This homemade Old Bay seasoning recipe is made with a blend of spices you likely already have on hand and offers that uniquely sweet, spicy, and smoky flavor. Once you make this, you’ll want to add a little dash to…well, everything! While Old Bay seasoning was originally touted as the perfect pairing for seafood, there are so many other ways to use it.
Depending on where you live, Old Bay Seasoning is likely either the most used spice mix in the cupboard or one you rarely have on hand. It’s super popular in the southern states and even parts of the Northeast. There are some places where you can find Old Bay fries on pretty much every menu! If you know, you know, and if you don’t, then let’s familiarize you. This seasoning blend is gold!
What’s in this Old Bay Seasoning recipe?
While the original Old Bay Seasoning is made with a proprietary blend of 18 herbs and spices, this copycat version is made with 14 herbs and spices you may already have on hand. You can find the exact amounts of each spice used in the recipe card below.
- Celery salt – It’s made with ground celery seeds mixed with salt and it’s easy to identify as one of the primary ingredients in the popular seasoning.
- Paprika – Another easy-to-identify spice in the mix! You can use all sweet paprika or a mixture of sweet and smoked paprika for added depth.
- Ground dry mustard – Adds a tangy, earthy flavor.
- Warm spices – The majority of Old Bay Seasoning is made up of a combination of small amounts of warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, coriander, and cardamom.
- Pepper – White pepper, black pepper, and cayenne pepper add some heat and bite to the seasoning mixture.
- Bay leaves – You grind your own dry bay leaves or just use ground bay leaves.
Ways To Use It
While it was originally paired with seafood, there are endless ways to use Old Bay Seasoning. I always add it to my crab cakes and, of course, it pairs well with any seafood boil or an onion boil! My boys love to swap the ranch seasoning for Old Bay in this oyster crackers recipe. And I think you can never go wrong with a little Old Bay seasoning in your Bloody Mary. Another fun option is to toss some fries in the seasoning and serve them with a side of ranch dressing. SO good!
Proper Storage
Store homemade Old Bay seasoning in an airtight jar alongside the rest of your spices in a cool dry place away from heat or moisture. While it will last for quite a while, the spice blend will have the best flavor if enjoyed within 3 months.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Old Bay Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 tablespoons celery salt
- 2 & 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika (or 2 tsp sweet and 1/2 tsp smoked)
- 1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 5 medium dry bay leaves (or 1 teaspoon ground bay leaves) – see note
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Whisk to thoroughly incorporate.
- Use as desired or transfer the spice blend to an airtight jar and store in a dark, cool place for later use. For optimal flavor use within 3 months.
- We love this seasoning blend with seafood, in soups, sprinkled on fries, and in a bloody mary!
