Crab legs are a delicious and indulgent meal that can be the star of any dinner table. Their sweet, succulent meat is perfect for special occasions and impressive enough for guests. However, eating crab legs by themselves can get boring pretty quickly. That’s why having the right side dishes is essential to complement and enhance the flavors of the crab.
Here are 10 delicious side dish ideas to serve with crab legs for a complete seafood feast
1. Drawn Butter
Drawn butter, also known as clarified butter, is hands down the most popular and classic accompaniment for crab legs. The butter absorbs into the crab meat, adding a rich, indulgent flavor that perfectly balances the natural sweetness of the crab. Making drawn butter is easy – simply melt regular butter and skim off the milk solids from the top. For extra flavor, add fresh lemon juice, garlic, herbs, or Worcestershire sauce. Serve the drawn butter warm in a ramekin alongside the crab legs for dipping.
2. Baked Potatoes
A perfectly baked potato is starchy, fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Potatoes pair very well with seafood, cutting through the richness with their mild flavor and texture. Bake them plainly or load them up with butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and chives. Or, for a decadent side, twice-baked potatoes are a fantastic option.
3. Corn on the Cob
Sweet summer corn is another classic pairing with crab legs. Boil or grill the corn until tender and serve it up with some melted butter for slathering. The natural sweetness of corn balances beautifully with the briny crab. For added flavor, season the corn with Old Bay seasoning or other Cajun spices.
4. Coleslaw
Crunchy, creamy coleslaw is an easy side dish that adds great texture and tang to balance the richness of crab legs For the slaw, use a combination of shredded green and red cabbage tossed in a creamy mayo-based dressing To make it extra special, add shredded carrots, bell peppers, jalapeños, or pineapple.
5. Grilled Vegetables
Grilled veggies like zucchini, squash, peppers, mushrooms, and eggplant make a delicious accompaniment to crab legs. The smoky char flavor from the grill complements the sweetness of the crab perfectly. Grill them plain or toss the grilled veggies in Italian dressing or lemon-herb marinade
6. Macaroni Salad
Cool and creamy macaroni salad is perfect for pairing with hot crab legs. Make it classic with celery, red onion, mayo, vinegar, and shredded carrot. Or kick it up with additions like bacon, hard-boiled egg, bell pepper, fresh herbs, and shrimp. The pasta and crunchy vegetables nicely balance the richness of the crab.
7. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
For a fun and tasty twist on fries, baked sweet potato fries are sweet, creamy, and addictive. Cut sweet potatoes into wedges, toss with olive oil and spices, and bake until crisped and caramelized. Sweet potato fries pair especially well with seafood like crab legs. Serve with spicy mayo or remoulade on the side for dipping.
8. Garlic Bread
Warm, cheesy, garlicky bread is always a crowd-pleaser. The garlic flavor enhances the briny taste of the crab legs. Make it from a loaf of French bread sliced lengthwise, spread with garlic butter, and toasted until golden brown and crisp. Sprinkle mozzarella or Parmesan on top for extra flavor.
9. Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf, cooked in broth with aromatic ingredients like onions, garlic, and lemon makes the perfect bed for crab legs. The light, fluffy texture soaks up all the butter and juices from the crab. Jazz it up with additions like peas, carrots, celery, mushrooms, or water chestnuts.
10. Green Salad
A fresh green salad is a bright, crunchy accompaniment for rich crab legs. Use a mix of lettuces, shredded cabbage, spinach, or kale for the base. Top with juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and red onion. Then drizzle with a light vinaigrette, lemon juice, or creamy dressing on the side.
Crab legs deserve excellent side dishes to highlight their delicious sweet flavor. With this list of 10 crowd-pleasing options, from classic drawn butter to zesty slaw and grilled veggies, you’re sure create a stellar seafood dinner. Mix and match a few sides to design a menu that caters to all tastes and preferences at your table.
Sourced Straight from Sea to Table
Sourced through trusted experts and chosen for taste, texture and quality.
Flash frozen to lock in the fresh-off-the-dock taste.
Packaged with dry ice and shipped overnight directly to your door.
Simply thaw, prep, heat, and eat.
