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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.
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.
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:
- Shrimp: Sprinkle it onto grilled shrimp or sauteed shrimp — it’s over-the-top good.
- Salmon: Add it to baked salmon or pan seared salmon for big flavor.
- Veggies: It’s great on veggies to add intrigue in flavor! Try it with any of my grilled vegetables or roasted vegetables.
- Corn on the cob: Try it on grilled corn or oven roasted corn.
- 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.
*Magic* Seafood Seasoning
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.
- 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
- 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
- Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Transfer to an airtight container or jar and store for 6 months to 1 year in a cool, dry place.
- 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.
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:
- Mexican: Fajita Seasoning, Taco Seasoning, Fish Taco Seasoning
- Mediterranean: Greek Seasoning, Italian Seasoning, Herbes de Provence
- Cajun: Cajun Seasoning, Blackened Seasoning
- American: Old Bay Seasoning, Chili Seasoning, Everything Bagel Seasoning, Ranch Seasoning
- All Purpose: Seasoned Salt
I made this for dinner tonight with two cod fillets I thawed for the occasion. Very tasty! I used regular paprika because didn’t have the smoked kind but it was still very flavourful, and not too spicy. Thank you!
Thank you! We needed this last minute. Perfect and delicious!
We had some “fresh” Mahi Mahi from our local grocery a while back. I wanted to make it different from all the other times we’ve had fish.When I searched for seafood seasoning, your site came up first.
This recipe is the best. I put it on a lot of different main meal offerings. Really bumps up the flavor.
Thank you for this.
SO good!
Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. I did add a tablespoon of tarragon simply because it goes with ALL seafood. A pinch on the tongue? I’m loving this seasoning!
I was pleased to find your DIY Seafood Seasoning recipe having received an unexpected invitation to Christmas dinner at a friend’s house, where I’m bringing crab meat in phyllo dough shells that called for ‘seafood seasoning’. I could not find any at three different local grocers here, including Whole Foods, so I set out to make my own and will be using your recipe.
Merry Christmas
Awesome spice combination.\!
What are you using as allspice? Thank you.
Standard ground allspice!
How much Seafood Magic Seasoning should I use per pound of shrimp?
Good question: Use 1 tablespoon seasoning for every ½ pound (8 ounces) of fish. We updated the recipe accordingly!
This just may be the seafood spice I am looking for. Should I use ground or dried thyme? Ground or dried celery seed? Will this work for marinated, fried catfish? Sorry for all the questions but I want my fried catfish to taste really good. Thanx for your response
I think it’d be great on catfish. We use dried thyme and dried whole celery seed.