I spent the better part of a summer doing what I can only describe as the most important recipe testing of my life. I went through batch after batch of this Homemade Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix adjusting the dill, dialing back the cayenne to a level that feels right for Minnesota (a little kick, not a situation), and landing on lemon juice powder as the thing that ties it all together without overpowering the mix. What I ended up with is a seasoning mix I genuinely cannot live without anymore.
The goal was simple: one tablespoon, one can of tomato juice, one ounce of vodka, done. I needed something that traveled with us camping, not a bottle of specialty mix that takes up half the cooler once opened.
Now it lives in my pantry year-round, and on any weekend morning I can have a Bloody Mary ready in under three minutes, less if I skip the garnishes (I never skip the garnishes).
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What You'll Need
- Step-By-Step Instructions
- Tips and Tricks
- Best Vodka For Bloody Marys
- Bloody Mary Garnish Options
- Take It On The Road
- Ingredient Swaps
- Variations
- Types of Bloody Mary Drinks
- Homemade Gift Idea
- Other Ways to Use Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix
- Storing
- FAQs
- What To Serve With Bloody Marys
- More Loveable Drink Recipes
- Love This Recipe?
- Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- One batch makes 24 servings - yes, really
- Stores for up to 6 months in your pantry
- You control the heat level
- Easy to make garlic-free for sensitive stomachs
- Works for a single drink or a full pitcher
What You'll Need
- Dried Dill - Adds a fresh, herby flavor that makes this mix taste bright and balanced.
- Garlic Salt - Brings savory depth. For a garlic-free version, use Smoke and Sanity's Essence of Garlic Salt. I buy it on Amazon and it works like a charm.
- Celery Salt - A classic Bloody Mary flavor. It adds that familiar, slightly earthy taste.
- Lemon Juice Powder - This is what sets this mix apart. It adds citrus flavor without adding liquid, which means your dry mix stays dry.
- White Granulated Sugar - Just enough sweetness to balance out the salt and acid.
- Worcestershire Powder - All the umami flavor of Worcestershire sauce in a shelf-stable powder. Worth finding.
- Paprika - Adds color and a mild, smoky warmth.
- Ground Black Pepper - Brings a little bite.
- Cayenne Pepper - This is the heat. One teaspoon gives it a gentle Minnesota-style kick - you'll feel it, but you won't need a glass of milk to recover.
See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Making the Seasoning Mix:
Step 1: Add all of the ingredients to a pint-sized mason jar. Use a wide-mouth funnel to make cleanup a breeze.
Step 2: Secure the lid tightly and shake until everything is evenly combined. That's it. Done.
Store the jar in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
How To Make One Bloody Mary:
Step 1: Combine 5½ ounces of canned tomato juice, 1 ounce of vodka, and 1 tablespoon of homemade Bloody Mary seasoning in a glass or cocktail shaker.
Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of pickle juice if you like extra tang.
Step 2: Stir or shake until well combined. Pour over ice and add your favorite garnishes.
To Make a Pitcher of Bloody Marys:
Serves about 11 to 12 drinks, depending on size of glasses.
Step 1: In a large pitcher, combine 64 ounces of tomato juice, 1½ cups of vodka, and ½ cup of the seasoning mix.
Add a splash of pickle juice if you want.
Step 2: Stir well and pour into individual cups over ice. Add garnishes and serve.
Tips and Tricks
Give the jar a shake before each use. The finer spices like the lemon powder and cayenne will settle to the bottom, and a quick shake keeps everything evenly distributed.
Want it spicier? Add a few dashes of hot sauce directly to your glass instead of adding more cayenne to the whole batch. That way, everyone at the table can customize their own drink without you having to make two different mixes.
Store a tablespoon measuring spoon inside the jar. I find cheap options either at garage sales or thrift stores.
Serve it with a snit on the side - also called a beer back, beer chaser, or sidecar of beer. It is a great way to balance the spice and a very Wisconsin (and Minnesota) thing to do.
Best Vodka For Bloody Marys
My rule of thumb with vodka is simple - buy the best you can afford. The better the vodka the better your drink will be. My favorites include Skyy, Tito's, and Absolut but I also love Dill Aquavit from a local distillery. It is a traditional Scandinavian spirit infused with dill harvested from a local farm.