Corn on the Cob
And speaking of butter, we can’t forget the most commonly seen side with crab legs: corn on the cob. While we don’t know why this duo became the traditional go-to side to eat with crab, we certainly aren’t mad about it.
Even though coleslaw is generally seen on the side of barbecue, we think this creamy cabbage dish provides the ideal crunch and flavor alongside succulent crab meat.
The salty sweetness of cornbread works well to compare and contrast with your crab meat. Plus, with all the protein of the crab legs, adding in some carbs is never a bad idea.
Hear us out. This may sound like a weird suggestion, but steamed artichoke petals are best dipped in butter before scraping the meat off. If you’re already dipping your crab in melted butter, you may as well enjoy the extra vitamins and tart flavor of an artichoke alongside it.
Sometimes the simple option is the best one. A nice, crunchy green salad on the side can help fill in the gaps of your meal without taking too much away from the star of the show. Or, if you’re feeling creative, pair your crab legs with a Caesar salad for more garlicky goodness.
If you’re planning on eating a substantial amount of crab, you may want to keep the sides light with just some roasted vegetables. Drizzle a little olive oil over the broccoli, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts and put in the oven at 400°F until crispy.
We know, we know. Steak isn’t necessarily a side. But can we really have a list of the best foods to eat with crab legs and not mention surf and turf? No, we cannot, and our friends at Market House can help with that.
While it’s generally lobster that gets combined with everyone’s favorite cheesy noodles, crab meat also goes exceptionally well with this savory side.
Does melted butter count as a side? We’re going to say yes. Plus, you can even fancy up your butter, easily, with Mr. Sticks “Just Add Butter” Seasoning. Its made from all-natural ingredients that pair perfectly with our all-natural crab, for maximum flavor. Need some all-natural butter? We always recommend this one right here.
Luckily, when it comes to pairing your Alaskan king crab legs with a side, you really can’t go wrong. Just pair one delicious food with another — then enjoy!
- 3 lbs (1.5-2 Servings)
- 4 lbs (2-3.5 Servings)
- 6 lbs (3-5 Servings)
- 10 lbs (5-8 Servings)
- 3 lbs (1.5-2 Servings)
- 4 lbs (2-3.5 Servings)
- 6 lbs (3-5 Servings)
- 10 lbs (5-8 Servings)
How To Get Meat Out of Snow Crab Legs – Easy and Fast
FAQ
What side dishes go well with crab legs?
Good side dishes for crab legs include roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, coleslaw, garlic bread, and steamed artichokes.
What can I eat crab legs with?
My favorite accompaniments to crab include crusty sourdough bread and a fresh green salad or steamed vegetable. Other great side dish options include macaroni and cheese, steamed rice, angel hair pasta or even roasted potatoes.
What does crab pair with?
The green aromas we find in crab are typical of fish and shellfish, thus pairing well with cucumber, algae (seaweed), avocado, bell pepper and tomato.
What sauce to eat crab legs with?
A simple Garlic Clarified Butter dipping sauce, Avocado Wasabi Mayonnaise dipping sauce and a Curry Mustard dipping sauce; all three are very different from each other but totally delicious. Serve the crab and dipping sauce alongside a La Crema Pinot Gris and you have what might be the perfect meal.
How do you eat crab legs?
Use kitchen shears to slice through the sides of the legs. You’ll get easy access to the leg meat with less effort and mess. Pick the crab up with tongs, making sure to grab at the back of the shell. The crab can reach far back under his body to pinch. You’re only allowed to eat the males. To know the difference, look at the apron of the crab.
Why do people eat crab legs?
Because people go there and don’t eat anything but crab legs. The place I used to work did endless snow crab seasonally until the company lost its shirt on the deal. The real problem is people eat the two biggest legs and the claw then chuck the rest of it. There is a good amount of meat in the knuckles that is almost always thrown away.
Are crab legs healthy?
Buttery, succulent, luxurious, and expensive are just a few of the words that come to mind when thinking about crab legs. One of the most popular seafood choices in the U.S., the crab has become a staple of the American diet thanks to it being more readily available and among the healthier options compared to other crustaceans.