11 Old Bay Seasoning Substitutes

If you’re making a seafood recipe that calls for Old Bay seasoning, crab boil is most likely the best alternative. It’s tailor made for bringing heaps of flavor to the likes of crab, shrimp, lobster, crawfish and all types of fish. Basically, if it’s from the sea, crab boil is the way to go.

The store bought stuff is made from seven different ingredients, including dill, cayenne pepper, allspice, cilantro seeds, bay leaves and mustard seed. If you can, I recommend getting hold of whole seeds and grinding them in a pestle and mortar for that wonderful aroma.

If you want to get closer to replicating that sensational Old Bay flavor, add extra herbs and spices such as paprika, celery seed and celery salt.

Substitute crab boil for Old Bay Seasoning in equal quantities.

Perfect for everything from stews and soups to shrimp boils and pretty much every kind of seafood under the sun, pickling spice is a blend that’s primarily used to pickle food. A heady blend of mustard seed, cilantro seeds, bay leaf, ginger, cloves, allspice, cinnamon and red pepper flakes, pickling spice comes close to replicating that punchy Old Bay Seasoning taste.

It’s definitely one of the best Old Bay Seasoning substitutes but, again, add celery seed and salt to come closer to matching that unique flavor.

Use pickling spice as a substitute for Old Bay Seasoning at a 1:1 ratio.

Another excellent spice blend that adds lots of character and plenty of flavor depth, cajun seasoning is great with everything from meat and fish to vegetables and beans. It’s subtly spicy with a pleasant warmth from the chili to supplement a beautiful earthiness.

Whether you’re grilling, smoking or frying, cajun seasoning is great. Think shrimp, crawfish, rice dishes like jambalaya, chowder, a big old bowl of gumbo, fries or any other kind of potatoes. This southern beauty can bring flavor to pretty much anything.

Common ingredients of cajun seasoning include paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, dried thyme, dried oregano and black pepper. The secret to making it taste a little more like Old Bay is to add celery seed, cloves, mustard seed and a pinch of allspice.

Substitute cajun seasoning for Old Bay Seasoning in equal quantities.

A few of the key ingredients found in Old Bay Seasoning are in Chinese five spice. Spices including cloves, pepper and cinnamon bring a similar fragrance and flavor, but with the addition of star anise and fennel there’s definitely more of an aniseed twang.

Chinese five spice is excellent for poultry dishes, seafood, soups and stews. Just be aware that the overall flavor profile is a lot sweeter than Old Bay Seasoning – still it’s a very versatile spice blend that is great for adding flavor when you can’t use Old Bay Seasoning.

Use ½ teaspoon of Chinese five spice for every teaspoon of Old Bay Seasoning, then add ½ teaspoon herbs and spices like celery seed, mustard seed and crushed bay leaves.

Another firecracker spice blend, this fusion ingredient found its way to the British takeaway scene via Asian cuisine. It’s now regarded as a classic seasoning mixture and would make a decent swap for Bay Seasoning.

Old Bay has a very different flavor profile to salt and pepper seasoning, but if you’re making a spicy vegetable recipe that calls for Old Bay Seasoning, this would be a great option. It’s a blend of Chinese five spice (see above), garlic powder, crushed chili flakes, ginger, salt and pepper.

Use salt and pepper seasoning as a like for like replacement for Old Bay Seasoning.

A fantastic Old Bay Seasoning substitute for meat based recipes, seasoned salt is a blend of paprika, turmeric, onion powder, garlic powder and salt. It’s amazing with chicken, but also works with beef and lamb and pretty much anything else with which you would use Old Bay Seasoning.

What makes seasoned salt so special is its versatility. It’s got cross cuisine appeal, at home with the likes of Mexican, Indian, Chinese and traditional American dishes. So, if you’ve got an Old Bay Seasoning recipe that needs a big boost of flavor, seasoned salt is ideal.

Swap out Old Bay for seasoned salt at a 1:1 ratio.

As easy and convenient as substitutes get. If you’re in a jam and you can’t find any other spice blends, go for the two main ingredients of Old Bay Seasoning. Both have that wonderful herbal, savory quality that embodies Old Bay.

Of course, you’re missing out on a whole world of extra flavor that the other ingredients bring to the table. So, if you can add anything earthy like mustard seed or paprika, or anything with a real punch like mace, nutmeg or clove, then by all means do.

Ideal for seafood, fish, meat and vegetable dishes, celery seed and celery salt is one of the best Old Bay Seasoning substitutes when time and simplicity are factors.

Substitute celery seed and celery salt for Old Bay Seasoning in equal quantities.

French four spice
Otherwise known as quatre epices, French four spice is a traditional seasoning mix made up of ground cloves, nutmeg, ginger and white pepper. Sometimes allspice, cinnamon, cardamom and mace are added, which makes it a very good Old Bay Seasoning substitute.

A very popular blend in France, where it’s used to flavor the likes of sausages, stews, soups, pates, vegetables and casseroles, it also works really well with seafood and fish.

French four spice is a great alternative to Bay Seasoning. Old Bay has something extra though, so be sure to add celery salt, celery seed, mustard seed, clove and – if your French four spice doesn’t contain them – mace, allspice, cinnamon and cardamom.

Substitute French four spice for Old Bay Seasoning in equal quantities.

Excellent for all types of seafood, from crab and shrimp to lobster and crawfish, this blend is a mixture of celery seed, paprika, allspice, cloves, cardamom, ginger, cayenne pepper, mustard seed, black pepper, bay leaf, cinnamon and mace.

In fact, the ingredients list is almost exactly the same as Old Bay Seasoning. If you’re a big fan of Old Bay Seasoning but it’s sold out at the store and online, this is probably the product that most resembles the taste of Old Bay.

Every ingredient in this spice blend is organic, so there’s definitely an argument to be made that it’s a healthier alternative to Old Bay Seasoning. No chemicals, no processed additives – just good old fashioned herbs and spices working their magic.

Use Frontier seafood seasoning as a substitute for Old Bay Seasoning at a 1:1 ratio.

A big bold seasoning blend that packs in a lot of flavor, Todd’s Dirt seasonings make some great blends and the Chesapeake blend is one of the best. It’s definitely the closest to Old Bay Seasoning in the Todd’s Dirt range.

This seasoning is a mix of 20 different herbs and spices, including paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground chipotle, clove, cinnamon and ginger. Great for meat rubs, seafood marinades and pretty much anything else that needs a big hit of flavor.

Substitute Todd’s Chesapeake Dirt for Old Bay Seasoning in equal quantities.

Of course, when it comes to substitutes, there’s nothing better than the real thing. While the exact recipe of Old Bay Seasoning might be a closely guarded secret, we can definitely come close with our own homemade Old Bay Seasoning!

My homemade Old Bay Seasoning recipe contains 16 herbs and spices, including paprika, celery salt, cardamom, mustard seed, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, mace, nutmeg, ginger and ground cloves.

It’s amazing when used with shrimp, crab cakes, fish, chicken and grilled vegetables.

Obviously, swap it in for store bought Old Bay at a 1:1 ratio.