Homemade Fish Seasoning

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This homemade fish seasoning takes six pantry spices and about a minute to stir together, and it works on baked, grilled or pan-fried fish.

There are plenty of store-bought blends out there, but in my opinion, the best one is the one you make yourself. You can adjust the salt and leave out anything you don’t like.

I use it mostly on white fish like sea bream, sea bass, halibut and cod. When I cook salmon, I like to use lemon dill compound butter instead, as in my grilled salmon foil packets recipe. For fillets, I use about ¾ teaspoon each, so one small batch seasons a whole family dinner.

How to make homemade fish seasoning from scratch

You have two options. Mix everything in a small bowl first and then transfer the seasoning to a jar, or add the spices straight into the container you want to store it in and shake until combined.

This whole process literally takes a minute! The ingredients you need are salt, black pepper, dried dill, garlic powder, paprika and ground ginger.

This recipe gives you about 3 tablespoons of seasoning, which is plenty for 9 to 12 portions, depending on the size of the fish.

Homemade fish seasoning storage and shelf life

I recommend storing it in a sealed jar, an airtight container or a small zip-top bag. Keep it in a dry, dark spot.

It should last for several months, but I prefer making it in small batches rather than keeping a large amount in my pantry. Spices can turn clumpy or hard when exposed to air, light or humidity, so make sure the container is closed properly after each use.

How much seasoning to use?

For fillets, ¾ teaspoon per piece is usually enough. This can vary slightly because fillets come in different sizes, so I suggest generously sprinkling it over each piece.

For a whole fish that is about 1.5 pounds, I use about 1 tablespoon.

This is the amount I use when making oven baked sea bass. If your fish is smaller, start with less seasoning and add more only if needed.

Easy swaps

No dried dill? Use dried parsley instead.

No ground ginger? Leave it out. It only adds a little warmth, so the blend still works without it.

Want a little heat? Add a small pinch of cayenne pepper.

Want a brighter flavor? Add a squeeze of lemon over the cooked fish. I would not add fresh lemon zest to the seasoning jar because fresh zest adds moisture.

Need less salt? Start with a little less salt in the mix and season the cooked fish to taste. I recommend trying the recipe as written first because for us, the amount of salt is plenty.

What goes best with fish?

It really depends on what you and your family like. Here are some ideas:

Vegetables are always a good choice, whether they are steamed, grilled, oven-baked or pan-fried. Pan-fried asparagus with parmesan is my favorite vegetable side dish.

Pasta also works well, especially when you want a simple dinner without too much prep.

Salads are great with seasoned fish. Try creamy cucumber tomato salad for a change.

Potatoes are another favorite. I like serving fish with rosemary parmesan roasted potatoes or garlic smashed potatoes.

More fish recipes and homemade seasoning mixes

Save or share for later.