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Homemade Old Bay Seasoning Recipe

5 from 7 votes
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posted: 08/19/21

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

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 in a small jar

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.

overhead of a small blue dish with old bay seasoning ingredients separated by spice

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.

homemade old bay seasoning mixed together in a small blue dish

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 in a small jar

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

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 in a small jar
5 from 7 votes

Old Bay Seasoning

Serves: 8 tablespoons
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
This Homemade Old Bay Seasoning is easy to throw together! We have so many great recipes that uses this delicious seasoning mix.

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 in a small jar

did you make this

Old Bay Seasoning

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

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

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    Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you & seeing what you made!

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  1. Judith Fulton says

    5 stars
    What is a good recipe to use the Old Boy Seasoning on?

    • Lisa Longley says

      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.

  2. Denise Khorey-Harriman says

    Any suggestion how to make Old Bay hot sauce with your Old Bay seasoning recipe will be greatly appreciated please!

    • Lisa Longley says

      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.

  3. 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.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad to hear this!

  4. Ellie says

    5 stars
    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!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked this!

  5. Marie Davies says

    Thank you for this recipe. I will definitely make some !!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you enjoy it!

  6. 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!

    • Lisa Longley says

      We will add it to the list!

  7. jack harwood says

    i only have fresh bay leaf from my tree will that make a difference?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I would just let it dry before grinding it to add it to this recipe.

  8. 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.

    • Lisa Longley says

      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.

  9. Lola Bennet says

    5 stars
    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!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thank you so much for coming back to let me know!

  10. 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.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so sorry, I don’t. But I can add it to the list.

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