Learn from me and don't pre-mix the Bloody Marys with vodka unless you know everyone will drink Bloodys. It can be added by the glass when serving. In my house we don't waste food, and that includes good booze!
Bloody Mary Garnish Options
This is the fun part. Bloody Marys are practically a full meal once you get the garnishes going. In Wisconsin, the toppings are called the salad, yes really.
Load up your glass or make a garnish board and let everyone build their own. Don't forget to include skewers!
- Beef Stick
- Celery Stalk
- Scotch Egg
- Pickles
- Olives
- Crispy Bacon
- Cheese Cubes
- Cooked Shrimp
- Lemon Wedge
My pickled green beans are the most underrated Bloody Mary garnish out there. I put them in every glass I make. Nobody knew they were homemade until I told them.
Take It On The Road
This mix was literally invented for travel. The cooler, the campsite, the road trip - it goes everywhere we go.
For A Couple of Bloody Marys
Skip the large jug and grab individual cans of tomato juice instead.
They are perfectly portioned, easy to pack, and take up way less cooler space.
Tuck a small jar of the seasoning mix and a mini bottle of vodka alongside the cans and you are set. No pre-mixing required.
For A Crowd
Grab a large jug of tomato juice and mix the seasoning directly into the jug at home.
If you are adding the vodka to the jug before you leave, you have one very important job first.
Make one Bloody Mary. Drink it.
This is purely for convenience and has nothing to do with the fact that it is delicious.
Now the jug has just enough room for the seasoning mix and vodka. Seal it, pack it, and when you get there pour over ice and point everyone toward the garnishes.
Want to keep it flexible? Leave the vodka out of the jug and let everyone add their own by the glass. One jug, zero stress, happy crowd, whether they want a double shot or a virgin Bloody Mary.
Travel-Friendly Garnishes
Packing garnishes does not have to be complicated. These travel well and hold up in a cooler:
- String Cheese
- Beef Sticks
- Olive Cups
- Hard Boiled Eggs (works for breakfast too!)
Ingredient Swaps
- Garlic Salt - Swap in Smoke and Sanity's Essence of Garlic Salt for a version that's friendly to sensitive guts. It has all the garlic flavor with none of the actual garlic. I use it in so many recipes, including my low FODMAP ranch dressing.
- Tomato Juice - Use V8 juice instead. It has a slightly thicker, richer flavor and is easy to find at any grocery store.
- Vodka - Skip it entirely for a Virgin Mary. The mix tastes just as good without the alcohol.
Variations
Extra Spicy Bloody Mary Mix: Add dashes of hot sauce to individual glasses rather than increasing the cayenne in the whole batch. This keeps the base mix approachable for everyone and lets the spice lovers go wild on their own.
Low FODMAP Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix: Swap regular garlic salt for Smoke and Sanity's certified garlic-free version. Everything else in this recipe is already low FODMAP friendly. There are plenty of low FODMAP recipes on the site to keep brunch and beyond easy on your gut.
Virgin Bloody Mary Mix: Skip the vodka. Use the same amounts of tomato juice and seasoning mix. Add a little extra pickle juice for more depth. So good as a savory mocktail.
Types of Bloody Mary Drinks
Bloody Marys are really a whole family of savory tomato cocktails, and changing the spirit is one of the easiest ways to create a variation.
Classic Bloody Mary: Mix with tomato juice and vodka for the traditional version.
Bloody Maria: Swap the vodka for tequila and add a squeeze of fresh lime.
Pickle Bloody Mary: Add pickle juice along with the tomato juice and vodka for extra tangy dill flavor.
Bloody Caesar: Use Clamato juice instead of tomato juice and mix with vodka.
Red Snapper: Gin replaces vodka, giving the drink a more herbal flavor.
Bloody Derby: Bourbon replaces vodka for a richer, slightly smoky version.
And if you are hanging out with my sister and brother-in-law they will make you a Bloody Molly, which swaps vodka for whiskey. Ask them for a Dirty Bloody Molly and they will add a splash of olive brine or pickle juice.
Homemade Gift Idea
Looking for a great gift for someone who has everything, give them Bloody Marys!
In a wide-mouth mason jar, add 1 tablespoon of Bloody Mary seasoning in a tiny zip top bag, an airplane sized bottle of vodka, and a small can of tomato juice. Include a tag with the recipe with some fun baker's twine and done!
