

Is there garlic or onion in Old Bay seasoning? ›

It also reveals that Old Bay does not contain onion, garlic, cumin, sesame, turmeric, sugar, starch, yeast, malt extracts, MSG, oregano, gluten, citrus, dairy, soy, tomato, or cilantro.

What state buys the most Old Bay? ›

Old Bay was originally introduced in Baltimore, Maryland over 75 years ago. It has been the major seasoning ingredient for Maryland crab and shrimp recipes for as long as I can remember.

Is there cinnamon in Old Bay? ›

Old Bay is a type of seasoning made from 18 different herbs and spices, including mustard, celery salt, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper, paprika, and bay leaves.

Does Old Bay go on burgers? ›

Old Bay Burgers are a twist on the classic burger, made Maryland-style featuring our favorite seasoning, Old Bay.

Which is better Old Bay or Cajun seasoning? ›

If you try them individually, you'll know the difference and can taste all of the different flavors that each presents. What is this? Cajun seasoning tends to lean spicier with the peppers, while Old Bay seasoning tends to lean a little more salty with the celery salt.

Is Lawry's similar to Old Bay? ›

What's the Difference Between Lawry's vs Old Bay? While both Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Old Bay Seasoning are versatile spice blends, Lawry's is known for its savory and tangy flavor, suitable for a variety of dishes.

What's Old Bay seasoning made of? ›

According to McCormick, Old Bay is a blend of 18 herbs and spices, making it versatile for use on fish, chicken, vegetables, and soup. The unique blend of spices includes (but is not limited to): celery seed, paprika, mustard, salt, red pepper, and black pepper.

Is paprika the same as Old Bay seasoning? ›

Old Bay seasoning is a mix of spices that originated in Maryland, containing celery salt, mustard powder, bay leaves, pepper, mace, and nutmeg, among other herbs, for an intense taste. Whereas paprika and Old Bay seasoning have distinct ingredients and flavors, they can both be used to add flavor to dishes.

Can I substitute Creole seasoning for Old Bay? ›

Creole seasoning can also be a good Old Bay substitute if needed. Cajun seasoning blends are also a good alternative to Creole seasoning if you're looking for a more comparable flavor profile and have that in your spice cabinet.

What kind of salt is in Old Bay seasoning? ›

The main flavor of Old Bay Seasoning is celery salt and paprika—a bit of smoke, a bit of sweet, and plenty salty. Although many people seem to be wishing for an Old Bay recipe without the salt, well, it's really hard to deliver on that one.

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