The classic Old Bay Seasoning is a flavorful blend of herbs and spices used to season seafood, roasted potatoes, popcorn, and cold salads like potato, egg, or tuna salad. While the exact recipe is proprietary, the key components are widely known and easily approximated at home.
If you’d like to make your own, see the recipe card below for a homemade Old Bay substitute, or read the list of alternative seasoning blends that work well in its place.
Keep reading to learn more about
- what Old Bay is,
- the main ingredients in Old Bay,
- the best substitutes for Old Bay Seasoning,
- how to use Old Bay,
- and a recipe for a homemade Old Bay substitute.
What is Old Bay?
Old Bay began in 1939 as “Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning,” created by the Baltimore Spice Company. The brand later became known as Old Bay and is now produced by McCormick & Company. Old Bay Classic Seafood Seasoning is a blend of 18 herbs and spices. The precise formula is a trade secret, but labels reveal key components such as celery salt (salt and celery seeds), spices that include red and black pepper, and paprika.
Older packaging and historical records mention other spices like bay leaves, mustard, cardamom, cloves, and ginger. The UK formulation lists 14 ingredients on the label—salt, sugar, paprika, mustard flour, ground celery seed, black pepper, cayenne, bay leaves, cloves, coriander seed, thyme, basil, nutmeg, rosemary, savory, and allspice—so regional versions can differ.
Old Bay Seasoning varieties
Beyond the Classic Seafood Seasoning, Old Bay is available in several variations to suit different tastes:
- Old Bay Classic Seafood Seasoning – the original savory blend used on seafood and many other dishes.
- Old Bay Hot Seasoning – similar to the classic with added heat.
- Old Bay With Garlic and Herb – a garlicky, herb-forward version.
- Old Bay With Lemon and Herb – includes lemon for bright, seafood-friendly flavor.
- Old Bay 30% Less Sodium – same blend with reduced salt.
- Old Bay Blackened Seasoning – a smokier, BBQ-style option with added sugar.
Main ingredients in Old Bay
The full list of Old Bay’s 18 ingredients is not public, but packaging and manufacturer statements confirm several key elements. US labels highlight celery salt, various spices including red and black pepper, and paprika. Historical packaging and ingredient lists refer to bay leaves, mustard, cardamom, cloves, and ginger. The UK version explicitly lists paprika, mustard flour, ground celery seed, black pepper, cayenne, bay leaves, cloves, coriander seed, thyme, basil, nutmeg, rosemary, savory, and allspice.
Many homemade and copycat recipes include additional notes such as garlic powder, onion powder, star anise, dill seed, fennel seed, and mustard seed. Red pepper flakes or cayenne are common replacements for the “red pepper” listed on US packaging.
The best substitutes for Old Bay Seasoning
If you can’t find Old Bay, here are several ready-made and homemade alternatives that capture similar savory, slightly spicy, and aromatic qualities. Note that Old Bay is typically salty, so when substituting with an unsalted blend, add salt or celery salt to taste—roughly 1 teaspoon of salt per 2 teaspoons of spice mix if needed.
1. Phillips Seafood Seasoning
A seafood seasoning with paprika, celery salt, pepper, allspice, mustard, and ginger. Use as a direct substitute.
2. Pacific Seafood Seasoning
Contains celery seed, white pepper, bay leaves, clove, sea salt, allspice, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika, and mustard powder. Use 1:1 for Old Bay.
3. Todd’s Dirt (Chesapeake Dirt)
An all-purpose Chesapeake-style seasoning that includes basil, oregano, thyme, salt, garlic, pepper, onion, rosemary, cilantro, and warming spices. A versatile direct substitute.
4. Crab Boil
Commercial crab boil blends vary but often include cayenne or red pepper, paprika, bay leaf, cloves, black pepper, thyme, mustard seed, coriander seed, dill, and allspice. Use in place of Old Bay for seafood boils and seasoning.
5. Pickling spice
Pickling spice typically contains mustard seed, allspice, coriander, cardamom, mace, cloves, ginger, chilies, black pepper, bay leaf, and cinnamon. Grind it finely and add 1 teaspoon salt or celery salt per 2 teaspoons of spice if the blend is unsalted.
6. Cajun seasoning
Cajun blends are pepper-forward with paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, black pepper, and oregano. If unsalted, add 1 teaspoon salt per 2 teaspoons of mix or use celery salt for a closer match.
