A homemade version of crab boil seasoning that can be used for boiled or steamed crabs, crawfish or shrimp, or used for cocktails, on cooked potatoes or anywhere the classic bay leaf, celery and hot chile profile is needed.

This seafood boil seasoning works well for crabs (in the boil or sprinkled on steamed crabs), crawfish or shrimp. It contains the requisite flavors of bay, thyme and oregano, warm spices like clove and coriander, chile heat and the mysterious but always delicious celery seed. If you prefer to buy pre-made boil mixes, please do so and follow the package instructions. 

Use the seasoning to flavor the water for the boil, and also in shakers on the table for adding a little extra seasoning and salt.

All measurements are for whole spices and herbs, i.e. whole coriander, cloves and thyme, which are then ground, so start with 1 tbsp of whole coriander seeds and then grind that in a spice grinder or coffee mill. This seasoning mix will keep almost indefinitely.

I like to package it into 4 cup/1 quart containers that are easy to transport to the coast. When we pull a load of crabs from the traps, I can drop 1 container into a 4 gallon pot and be boiling crabs pretty quickly.

Featured in the Crabs Video.

1 cup of crab boil seasoning will season 1 gallon of water for a boil

Small Batch

Makes about 2 cups

1 1/4 cups Kosher salt

3 tbsp garlic powder

3 tbsp celery seed 

3 tbsp New Mexico Chile powder, cayenne or other hot chile powder, or more to taste

1 tbsp coriander seed, ground

1 tbsp clove, ground

1 tbsp bay leaf powder

1 tbsp dried thyme, ground

1 tbsp dried oregano, ground

Combine all ingredients. 

Medium batch

Makes about 10 cups

6 1/2 cups Kosher salt

1 cup garlic powder

1 cup celery seed 

1 cup New Mexico Chile powder, cayenne or other hot chile powder, or more to taste

1/3 cup coriander seed, ground

1/3 cup clove, ground

1/3 cup bay leaf powder

1/3 cup dried thyme, ground

1/3 cup dried oregano, ground

Large batch

Makes about 20 cups

13 cups Kosher salt

2 cups garlic powder

2 cups celery seed 

2 cups New Mexico Chile powder, cayenne or other hot chile powder, or more to taste

2/3 cup coriander seed, ground

2/3 cup clove, ground

2/3 cup bay leaf powder

2/3 cup dried thyme, ground

2/3 cup dried oregano, ground