Red Lobster Old Bay Butter Sauce: Recipe, Price & Calories
By Alex Rivera, Head of Menu Research | Prices Verified September 2026 Against the Red lobster App.
The Old Bay and butter sauce is a popular savory dipping and finishing sauce at Red Lobster. It blends melted butter with the iconic Old Bay spice mix. It is served as a 4 oz. portion, made for dunking crab legs and shrimp. Below you will find the price, calories, nutrition, and a simple copycat recipe. See the full Red Lobster menu with prices to plan your visit.
Red Lobster Old Bay butter sauce is a savory dipping sauce made from butter infused with Old Bay seasoning. It is served as a 4 oz. portion with about 590 calories. The a la carte price is around $3.59 to $3.99 and varies by location and ordering platform.
Old Bay butter sauce at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Menu item | Old Bay and butter sauce (dipping sauce) |
| Portion | 4 oz. cup |
| Served with | Seafood boils, crab legs, shrimp |
| Price | About $3.59 to $3.99 (varies) |
| Calories | About 590 (full 4 oz. cup) |
| Flavor | Savory, buttery, spiced |
| Spice level | Mild |
What is Old Bay butter sauce?
Old Bay butter sauce is melted butter infused with Old Bay seasoning. Old Bay is the iconic Chesapeake spice blend known for celery salt, pepper, and paprika notes. The result is a savory, buttery sauce with gentle warmth.
At Red Lobster it works two ways. It is a dipping sauce for crab legs and shrimp. It is also a finishing sauce drizzled over seafood boils. Old Bay is a trademark of McCormick.
What it is served with at Red Lobster
This sauce is made for seafood. Common pairings include:
- Crab legs
- Shrimp, including Walt’s Favorite Shrimp
- Lobster
- Seafood boils
- Corn on the cob
- Grilled fish
- Breadsticks
It is offered on in-store menus and online ordering at participating locations. Availability can vary by local supply.
Price
The 4 oz. cup is priced as an a la carte side. Prices differ by location and ordering platform.
| Where you order | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| In restaurant, a la carte (4 oz.) | $3.59 to $3.99 |
| Online ordering / delivery apps | $3.59 to $3.99, plus fees |
| Served with a seafood boil | Often included, varies |
Check the Red Lobster app for the current price near you. Delivery platforms may add service and delivery fees on top.
Calories and nutrition
The 4 oz. portion contains about 590 calories. The count comes almost entirely from butterfat, since the sauce is butter-based.
Approximate nutrition for the full 4 oz. cup:
| Nutrient | Approximate value | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 590 | – |
| Total fat | 60 to 65 g | 77% to 83% |
| Saturated fat | 38 to 42 g | 190% to 210% |
| Sodium | 600 to 800 mg | 26% to 35% |
| Total carbs | 1 to 3 g | 1% |
| Protein | 1 to 2 g | – |
These are approximate values, not official lab-tested numbers. This is a rich sauce, so a little goes a long way.
Ingredients
Red Lobster does not publish the exact proprietary recipe. Based on the known flavor profile, the key components are:
- Butter (the base of the sauce)
- Old Bay seasoning (celery salt, pepper, paprika, and other spices)
- Lemon juice for brightness
- Garlic in some preparations
This matches the copycat recipe below, which recreates the same style at home.
Copycat recipe: Old Bay butter sauce
This is a copycat recipe, not Red Lobster’s official formula. It makes a standard 4 oz. portion in minutes.
Yield: about 4 oz.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic or garlic powder (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat until fully liquid.
- Whisk in the Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and garlic if using.
- Simmer on low for 1 to 2 minutes to infuse the spices.
- Pour into a ramekin and serve warm for dipping.
Pro tips
- Use low heat. High heat can brown the butter and dull the spice flavor.
- Adjust the Old Bay to taste. Start with 1 teaspoon and add more for extra kick.
- Serve warm. The sauce firms up as it cools, so reheat gently if needed.
Old Bay butter sauce vs pina colada sauce
Red Lobster’s two signature dipping sauces serve very different cravings. Here is how they compare.
| Detail | Old Bay and butter sauce | Pina colada sauce |
|---|---|---|
| Portion | 4 oz. cup | 8 oz. cup |
| Price | About $3.59 to $3.99 | About $3.99 |
| Calories | About 590 | About 450 |
| Flavor | Savory, buttery, spiced | Sweet, creamy, tropical |
| Spice level | Mild warmth | None (sweet) |
| Best with | Crab legs, shrimp, seafood boils | Coconut shrimp |
| Contains dairy | Yes | Yes |
Read our full pina colada sauce guide for the sweet option.