7. Creole seasoning
Creole is typically herbier and less intensely spicy than Cajun, often containing paprika, onion and garlic powders, oregano, basil, thyme, black and white pepper, and cayenne. Many commercial brands contain salt and can be used 1:1; for unsalted blends, add salt or celery salt.
8. Chinese five-spice
Made from cinnamon, star anise, clove, Sichuan peppercorn, and fennel seed. To adapt it as an Old Bay substitute: mix 2 teaspoons five-spice with 1 teaspoon salt (or celery salt), ½ teaspoon paprika, and a pinch of cayenne.
9. French four-spice
Typically white pepper, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Combine 2 teaspoons four-spice with ½ teaspoon sweet paprika, a pinch of cayenne, and 1 teaspoon celery salt to approximate Old Bay.
10. Lebanese seven-spice (Baharat)
Common ingredients include cinnamon, ginger, allspice, black pepper, and cloves, with variations adding cardamom, coriander, cumin, or nutmeg. Add 1 teaspoon celery salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, and a pinch of cayenne per 2 teaspoons baharat to mimic Old Bay.
11. Ras el hanout
A North African blend often containing cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, coriander, and paprika. If unsalted, add 1 teaspoon celery salt per 2 teaspoons of ras el hanout.
12. Seasoning salt
Seasoning salts vary widely. Check for paprika, ground celery seed, mustard powder, cayenne, black pepper, and bay leaf; add any missing components and adjust salt to match Old Bay’s profile.
13. Two-ingredient Old Bay substitute: Celery Salt + Paprika
For a quick substitute, mix equal parts celery salt and sweet paprika. Example: 2 teaspoons celery salt + 2 teaspoons paprika = 4 teaspoons of a simple Old Bay-style blend. This is an easy, fast option when you don’t have a wide spice selection.
14. Homemade Old Bay substitute without a spice grinder
If you don’t have a grinder but have a stocked spice cabinet, combine these measured ground spices to make about three tablespoons of substitute:
- 1 tablespoon celery salt
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard (mustard powder)
- ½ teaspoon bay leaf powder (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pinches of ground nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon
15. The best Old Bay Seasoning substitute (requires spice grinder)
This homemade blend, ground until fine, most closely resembles Old Bay’s layered flavor. For about six tablespoons, combine and grind the following:
- 1 tablespoon celery salt (or 2 teaspoons celery seeds + 1 teaspoon salt)
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 4 dried bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne (or red pepper flakes)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 whole clove (or a pinch ground clove)
- Pinches of ground nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon
How to use Old Bay Seasoning
Although famous for seafood—shrimp boils, crab cakes, and crab legs—Old Bay is versatile and enhances many dishes. Here are easy ways to use it:
- Sprinkle over potato salad, scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, french fries, or popcorn.
- Rub on sweet potato wedges or use on grilled vegetables and corn.
- Rim a Bloody Mary glass with the seasoning.
- Mix into dips, sauces, mayonnaise, or compound butter; fold into egg salad or deviled egg filling.
Questions
Is Old Bay vegan?
Yes. Old Bay Seasoning contains celery salt, herbs, and spices and does not include animal-derived ingredients, making it suitable for vegan and vegetarian cooking.
Is Old Bay gluten-free?
Yes. The manufacturer states allergens such as gluten-containing grains would be declared on the label, and Old Bay Classic is considered gluten-free.
Does Old Bay contain sugar?
The US Old Bay Classic Seafood Seasoning does not contain sugar, according to manufacturer Q&A. However, some regional versions and specific varieties (for example, the UK label and certain Blackened blends) may include sugar, so always check the product label.
The best Old Bay Seasoning substitute
Equipment
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Spice grinder – see notes if you don’t have one
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon celery salt
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard (mustard powder)
- 4 bay leaves, dried
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (or red pepper flakes)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 clove (or a pinch of ground cloves)
- pinch of ground nutmeg
- pinch of ground allspice
- pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
-
Place all ingredients in a spice grinder and blitz until fine.
-
Store in an airtight container; it will keep up to a year.
Notes
- If you’re short on spices, use the two-ingredient celery salt + paprika substitute or a shop-bought alternative from the list above.
- If you have a full spice cabinet but no grinder, use the no-grinder substitute recipe earlier in the article.
- You can make celery salt by combining celery seeds and salt if you don’t have pre-made celery salt.
Related: Make your own celery salt from celery seeds or dehydrated celery leaves.
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