This Sweet & Spicy Chesapeake Seasoning isn’t just a low-sodium alternative; it’s a homemade Old Bay Seasoning upgrade. With a delicate touch of sweetness to round out its spicy kick, this seasoning blend offers a depth of flavor that tastes complex, bold, yet perfectly balanced. Whether you’re dusting it over corn on the cob or using it to season up your favorite seafood, get ready to find your new favorite homemade seasoning mix. Is it exactly like the store-bought stuff? Nope. It’s even better.
Several years ago, I took it upon myself to try to recreate Old Bay Seasoning. Or should I say, to reinvent a less salty version. It all started with this Shrimp & Corn Salad with Chesapeake Seasoning. Well, y’all, years later, I’m still at it. The only difference is that this time around I decided to purchase ground bay online and skip the attempt to grind down traditional bay leaves. P.S. I highly recommend this. Like, highly recommend. As in, don’t even try to grind down your own bay leaves. It’s just not worth it. Unless you feel like picking hard, little stick-like pieces out of your mouth constantly, that is.
So am I there yet? Have I finally recreated Old Bay once and for all? No, I have not. Sadly, this version is nothing like Old Bay. But happily, it’s even better, in my opinion. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, and it’s absolutely full of ground bay flavor. After testing it out on steamed blue crabs, both B.O.B. Bob and I proclaimed it to be a great addition to any crab feast. And it was just as pleasant in a recently made deviled egg recipe and corn chowder recipe I’ve been experimenting with. Pretty much, what I’m saying is that this seasoning’s going to be sticking around for a bit. So ya’ll better get to become friends.
Ingredients:
- 4 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 4 Teaspoons Sweet Hungarian Paprika
- 3 Teaspoons Celery Seed
- 3 Teaspoons Ground Bay
- 2 Teaspoons Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Teaspoons Dry Mustard Powder
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Finely Ground Sea Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cayenne
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
Directions:
- In a small bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined.
- Store the seasoning mix in a small glass jar in a cool, dry place.
- Use this seasoning in recipes that call for Old Bay Seasoning.
Suggestions:
- You can find ground bay online or at specialty spice stores. It is not always easy to find at your local market, though. You can grind your own bay leaves if you choose; however, it will be hard to get it to a powder consistency. I highly recommend buying it online. A 1/4 teaspoon is a great replacement for a single bay leaf. And as an added bonus, you won’t need to remember to remove any whole bay leaves before consuming something you have made with them.
- Shake the jar of seasoning before each use to ensure that all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
- The great thing about this seasoning mix is that it contains much less salt than Old Bay. You can add lots of flavor to your favorite seafood dishes without adding too much sodium.
- This seasoning is great for all seafood; however, you can also use it on chicken wings or as a glass rim seasoning for your favorite cocktails.
Improvements:
- Use toasted or roasted garlic powder or onion powder in this recipe.
- Replace half of the sweet paprika with smoked paprika.
- If you want to add less spice to this seasoning, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cayenne instead of 1 teaspoon. You may want to decrease the brown sugar to 2 or 3 tablespoons if you make this seasoning less spicy.
- Use this seasoning to replace the Cajun seasoning in these Hawaiian Meets Cajun Crab Dip Sliders, these Cajun Shrimp Egg Rolls, or this Cajun Lime Corn Chowder with Crab.
Ingredients:
- 4 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 4 Teaspoons Sweet Hungarian Paprika
- 3 Teaspoons Celery Seed
- 3 Teaspoons Ground Bay
- 2 Teaspoons Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Teaspoons Dry Mustard Powder
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Finely Ground Sea Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cayenne
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
Directions:
- In a small bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined.
- Store the seasoning mix in a small glass jar in a cool, dry place.
- Use this seasoning in recipes that call for Old Bay Seasoning.
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