• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggie Desserts
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegan Cake and Desserts
    • Vegan Dinner
    • Vegan Breakfast
    • Vegan Guides
  • Cookbook
    • About My Cookbook
    • Buy Veggie Desserts + Cakes
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Press
    • Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram Posts
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About Me
  • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Cookbook
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Condiments

    Homemade Old Bay Seasoning

    Published: Feb 13, 2020 · Modified: Jan 19, 2022 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    Jar of old bay spice mix.
    A dish of old bay seasoning with a spoon.

    This homemade Old Bay seasoning mix is a must for every pantry! The versatile blend of celery salt, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and more is perfect for jazzing up everything from marinades to salads. Ready in just 5 minutes.

    A teaspoon of homemade Old Bay seasoning mix.

    What is Old Bay Seasoning?

    You'll recognize it from the iconic yellow, blue and red packaging, but what exactly is it?

    Old Bay Seasoning was created by McCormick and Company in Baltimore, Maryland, back in the 1930s as a seafood seasoning. It's been popular in that State and all across the US ever since.

    It is a versatile blend of herbs and spices, including celery salt, black pepper and paprika, that goes with many dishes!

    A spoon in a jar of homemade copycat Old Bay Seasoning mix recipe

    Ingredients

    You only need simple ingredients for this incredible Old Bay seasoning recipe mix, and you probably have them all in your spice rack already!

    • Celery salt - this is a MUST for this seasoning
    • Paprika - both sweet and smoked work well. Use your favorite.
    • Ground black pepper - I like to use freshly ground, rather than pre-ground which is less fresh-tasting and is more powdery.
    • Mustard powder
    • Cayenne pepper
    • Cinnamon
    • Ground nutmeg
    • Ground ginger

    How to make Old Bay Seasoning

    This is a simple dump and stir recipe. Nothing else is involved!

    Just measure all the ingredients into a bowl, stir and store in an airtight container.

    You don't need a spice grinder or any fancy equipment. Yay!

    How much does the recipe make?

    This recipe makes about 2 tablespoons. It's so easy to make that I tend to make it up freshly all the time, rather than storing it.

    If you're going to use a lot for a cookout or recipe, then scale up the recipe - just double or triple the ingredients.

    You can also make a huge batch and give it as edible gifts! Anyone will love to receive it.

    All the ingredients for copycat homemade Old Bay seasoning recipe

    Spice Mixes

    It's amazing how just putting simple spices together in different combinations can create incredible new flavors.

    I like to keep lots of jars of homemade spice mixes in my pantry - ready to add tons of flavor to dishes.

    From Mexican fajita seasoning and Middle Eastern spice mixes to this tasty classic American Old Bay Seasoning spice mix. If you're looking for another classic, try Stone House Seasoning.

    You'll also love my homemade Baharat - a Middle Eastern spice blend and Homemade Ranch Seasoning.

    How to use Old Bay Seasoning

    This is one of those tasty spice mixes that you can put on loads of dishes. It's often used on meat, poultry and seafood, but it's also great on tofu and veggies!

    The original Old Bay seasoning started as a seafood seasoning, but soon it became popular for many other uses. Get creative with it!

    • Add a teaspoon to a little oil or water and it makes a great marinade.
    • Sprinkle it onto food before cooking or use it in the place of salt to season dishes.
    • Stir a little into mashed potatoes.
    • Season homemade fries or wedges.
    • Use on kebabs for the barbecue.
    • Add to dips and hummus.
    • Sprinkled on popcorn.
    • And anything else you can think of!
    A vintage bowl with old bay spice mix recipe in it and a spoon

    Recipe suggestions

    There are sooo many recipes that will benefit from a little Old Bay seasoning mix. Try these!
    Parmentier Potatoes
    Green Beans Almondine
    Baby Hasselback Potatoes
    Lentil Soup
    Easy Tomato Soup

    Old Bay is also a great way to get a seafood sort of flavor into Vegan Fish Recipes.

    Homemade condiments

    Looking for more homemade condiments? Try these!

    Ketchup Recipe
    Sriracha Aioli
    Tartar Sauce
    Zax Sauce
    Cane's Sauce Recipe
    Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
    Bang Bang Sauce

    Storage

    Store your homemade Old Bay spice mix in a clean airtight container in a cool place. The cupboard or pantry is perfect.

    Close up of a spoon of homemade Old Bay Seasoning spice mix.

    Recipe

    Did you make this Old Bay seasoning recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment and star rating below and share a picture with the hashtag #veggiedesserts. I love seeing your recreations of my vegetarian and vegan recipes.

    Follow me on Instagram * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest * Youtube

    A teaspoon of homemade Old Bay seasoning mix.

    Old Bay Seasoning

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    This homemade Old Bay Seasoning recipe jazzes up many dishes! The versatile spice mix has celery salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne and more.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    SaveSaved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Condiments
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20
    Calories 1 kcal

    Equipment

    • Bowl
    • Jar or container

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon Celery Salt
    • 2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika
    • 1½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Mustard powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne
    • pinch Ground Cinnamon
    • pinch Ground Nutmeg
    • pinch Ground Ginger

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine.
    • Store in an airtight container in a cool place.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 349mgPotassium: 5mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 109IUIron: 1mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

    More Condiment Recipes

    • Cheese Sauce
    • Easy Refried Beans
    • Frozen Berry Compote
    • Cherry Syrup
    • Tweet
    • Share
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jacqueline

      April 13, 2020 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      Mmmmm, I love the idea of adding it to mashed potatoes or hummus. It adds so much flavour to dishes.

      Reply
    2. Tamara J.

      February 13, 2020 at 2:39 pm

      5 stars
      This is an awesome recipe! I’ve been using a lot of Old Bay seasoning lately for my garlic butter seafood boil. As you know, it can be a bit pricey. I’m definitely bookmarking this to make in the near future!

      Reply
    3. Alison

      February 13, 2020 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      I've got all these spices at home, and now I can make my own Old Bay Seasoning. So easy to do!

      Reply
    4. Demeter

      February 13, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      5 stars
      My husband is OBSESSED with Old Bay seasoning. He loves it on almost everything. So glad I can make our own now, thanks!

      Reply
    5. Danielle

      February 13, 2020 at 11:54 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea! I love old bay seasoning but never thought to make it myself. Can't wait to try it!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me
    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press
    • Veggie Desserts Cookbook

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for newsletter updates

    Disclaimers

    • Disclosures & Affiliate Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Kate Hackworthy / Veggie Desserts