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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 makes for irresistible flavor.
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 (Alex and I love it on grilled brocolli). It’s truly magical, and we can’t wait for you to taste.
How to make seafood seasoning
Seafood seasoning doesn’t have an official definition: there are many ways to make it! For our “secret blend” of spices, Alex and I pulled from a few sources: Old Bay, a popular seasoning for seafood, and both Cajun seasoning and blackened seasoning, which are also used as fish seasoning. We came up with a blend that uses the best of all of them, but without the heat (for flexibility). Just mix together the following seafood seasoning ingredients:
- 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, we wanted to kept it mild. This provides the most flexibility to adjust for various tastes. (We have kids, so it’s nice to have mild options!) If you do want it spicy, add ¼ teaspoon cayenne to this mixture.
Why to 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. You can use leftovers in these smoked paprika recipes—it’s one of our favorite spices in our kitchen.
How long to store homemade seafood seasoning
You can store your homemade seafood seasoning mix in an airtight container for 6 months to 1 year. Of course, it’s best when it’s the freshest. Spices generally last in a cool, dry place for 8 months to 1 year. You can use this spice blend to add new life to spices that you’ve had for a while.
Ways to use seafood 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 with any of our 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
- Whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl. Transfer to an airtight container or jar. 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
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.