Homemade Chesapeake Bay Seasoning Mix

By
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops approachable recipes for home cooks. Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends.
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Updated on 12/25/21
Maryland crab Chesapeake seasoning
Cyndi Monaghan / Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 3 servings

This spice mix, similar to Old Bay seasoning, makes a flavorful addition to all types of seafood. If you eat seafood regularly, multiply this recipe as much as you want and keep it on hand in a sealed, airtight container. Marylanders just about worship this mixture and put it on everything from seafood—for which it is intended—to pizza, with a lot of choices in between those two extremes. 

This recipe is taken from "Simply Shrimp: 101 Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Seafood" by Rick Rodgers.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 teaspoon ground celery seed

  • 1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika

  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon ground bay leaf

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Steps to Make It

  1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together salt, cayenne pepper, celery seed, paprika, mustard, black pepper, bay leaf, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon until well combined.

  2. Store this seasoning mix in a tightly covered container at cool room temperature in a cool, dark place. While it is best to use this Chesapeake Bay seasoning mix within a month to retain freshness, it will keep for several months if it is stored correctly. 

Uses for Chesapeake Bay Seasoning

As said above, Chesapeake Bay seasoning is wondrous on seafood, and that is its No. 1 use. The most common other uses for this seasoning mix are on corn on the cob and popcorn. But there are many other uses for this tasty seasoning mix. Just count the ways.

  • Chicken wings

  • Deviled eggs

  • Grilled chicken

  • Fried chicken

  • Cold fried chicken sandwiches, sprinkled on top

  • French fries

  • Loaded baked potatoes

  • Any creamed soup

  • Macaroni and cheese

  • Pasta sauces

  • Bloody marys

  • Scalloped potatoes

  • In egg, chicken, shrimp, tuna and potato salad

  • Biscuits

  • Steamed broccoli

  • Steamed green beans

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
16 Calories
1g Fat
2g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3
Amount per serving
Calories 16
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 841mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 62mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)