Crab is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes From appetizers to main courses, crab meat adds a sweet, succulent flavor to any meal If you have some fresh crab on hand or find it on sale at the market, here are 20 amazing recipes for what to make with crab
Appetizers
Crab cakes are a classic way to start a meal. These crispy patties are full of sweet crab flavor:
-
Maryland Style Crab Cakes – These crab cakes are made with lump crab meat, bread crumbs, mayo, eggs, and Old Bay seasoning. Pan fry until golden brown and serve with remoulade sauce.
-
Crab Rangoon – Creamy crab rangoon with crab and cream cheese lightly fried in wonton wrappers make a delicious appetizer,
-
Hot Crab Dip – This cheesy, crabtastic dip is baked to perfection and served warm with crackers or crudites
-
Crab Crescents – Crescent roll dough stuffed with crab salad and baked to a golden brown. Perfect finger food!
Soups and Salads
Crab also shines in chilled salads and warm bisques:
-
Cream of Crab Soup – A smooth, creamy soup with chunks of crab meat. Finish with a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning.
-
Crab and Asparagus Soup – An elegant soup with crab meat, asparagus, and fresh herbs.
-
Crab Pasta Salad – Tender pasta, crab, celery, and veggies tossed in a creamy dressing. Chill before serving.
-
Crab Louie Salad – A classic Louie salad made with crab, hard boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and Louie dressing.
Main Dishes
For an indulgent main course, turn to one of these crab recipes:
-
Crab Imperial – Lump crab baked in a creamy, eggy imperial sauce until golden. An Eastern Shore classic!
-
Crab Stuffed Salmon – Salmon fillets baked with a crab and cream cheese filling. Elegant and delicious.
-
Crab Enchiladas – Corn tortillas stuffed with crab, veggies, and cheese then smothered in enchilada sauce.
-
Crab Fried Rice – Fluffy fried rice loaded with crab meat, eggs, and vegetables. A perfect way to use up leftover rice.
-
Crab Linguine – Tender linguine tossed with lump crab, lemon, garlic, and herbs makes a fast weeknight meal.
Casseroles and Bakes
For easy one-dish meals, try these crab casseroles:
-
Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna noodles layered with crab, shrimp, ricotta, and marinara sauce. Luxurious and impressive.
-
Crab and Shrimp Casserole – A creamy casserole with crab, shrimp, cheese, and crackers baked until bubbly.
-
Crab Quiche – Eggs, cream, and crab baked in a flaky pie crust for an elegant brunch dish.
-
Cheese and Crab Brunch Bake – An overnight breakfast casserole with crab, eggs, cheese, and bread cubes.
Snacks and Sandwiches
For lighter meals, crab also shines in snacks and sandwiches:
-
Crab Salad Lettuce Wraps – Sweet crab salad stuffed into crisp lettuce cups makes a fun handheld snack.
-
Crab Salad Sandwich – Tuck crab salad piled high on toasted brioche or rolls for an amazing sandwich.
-
Crab Melt – Oozing with crab, cheese and tomatoes, this open-faced crab sandwich is broiled until toasty.
-
Crab Cake Sandwich – A toasted bun stacked with crab cakes, lettuce, tomato and remoulade sauce. Crab cake perfection!
With its sweet, succulent flavor and luxurious texture, crab can transform any dish into a special meal. From rich entrées to quick snacks, this selection of 20 recipes covers all the best ways for what to make with crab. With fresh crab and a few simple ingredients, you’ll be enjoying delicious crab-centric meals in no time. So put that crab meat to good use with these amazing recipe ideas. Your family and friends will be impressed!
How do I make imperial sauce?
The first step is making the Imperial sauce for the dish. Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
The next step is mixing the imperial sauce into the crabmeat…. gently! You don’t want to break up the crabmeat, so mix carefully.
**Don’t add all the sauce at one time. Reserve about ¼ of the sauce to add in if needed. The larger the pieces of crabmeat, the less sauce you will need. Smaller pieces will take more sauce. If you oversauce the mixture you can always add a tablespoon of bread crumbs if you can’t drain out the excess sauce. Let the mixture sit for 20-30 minutes and it will absorb some of the sauce, so the mixture isn’t as loose.
Then place the crab imperial mixture into a Scallops Shells or your choice of baking dish and place it on the center rack of your oven for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees F.
What ingredients do I need to make Crab Imperial?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make this American Classic. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into Everything in its Place.
Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
EASY Crab & Shrimp Bisque Recipe for Busy Weeknights! ⏰
FAQ
What dish goes well with crab?
Roasted vegetables bring a deeper flavor to your meal, and asparagus or broccoli are two of the best choices. Roasting at a high heat caramelizes the edges and gives a crisp-tender bite that pairs beautifully with crab.
What meals can I make with crab?
- Pork & crab ‘ants climbing trees’ A star rating of 5 out of 5. …
- Crab linguine with chilli & parsley. A star rating of 4.7 out of 5. …
- Crab cakes with dill mayonnaise. …
- Classic California roll. …
- Crab mayonnaise with Melba toast & herb salad. …
- Samphire & crab salad. …
- Crab & saffron risotto. …
- Crab, leek & cheddar tart.
What do you do with already cooked crab?
- Uses for Leftover Jumbo Lump Crab Meat
- Crabcake Fettuccine with Mushrooms
- Crabcakes with Spicy Remoulade
- Crab, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Lemon-Basil Dressing
What protein pairs well 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.