This classic Seafood Seasoning recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor with homemade ease. Perfect for crab, fish, shrimp, and even veggies. It's similar to a homemade Old Bay Seasoning, but with a little more Cajun flair.
Savory, sweet, and slightly spicy, it gives seafood deep flavor and brings out its natural sweetness, making every bite memorable and oh-so-satisfying.
Seafood is a huge part of Southern cuisine. We host multiple crawfish boils yearly, and the pot usually gets spruced up with the addition of shrimp, crab, and, of course, all the veggies. This seafood boil seasoning is extremely versatile, working its magic on any and all seafood--just like our custom-blended shrimp seasoning, this recipe has been perfectly tweaked and balanced to enhance the flavor of seafood without overpowering it with salt or spice.
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Seafood Seasoning Ingredients: What They Bring to the Table
When it comes to the perfect seafood seasoning, balance is everything. Each ingredient has been carefully tested and measured to ensure just the right amount of flavor in every bite—nothing too bold, and certainly, nothing too bland. From the smoky warmth of paprika to the bright kick of mustardy zest, every spice plays a role in bringing out the best in your favorite seafood dishes.
Sweet + Savory | Paprika adds a subtle sweetness to this seafood seasoning. Onion and garlic powder add great depth of flavor and savory notes. Kosher salt brings everything together and enhances the flavor of the entire blend.
Warmth | You don't know it's there until it's missing. While spices like allspice, coriander, ginger, and clove might seem like they belong more in a gingerbread recipe, these spices actually add a great deal of flavor to the classic flavor of seafood seasoning. They enhance the natural sweetness of seafood, deepening its flavor without overpowering it, while amplifying freshness.
Zest | Mustard powder is one of my favorite ingredients for adding zing to a spice blend. Its tangy kick cuts through rich flavors, giving every bite a pop of flavor.
Heat | Similar to blackened seasoning (like you would use on blackened shrimp), a blend of black pepper and cayenne gives this seafood boil seasoning recipe a layered spice level and the perfect touch of heat. Black pepper is warm and earthy, while cayenne comes locked and loaded with bright, sharp heat--a little goes a long way.
Coastal Flavors | If you've ever wondered what it is about Old Bay Seasoning that gives your seafood that fresh-off-the-boat vibe, thank the bay leaf and celery seed. Both ingredients come locked and loaded with aromatic, herbal flavors that bring to mind a slow, relaxing inhale of salty, briny sea air.
How Make Seafood Seasoning
If using ground bay leaves, add all of the ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine.
If using whole bay leaves, add all of the ingredients to a spice grinder (or crush them as fine as possible before adding to the blend). Add remaining ingredients to the spice grinder and blend until everything is well combined.
A Note on Bay Leaves
I could not find ground bay leaves at my local grocery store, but since this ingredient adds great coastal vibes to seafood seasoning, I went the extra mile and pulled out the spice grinder. We love this tool and use it most often for grinding fresh peppercorns for peppercorn sauce or to season steaks. It worked wonders for bringing this seasoning together.
If you don't have a spice grinder, sub in a ½ teaspoon of ground bay leaves. You will likely be able to find it at Walmart and most definitely on Amazon.
If you don't have a spice grinder and can't get hold of ground bay leaves, don't worry. Your homemade seafood seasoning will still be delicious!
How to Use Seafood Seasoning
Use this seafood seasoning in place of any recipe that calls for Old Bay. (Crab cake sandwiches, steamed shrimp, and air fryer crab cakes all call for Old Bay! )
For a Seafood Boil | Use 3-4 tablespoons of seasoning per gallon of boiling water. If you'd like to amplify the flavor of your boiling liquid even more, add in lemon slices, halved garlic heads, and chunks of onion. You can also sprinkle your cooked seafood with this seasoning before serving for an extra flavorful touch.
For Shrimp or Fish | Use 1 tablespoon of seafood seasoning per pound of fish or shrimp. For shrimp, place the shrimp in a bowl and drizzle with a tablespoon or 2 of cooking oil. Then, sprinkle with the seasoning and toss to combine. For fish, pat dry with a paper towel and drizzle with oil. Then, rub the seasoning directly onto fillets before cooking.
5 More Seafood Recipes to Make ASAP
Seafood Seasoning
Ingredients
- ¾ teaspoon ground bay leaves (or grind 3 whole, dried bay leaves)
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- If using whole bay leaves, add all of the spices (including the whole bay leaves) to a spice grinder. Grind until well combined and the bay leaves are finely ground.
- If using ground bay leaf, add all of the ingredients to a bowl, and mix to combine.
- Store in a an airtight container (preferably glass) in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
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