Other Ways to Use Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix
Thinking outside of the drink options is also a fun way to add this flavor profile to other things!
- Sprinkle over hard boiled eggs for a flavorful protein boosted breakfast
- Add it to ground beef for Bloody Mary burgers
- Stir into vegetable soup for a bold, savory boost
- Mix it into warm, buttered popcorn for a savory snack with a kick
Storing
Store: Keep the dry seasoning mix in a sealed mason jar in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Label it with the date so you don't have to guess later. Freezer tape works great for labeling mason jars.
Do Not Refrigerate the Dry Mix: This is a dry spice blend. It does not need refrigeration. Just keep it away from heat and humidity.
Prepared Bloody Marys: Once mixed with tomato juice and vodka, keep any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving.
FAQs
Most Bloody Mary seasoning mixes start with celery salt, garlic salt, black pepper, and paprika. This one also has dried dill and lemon juice powder, which add brightness and a fresh herby flavor you just don't get from the store-bought stuff.
It's easier than you think. Knowing how to make bloody mary mix from scratch really just means combining the right dry spices in a jar and shaking them together. That's the whole process. This recipe walks you through exactly which spices to use and how much to add per drink or per pitcher.
One tablespoon per drink. For a pitcher of about 11 to 12 drinks, use ¾ cup.
Yes. Swap the garlic salt for Smoke and Sanity's Essence of Garlic Salt. It's certified garlic-free and available on Amazon. It gives you all that savory garlic flavor without the actual garlic.
The dry seasoning mix lasts up to 6 months stored in a sealed jar in a cool, dry spot. Once you've mixed it with tomato juice and vodka, keep it refrigerated and use within 3 days.
Yes! It's great as a rim seasoning for the glass. You can also sprinkle it on popcorn or mix a little into cream cheese for a savory spread. It works anywhere you want a bold, savory kick.
Most of the ingredients are naturally gluten free, but always check your Worcestershire powder label. Some brands contain gluten. Lea and Perrins liquid Worcestershire sauce is gluten free, but powdered versions vary by brand.
Yes. Mix the tomato juice, vodka, and seasoning the night before and refrigerate. Leave out the ice until you're ready to serve. Give it a good stir before pouring.
What To Serve With Bloody Marys
A Bloody Mary is basically brunch in a glass, so you want food that keeps up. My hash brown patty breakfast casserole is a crowd-pleaser and practically makes itself. Add a big platter of pancakes, some crispy bacon, and you have a brunch spread that requires zero stress. If you're going lighter, a simple green salad or fresh fruit rounds it out nicely.
More Loveable Drink Recipes
Love This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating + comment. It helps so much, and we love hearing from everyone! Thank You -Venessa
Recipe
Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix
Equipment
- Pint Size (16 ounce) Wide-Mouth Mason Jar
Ingredients
Bloody Mary Seasoning:
- ⅓ cup dried dill
- ¼ cup garlic salt (Note 1)
- ¼ cup celery salt
- ¼ cup lemon juice powder
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire powder
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (Note 2)
Garnish Options:
- Beef stick, celery stalk, pickles, olives, bacon, cheese cubes, cooked shrimp, dilly beans or a lemon wedge.
To Make One Bloody Mary:
- 5½ ounces ounces canned tomato juice (Note 3)
- 1 ounce vodka (or more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix
- 1 to 2 teaspoons pickle juice optional
To Make A Pitcher of Bloody Marys: (about 11-12 drinks)
- 64 ounces tomato juice (Note 3)
- 1 ½ cups vodka
- ½ cup Bloody Mary Seasoning Mix
Instructions
Seasoning Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to a pint-sized Mason jar. Secure the lid and shake until evenly combined.
- Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
To Make One Bloody Mary:
- Combine tomato juice, vodka, and Bloody Mary Seasoning mix in a glass or cocktail shaker.
- Stir or shake until well combined.
- Add ice and favorite garnishes.
To Make A Pitcher of Bloody Marys: (about 11-12 drinks):
- Combine tomato juice, vodka, and bloody seasoning in a large pitcher
- Stir until seasoning is well combined.
- Pour into individual cups, add ice and garnish with toppings
Garnish Options:
- Beef stick, celery stalk, pickles, olives, cooked bacon, cheese cubes, cooked shrimp, dilly beans or a lemon wedge.
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