Old Bay Seasoning
On January 10, 2025
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Bring a little classic Chesapeake flavor to your BBQ seafood with my Homemade Old Bay-style Seasoning, made from staple items in just minutes. From smoked crab legs to grilled shrimp, you’ll love using this spice blend.
Homemade Old Bay-Style Seasoning
With this Old Bay Seasoning, you can take your smoked and grilled seafood from simple to spectacular. This one-of-a-kind blend combines the essential flavors of bay leaves and celery with a mix of warming spices and herbs. Each ingredient helps to bring that classic, Maryland-inspired flavor to your backyard menu. Use this seasoning to amp up the flavor of your crab, shrimp, lobster, and so much more. If you’re ready to add this seafood favorite to your seasoning arsenal, let’s get started.
What is Old Bay seasoning?
Old Bay seasoning originated in Baltimore, Maryland in 1939. where it first became famous when used with steamed crabs. This blend combines celery salt with a complex mixture of herbs and spices. While the original recipe remains a closely guarded secret, I think this homemade version captures the essential flavors that keep Old Bay a seafood staple.
Ingredients for this Recipe
You’ll be happy to know this Old Bay seasoning uses mostly common ingredients you likely have on hand already. While the original recipe is famously secret, this homemade version captures that distinctive flavor through a balance of spices. Here’s what I use for this blend:
- Celery salt serves as the base of your blend, bringing both saltiness and unique celery notes essential for that Old Bay flavor profile.
- Smoked paprika adds rich color and a subtle smokiness that enhances anything you’re cooking, especially seafood.
- Black pepper provides a classic warmth that works alongside the other spices. I personally think fresh ground is best, but pre-ground works just fine.
- Cayenne pepper brings just enough heat to wake up your taste buds without overwhelming the other flavors. You can adjust this up or down based on your heat preference.
- Ground bay leaves contribute an herbal note that gives this seasoning its name and signature taste. While whole bay leaves are more common, I like the ground version for a more even blend.
- White pepper adds a different kind of heat that complements the black pepper beautifully. It also brings an earthy flavor you won’t get from black pepper alone.
- Ground mustard powder provides a subtle tang, which is a welcome addition to any seafood dish.
- Warming spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom help round out your blend by balancing out the stronger flavors.
How to Make Old Bay Seasoning
Creating your own Old Bay-style seasoning at home is super simple. Just follow these easy steps for a perfect blend your family will love:
- Make the seasoning. First, combine all your ingredients in a small bowl. The key to a solid blend is making sure everything is evenly mixed, so use a whisk or fork to break up any clumps. Celery salt tends to clump, so pay special attention to it when stirring. If you start with whole bay leaves, grind 1-2 leaves with a mortar and pestle before adding them.
- Use or store. Your seasoning is ready to use immediately on your favorite seafood dishes. Any unused seasoning stores easily for future use, which you can learn about it the storage section below.
Ways to Use Your Old Bay Seasoning
While your Old Bay-style seasoning is famously great on seafood, its versatility might surprise you. Traditional seafood is an obvious must with your Old Bay. It’s amazing on shellfish, like shrimp, crab, and lobster. My family loves using this blend for crab boils as well. Smoked fish takes on new life with a sprinkle of this stuff, or you can upgrade your grilled veggies. You can even season chicken or pork with it for a surprising but delicious twist on your usual protein. It’s your seasoning, so use in however you enjoy it most.
Storage and Shelf Life
You can make your Old Bay Seasoning ahead of time, so you have it on hand whenever that seafood urge kicks in. To keep your blend fresh and flavorful, store it in a glass spice jar or other airtight container. When stored properly in your pantry or spice rack, this blend will maintain its flavor for up to 6 months. After that, while it’s still safe to use, you might want to mix up a fresh batch to ensure you’re getting all those deep flavors in every bite.
More Seasoning Recipes
After you get your first bite of shrimp or crab seasoned with the Old Bay-style seasoning you made yourself, you’ll be hooked. The good news is creating your own blends at home is super fun and simple. I’ve got a class on how to make your own sauces, rubs, and seasonings right at home over at The Grill Squad, if you want to learn more. In the meantime, here are some of my most popular (and flavorful) seasoning recipes for you to try next:
Old Bay Seasoning Recipe
Bring that classic seafood flavor home with this Old Bay-style seasoning blend. After you’ve made your first batch, don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating and tell me in the comments how you used yours. You can share your Old Bay creations on Instagram and Facebook by tagging @heygrillhey. We all get inspired to get cooking, and you get to feel like a Backyard BBQ Hero.
Homemade Old Bay Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon celery salt
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
Instructions
- Make the seasoning. Combine all the ingredients for your seasoning in a small bowl. Mix together using a whisk or fork to ensure there are no clumps. If you have whole bay leaves, you can grind 1-2 with a mortar and pestle.1 Tablespoon celery salt, 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon ground bay leaves, ¼ teaspoon white pepper, ¼ teaspoon ground mustard powder, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger, ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- Use or store. Use your seasoning immediately on crab, lobster, and all kinds of seafood. Store any unused seasoning in a glass spice jar for up to 6 months for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
