Crab is a sublime seafood, prized for its sweet and delicate flavor. When enjoying crab, either as crab legs, crab cakes, or simply a pile of lump crab meat, pairing it with the right side dishes is key. The ideal accompaniments will complement the natural crab flavor without overpowering.
After analyzing numerous sources the top side pairings for crab are starchy sides like biscuits bread, and potatoes, classic vegetable sides like roasted Brussels sprouts and grilled asparagus, creamy based salads like potato salad and coleslaw, and dipping sauces ranging from flavored mayonnaise to lemon garlic butter.
Here is an in-depth look at 15 of the best side dishes to serve with crab:
Classic Starchy Sides
1. Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Warm fluffy cheddar bay biscuits soaked in garlic butter pair sublimely with sweet crab. The salty savory cheddar and hint of garlic perfectly complement the crab. Bake up a batch of biscuits or use a store-bought refrigerated tube for easy prep.
2. Cornbread
Creamy, crispy cornbread offers a naturally sweet and salty balance to rich crab. Try a traditional Southern-style cornbread with cornmeal, buttermilk, eggs, and bacon fat for indulgent flavor. Good cornbread absorbs butter like a sponge.
3. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Smooth, creamy mashed potatoes infused with roasted garlic and butter are a no-fail pairing. For crab, use Yukon gold or russet potatoes and mash with heavy cream and roasted garlic for an ultra-rich side. Sprinkle the mashed potatoes with extra chopped garlic.
4. French Bread
A crusty artisanal French baguette is perfect for sopping up delicious crab juices. Tear off pieces with your hands and dip into any drippings or sauces. For added flavor, rub the sliced bread with a halved garlic clove.
Classic Vegetable Sides
5. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts roast up crispy, caramelized, and irresistible. Toss halved sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast at 400°F until browned. Roasted Brussels sprouts have a nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with crab.
6. Grilled Asparagus
Fresh grilled asparagus offers a healthy complement to rich crab. Toss asparagus spears in olive oil and grill until lightly charred. Sprinkle with lemon juice and parmesan cheese. The fresh green flavor balances the sweetness of crab.
7. Sauteed Corn, Zucchini and Peppers
A saute of summer vegetables offers a delicious medley of flavors and textures with crab. Saute diced zucchini, corn kernels, and julienned peppers in olive oil and herbs like basil and oregano.
8. Steamed Artichokes
Large steamed artichokes served warm with melted lemon garlic butter offer the ultimate dipping experience with crab. Pull off leaves, swipe in butter, then scrape off the meat with your teeth.
Creamy Salad Sides
9. Potato Salad
Potato salad made with a tangy mustard dressing provides a creamy, hearty contrast to crab’s delicate meat. Chop boiled potatoes while still warm and fold with mayo, mustard, chopped celery, parsley, dill, and hard boiled eggs.
10. Coleslaw
Cool crunchy coleslaw with a sweet creamy dressing balances the richness of crab. For the slaw, thinly slice green and red cabbage and carrots. Toss with mayo, cider vinegar, sugar, and celery seeds. Let chill before serving.
11. Pasta Salad
Chilled pasta salad is a perfect summer side for crab. Toss small pasta shapes like farfalle or rotini with diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, olives, and Italian dressing. Chill before serving.
Sauces and Dips for Crab
12. Lemon Garlic Butter
A simple compound lemon garlic butter brings the classic complement to crab. Simmer butter with minced garlic, a squeeze of lemon, and chopped parsley. Serve melted for dipping hot crab legs or claws.
13. Cocktail Sauce
For cold crab, make a homemade cocktail sauce by combining chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and hot sauce to taste. Generously spoon or drizzle over chilled crab meat.
14. Remoulade
This creamy, piquant sauce is ideal for dipping boiled crabs or crab cakes. Make it by mixing mayonnaise, stone ground mustard, capers, cornichons, herbs, Cajun seasoning, lemon, and hot sauce.
15. Aioli
Whip up this Mediterranean garlic mayonnaise by blending mayo, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and a dash of cayenne. Dollop on top of crab cakes or use as a sauce for dipping steamed crab legs.
With so many tasty options, from starchy and hearty to fresh and crunchy, you can create incredible crab meals. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different pairings either. Offer guests an array of sides and sauces to explore new and exciting flavor combinations with each bite of sweet crab.
