Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe (2024)

10 minutes

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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)

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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
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  • 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 does Old Bay seasoning have in it? ›

CELERY SALT (SALT, CELERY SEED), SPICES (INCLUDING RED PEPPER AND BLACK PEPPER), AND PAPRIKA.

Is there celery seed in Old Bay seasoning? ›

Within that unique blend of 18 herbs and spices lies a collaboration of complex flavor elements, just waiting for a chef to let them shine. For example, celery seed is a key flavor in OLD BAY that gives it a subtle earthy note.

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.

What is so special about Old Bay Seasoning? ›

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.

Does Old Bay Seasoning have cayenne pepper in it? ›

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.

What is the main flavor in Old Bay? ›

Old Bay differs a good deal from the classic blend spices for cajun seafood which are salt, cayenne (red pepper) and garlic. Old Bay majors on celery salt, bay leaves, red and black pepper, and adds cloves, allspice, ginger, mace, cardamon, cinnamon and paprika.

What is the difference between Old Bay seasoning and Cajun seasoning? ›

What's the Difference Between Old Bay and Cajun Seasoning? While the two include some of the same ingredients, this Old Bay replica uses more spices and has a bay leaf, celery salt, and mustard base. Cajun seasoning concentrates on paprika and is a little spicier because of the cayenne pepper.

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. In July 2020, shoppers were on the hunt for Old Bay. Fun fact: There's currently an Old Bay shortage?

Can Old Bay go bad? ›

It is best to follow the "Best By" dates on the products. If your product does not have a "Best By" date it is beyond our recommended shelf life. Old Bay Seasoning - 18 months.

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.

Who originally made Old Bay seasoning? ›

Old Bay was invented in 1940 by Gustav Brunn, a German Jewish refugee in Baltimore. Before immigrating to Maryland, Brunn was a successful spicemaker in Germany where he specialized in making blends for sausages. His business was booming until Hitler came to power in 1933.

What is the healthiest salt seasoning? ›

What makes it so good for you? Himalayan salt boasts all 84 essential trace elements which your body needs to function properly. Not only this, but it is known to promote stable blood sugar levels, reduce muscle cramp, and facilitate an optimal pH in your cells. It's no wonder it's so popular!

Does Old Bay have sugar in it? ›

OLD BAY Rub features the premium blend of herbs and spices including paprika, red and black pepper that you expect from OLD BAY, with the addition of brown sugar to compliment the big, savory flavor that's great in any rub application. OLD BAY Rub is kosher with no added MSG to deliver authentic, big flavor.

What seasoning tastes like Old Bay? ›

Chinese Five Spice. If you're looking for a spice blend that will give your food a similar flavor to Old Bay seasoning, try Chinese Five-spice. This blend typically contains star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel, and depending on the recipe, one of three other ingredients: Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, or white pepper.

Does Old Bay have shellfish in it? ›

This product is likely shellfish free.

Does Old Bay have seafood in it? ›

The ingredient list on an Old Bay Seasoning container is pretty simple: celery salt (salt and celery seed), spices (including red pepper and black pepper), and paprika. It's gluten free and vegan friendly, though as an additive to seafood and other meats, that might not be an issue for most.

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. In July 2020, shoppers were on the hunt for Old Bay. Fun fact: There's currently an Old Bay shortage?

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