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Here’s how to make the best seafood seasoning! This homemade fish seasoning mix is easy to make and takes any seafood to new heights.

Seafood seasoning in a glass jar with a spoon
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Looking for a perfect blend to season your fish or shrimp? Try this seafood seasoning! It’s truly the best blend of flavors — a mix of savory, smoky, and aromatic spices that creates an unforgettable taste experience.

It’s almost like a combination of Old Bay and Cajun seasoning, without the heat. Try it on shrimp or salmon, and it will blow you away! It was also fantastic on grilled and roasted veggies (I love it on grilled broccoli). It’s truly magical, and I can’t wait for you to try it.

How to make this tasty seasoning

There’s no one way to make seafood seasoning — it’s all about the blend! I came up with my “secret blend” by pulling from a few trusted sources. Old Bay, a popular seasoning for seafood, and both Cajun seasoning and blackened seasoning, which are also used as fish seasoning.

My blend uses the best of all of them — but without the heat (for flexibility). Just mix the following seafood seasoning spices:

  • Smoked paprika or sweet paprika
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Thyme
  • Celery seed
  • Cumin
  • Allspice
  • Salt

Is this seasoning spicy?

Some seafood seasonings are spicy, like Cajun seasoning. But for this seafood seasoning recipe, I wanted to keep it mild. This provides the most flexibility to adjust for various tastes. (I have kids, so having milder options is nice!) If you want it a little spicier, just add ¼ teaspoon cayenne.

Why use smoked paprika?

Use smoked paprika if you can find it for this fish seasoning — it adds a subtle smoky flavor that’s hard to replicate! Smoked paprika is a Spanish version of paprika, made of dried pimiento peppers that are smoked over a fire.

You can find it in the spice aisle in most grocery stores (labeled as pimentón, Spanish smoked paprika, or sweet smoked paprika), or you can buy it online here.

Here are some more tasty smoked paprika recipes — it’s one of my go-to spices in the kitchen.

4 spoons lined up over a plate with different kinds of seasonings filling each spoon. An orange blend, and leafier blend, a grainy brown blend, and a red blend.
Try all our seasoning blends!

How long to store homemade seafood seasoning

You can store this homemade seafood seasoning mix in an airtight container for 6 months to 1 year. Of course, it’s best when it’s fresh. Spices generally last in a cool, dry place for 8 months to 1 year. If you’ve got spices that are still good but not as bold as they once were, this blend is a great way to put them to use.

Spice up your food with this seasoning

This seafood seasoning is designed for fish, but it’s tasty on veggies, too! Here are some ideas to get you started:

  1. Shrimp: Sprinkle it onto grilled shrimp or sauteed shrimp — it’s over-the-top good.
  2. Salmon: Add it to baked salmon or pan seared salmon for big flavor.
  3. Veggies: It’s great on veggies to add intrigue in flavor! Try it with any of my grilled vegetables or roasted vegetables.
  4. Corn on the cob: Try it on grilled corn or oven roasted corn.
  5. Fried potatoes: It would be fabulous on these pan-fried potatoes, or even baked French fries!

Dietary notes

This fish seasoning recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, naturally sweet, refined sugar-free, low-carb, and keto.

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*Magic* Seafood Seasoning

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Here’s how to make the best seafood seasoning! This homemade fish seasoning mix is easy to make and takes any seafood to new heights.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: About 6 tablespoons 1x
  • Category: Seasoning
  • Method: Mixed
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika or sweet paprika
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice

Instructions

  1. Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl.
  2. Transfer to an airtight container or jar and store for 6 months to 1 year in a cool, dry place.
  3. How to season fish: Use 1 tablespoon seafood seasoning for every ½ pound (8 ounces) of fish.

Notes

Spicy variation: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste. 

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More seasoning blends

Making DIY seasoning mixes at home is so easy! They taste incredible—much better than store-bought—and they’re fun gifts, too. Try all our seasoning blends:

About the authors

A Couple Cooks

Recipes by Alex & Sonja

We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser: cookbook authors, busy parents, & a real life couple who cooks together! We started the A Couple Cooks food blog in 2010 to share simple, seasonal recipes, healthy meal planning tips, and the joy of cooking. All recipes are written & photographed by us (and tested on our two kids!).

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15 Comments

  1. Marilene says:

    Hi, please, are all the individual components in form of powder? Thank you!

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