What to Eat With Crab?
There are countless side dishes that will pair very nicely with crab. We recommend keeping a pretty straightforward side dish so the crab does not get overshadowed. Below are many side dishes we recommend for what to eat with crab meat. You can find many crab side dish recipes for the suggestions below.
Another side option is a lemon rice pilaf. This is a nice comforting dish that complements the crab flavors in a delicate way.
Salad is always a great option as well. Crab is a nice light dish when steamed and thus salad is a wonderful accompaniment to keep the whole meal light. You can also serve salad with garlic butter roasted crab to balance out the richness of that preparation. One recommendation is a mandarin orange salad since it is a nice combination of crunchy and refreshing with a bit of sweetness. This can also be served as a first course before the crab to prepare the taste buds for what is to come.
Since vegetables have refreshing and earthy flavors, they are a nice complement to the sweet meat of crab. Not all veggies are created equal, though. Some of the best vegetables to pair are asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers and onions. Roasting them will caramelize them and bring out the natural sweetness that will pair so well with crab. This side dish can be served with warm or cold crab.
Another type of vegetables that is a really fun pairing is steamed artichokes. This food is along the same lines of use your hands, pull it apart, eat the meat, and discard the rest. It’s a great accompaniment once you’re already messy and letting your guard down.
First off, everyone loves mashed potatoes. Literally. I’ve never met anyone who actively dislikes mashed potatoes. Can you say, ultimate crowd pleaser? Any preparation of potato, really, pairs well with crab. But we know that mashed potatoes are that much of a widely loved fan favorite.
Another absolute crowd winner is, you guessed it, French fries. They’re absolutely delicious and super convenient to eat. Everyone loves them. And, you can even serve garlic fries to contrast steamed crabs or to complement garlic roasted crab.
Any type of corn can pair nicely with Crab. But to enhance the hands on eating experience, we recommend corn on the cob. Both elements are refreshing and take hands to eat so once you’re messy and getting in there, why not? You can prepare corn on the cob many ways like grilling it, steaming, boiling or even microwaving.
This one is the most obvious. Wine so clearly pairs incredibly well with crab. Especially white wine. Pinot gris, chardonnay and dry Riesling are the top recommendations for wine pairing.
Yes, crab tastes sweet and delicious. But, it is light. Light enough that you’ll still have room for dessert when you’re finished devouring your crustacean. To keep with the light and refreshing theme you can go with a lemon cheesecake. Or of course go for the classic chocolate cake.
What to serve with crab legs
You definitely want to supply crab crackers, crab forks and if possible, bibs. Eating crab is messy and can take a lot of work but these tools make it much more pleasant.
Other than butter, you can create all sorts of sauces to serve with crab. For instance, mustard with dill, mayonnaise, lemon and salt and pepper. Another sauce you can try is spicy diablo dipping sauce. Or perhaps a hollandaise.
You can of course consider the most common and popular of all, cocktail sauce. You can even make this sauce at home by mixing together horseradish, Worcestershire, tabasco, lemon and ketchup. Play with different combinations and add pepper to give it an extra kick.
The best side dishes for seafood
FAQ
What goes well with crab as a side?
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 to have with fresh crab for dinner?
- Steamed Artichokes with Garlic and Butter.
- Cottage-Cut French Fries.
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
- Lemon and Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce.
- Brandy-Infused Mayonnaise Dip.
- Twice-Baked Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
- Zucchini, Onion and Corn Hash.
- Almond Caesar Salad.
What are good sides for seafood dinner?
- Corn on the Cob. Corn is a seafood boil essential. …
- Boiled Potatoes. Potatoes are non-negotiable seafood boil side dishes! …
- Garlic Butter French Bread. …
- Fried Pickles. …
- Creole Coleslaw. …
- Cajun Mac & Cheese. …
- Spicy Pickled Vegetables. …
- Cajun Dirty Rice.
What protein pairs with crab?
- Filet Mignon Topped with Lump Crab Meat. …
- Bacon-Topped Crab Cake Sandwich. …
- Crab Dip Stuffed Chicken Breasts. …
- Crab and Sausage Soup. …
- Creamy Crab and Chicken Alfredo. …
- Crab-topped Eggs Benedict with Breakfast Sausage. …
- Crab Legs and Ribs.