King crab is one of the most decadent and delicious seafood treats out there. With its succulent, sweet meat and impressively large claws, it’s no wonder king crab commands such a high price. While fresh king crab legs are a real delicacy, you may occasionally find yourself with leftover cooked crab meat. Rather than wasting the precious crab meat, get creative with these 10 tasty ways to use up leftover king crab at home.
Enjoy Simple King Crab Dishes
The easiest way to use up leftover crab is to keep preparation minimal. Baked or grilled crab legs reheated with a bit of lemon-butter are delicious. For a quick crab salad, toss chilled crab meat with veggies, greens and a lemony vinaigrette. Stuff crab meat into avocados or lettuce cups for a light crab salad taco. The sweetness of the crab shines through in simple dishes.
Toss King Crab with Hot Pasta
One of the most popular ways to enjoy king crab is tossed with hot pasta. The rich, briny crab meat pairs fantastically with olive oil or garlicky bread crumbs. Toss the crab with spaghetti, linguine or angel hair pasta. Finish with a sprinkling of fresh parsley, chili flakes and lemon zest. For a creamy crab pasta, make an easy alfredo sauce.
Load Up Seafood Chowders
Chowders and bisques are the perfect place to sneak in leftover crab. Stir chunks of crab into the soup during the last 5 minutes of simmering time. Some delicious chowder ideas are creamy crab and corn chowder, Manhattan clam chowder with crab, and spicy crab bisque. The nuggets of sweet crab make a great textural contrast to the tender vegetables and smooth broth.
Put King Crab Meat on Toast
Using crab meat atop toast makes for quick flavorful appetizers or snacks. Some tasty options are crab melt on sourdough avocado toast topped with crab and lime, and open-faced crostini with crab salad. The sweet crab pairs wonderfully with something acidic like lemon juice or tomato bruschetta topping. Crab on toast needs little embellishment to shine.
Make Mini Crab Cakes
Crispy crab cakes allow the fabulous flavor of the crab to be the star. Mix together fresh crab meat with bread crumbs egg mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and herbs. Form into mini crab cakes and pan fry in olive oil and butter until golden. Serve with remoulade, aioli or lemon wedges for squeezing.
Whip Up Crab Dip
Creamy crab dip is a fantastic way to use up smaller amounts of leftover crab. Simply mix together crab meat, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice and seasonings. Bake until heated through and bubbly. Serve warm with crackers or chips. Mix in cheese, artichokes or peppers to make the dip heartier.
Add to Seafood Casseroles
For the ultimate comfort food, make crab and rice casseroles, crab mac and cheese or crab stuffed shells. And since crab is already cooked, you can toss it in during the last few minutes of baking time. The luscious crab adds luxury to any creamy, cheesy casserole.
Create Crab Omelets
Omelets and frittatas make an easy breakfast option for leftover crab. Add crab meat along with cheeses, veggies like spinach and onion, or other proteins like bacon. Top your omelet with salsa, avocado or hollandaise sauce. Serve with home fries or fruit salad for a well-rounded brunch.
Make Crab Salad
Chilled crab salad makes an elegant first course or light lunch. Combine fresh crab with greens, roasted veggies, fruit, nuts, and a tangy dressing like lemon vinaigrette. Chill the salad for at least an hour before serving to allow flavors to meld. Turn it into a crab louie by adding hard-boiled egg, avocado and tomato.
Mix into Risotto
Risotto is a naturally luxurious dish that’s even better with crab meat stirred in. Follow your favorite seafood risotto recipe, folding in leftover crab during the final 5 minutes of cooking time. The sweet crab pairs well with lemony flavors, parsley and red pepper flakes. A decadent meal!
With its tender texture and amazing sweet flavor, king crab is delicious in pastas, salads, chowders and more. Next time you have leftover king crab, try whipping up one of these tasty crab recipes at home. Your taste buds will thank you.
FAVORITE TWO BREAKFAST IDEAS:
So, we actually have two favorite breakfast ideas that are perfect with either King Crab or Dungeness Crab Meat. Both recipes offer loads of flavor and protein – making them the perfect way to start the day.
Crab Meat Avocado Toast: First, elevate a very simple and traditional breakfast item, Avocado Toast, to a more flavorful and protein-packed Crab Meat Avocado Toast. Begin with a thin slice of your preferred choice of bread and add a layer fresh avocado. For the simplest solution, just add large pieces of Alaskan King Crab or Dungeness Crab Meat. If youre looking to add more embellishments and protein to your toast, add an egg on top of the crab meat, cooked your way, and sprinkle with a pinch of chili flakes.
Crab-Packed Egg Bites: Our other favorite way to enjoy leftover crab at breakfast takes a little more work, but only a little. Start with a mixing bowl and blend together eggs, chopped peppers, spinach, shredded mozzarella cheese, and either pieces of Golden King Crab, red King Crab or Dungeness Crab. Divide the mixture among a mini-muffin pan and bake at 375 degrees.
We love to add and substitute crab meat into many of our appetizer recipes. But, we particularly love this simple approach that combines the casual and the elegant. Begin by laying out small slices of crostini bread and spread a layer of pub cheese on each. After your pub cheese is spread, grab your leftover crab meat and spoon on top of each. These are simple to prepare and enjoyed by all. While it can be served as is, if you wish to serve warmed, simply bake the crostini and pub cheese for a few minutes in the oven and add the crab meat on top afterwards.
A simple take on a classic side dish – Crab-Topped Mashed Potatoes. Make your favorite mashed potato recipe (we highly recommend garlic & buttery mashed potato recipe), and simply top with crab meat right before serving. As you eat the mashed potatoes you mix the crab meat in to blend all of the flavors together.
This simple and delicious version of a traditional finger food is filled with flavor and easy to prepare. Crab your left over crab meat – we prefer Alaskan Golden King Crab, Alaskan Red King Crab, or Snow Crab for this recipe. Use either hard or soft shells, we recommend mini flour tortillas. From there, you can simply fill your shell or tortilla with your left over crab meat and add on any of your favorite taco toppings.
Check out our Alaskan Crab Tacos recipe here for a more detailed way to prepare crab tacos.
How to Prepare King Crab Legs
FAQ
What are king crabs used for?
Because of their large size, the taste of their meat, and their status as a delicacy, some species of king crabs are caught and sold as food. Red (Paralithodes camtschaticus) and blue (Paralithodes platypus) king crabs are heavily targeted by commercial fisheries in Alaska and have been for several decades.
What can I do with leftover king crab?
- Smoke your Crab. For a different approach to your crab leftovers, try smoking them. …
- Add it to a pasta. Crab meat is a well known topping for pasta and can create a well rounded dish when added to. …
- Make a dip. …
- Seafood Charcuterie. …
- Crab Stuffing. …
- Make it a salad. …
- King Crab Meat Recipes. …
- Crab Rolls.
Is king crab worth the money?
If you’re asking us, the answer is a clear yes! While the price tag might seem hefty, the experience and taste make every dollar worth it. From sustainability to taste and effort, each crab leg tells a story worth savouring.