Can you buy Red Lobster Old Bay butter sauce?
Red Lobster sells it as a 4 oz. side cup at the restaurant and through online ordering. It is not sold as a bottled Red Lobster product in grocery stores.
But there is an easy workaround. Old Bay seasoning itself is sold in grocery stores nationwide. Buy a can of Old Bay and use the copycat recipe above. That gets you very close at home for much less money.
Allergens and dietary notes
Based on the typical ingredients in this sauce:
| Allergen | Presence |
|---|---|
| Milk (dairy) | Yes |
| Old Bay spices (celery seed, mustard) | Yes |
| Gluten / wheat | Unlikely |
| Shellfish | No (but served with seafood) |
The sauce is not dairy free. Old Bay seasoning contains celery seed and mustard, which matter for guests with those sensitivities. Guests with serious allergies should check Red Lobster’s official allergen guide or ask the restaurant directly, since recipes can change.
Frequently asked questions
What is Old Bay butter sauce?
It is a savory dipping and finishing sauce made from melted butter infused with Old Bay seasoning. Red Lobster serves it as a 4 oz. portion, mostly with crab legs, shrimp, and seafood boils.
How much is Old Bay butter sauce at Red Lobster?
About $3.59 to $3.99 for the 4 oz. cup when purchased a la carte. Prices vary by location and ordering platform. Delivery apps may add extra fees.
How many calories are in Old Bay butter sauce?
About 590 calories for the full 4 oz. portion. The calories come almost entirely from butterfat.
Is Old Bay butter sauce spicy?
It has mild warmth, not real heat. Old Bay brings savory pepper and paprika notes rather than chili spice. Most people find it gently spiced, not hot.
What do you eat with Old Bay butter sauce?
Crab legs, shrimp, lobster, seafood boils, corn on the cob, grilled fish, and breadsticks. It is built for dunking.
Can you buy Red Lobster Old Bay butter sauce?
You can buy the 4 oz. side cup at the restaurant or through online ordering. Red Lobster does not sell it bottled in stores. But Old Bay seasoning is sold in grocery stores, so the copycat recipe is easy to make at home.
Does Old Bay butter sauce have dairy?
Yes. It is butter based, so it is not dairy free and not suitable for vegans.
Is Old Bay butter sauce gluten free?
Gluten and wheat are unlikely based on the typical ingredients. But this is not officially confirmed, and cross contact is possible in restaurant kitchens. Check with Red Lobster directly if you have celiac disease or a serious sensitivity.
What is so special about Old Bay seasoning?
Old Bay is a Chesapeake Bay spice blend created in Baltimore in the 1940s. Its mix of celery salt, black pepper, paprika, and other spices was designed for seafood, especially crab. The flavor is savory and aromatic rather than hot, which is why it pairs so well with butter and shellfish.
What are the ingredients in Old Bay garlic butter spread?
A garlic butter spread with Old Bay typically contains butter, Old Bay seasoning, and garlic, sometimes with lemon or parsley. Red Lobster does not sell a packaged spread under this name. For the restaurant-style sauce, see the copycat recipe above: butter, Old Bay, lemon juice, and optional garlic.
How do you make butter sauce?
Melt butter over low heat and whisk in your seasonings. For a basic version, melt 4 oz. of butter and add salt, lemon juice, and herbs. For the Old Bay version, whisk in 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning per stick of butter. Serve warm.
Final thoughts
Old Bay butter sauce is the savory answer to Red Lobster’s sweet pina colada sauce. Rich, buttery, and gently spiced, it is the right dip for crab legs and seafood boils. At around $3.59 to $3.99 for 4 oz., it is a small add-on that upgrades the whole meal. And with Old Bay sold in every grocery store, the copycat version is one of the easiest restaurant sauces to recreate at home.
Explore the full Red Lobster menu with prices to plan your next visit.
Related guides
- Red Lobster pina colada sauce
- Sailor’s seafood boil
- Red Lobster nutrition guide
- Red Lobster deals and specials
Sources
- Red Lobster menu listing (4 oz. cup: about $3.59 to $3.99, about 590 calories)
- Red Lobster app and online ordering (current local pricing)
- McCormick flavor kitchen (copycat method reference)
Disclaimer: Menu items, prices, calories, and availability change over time and vary by location. Nutrition values are approximate. The recipe in this article is a copycat approximation, not Red Lobster’s official formula. Verify current details in the Red Lobster app or at redlobster.com before relying on them.
