Crab Cakes - Best Melt-in-your-Mouth Recipe - Everyday Dishes (2024)

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by Cheryl Najafi on Dec 14, 2014 7 comments »

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If you’re serving crab to your company, we wouldn’t have it any other way than to set you up with a recipe for melt-in-your-mouth crab cakes.

Our recipe uses a minimal amount of ‘binder’ so you get the full savory flavor of the crab. We also pre-mix the ingredients before adding the crab meat—since crab meat can be on the expensive side, we like to have big lumps of crab visible in the cakes.

This dish is absolutely fabulous served with a side of lemon and tartar sauce or on a bed of fresh greens, accompanied by a light vinaigrette dressing.

Crab Cakes Recipe Tips

  • The key to this recipe is to handle the crab meat gently. This will keep the patties light and perfect for frying while keeping the large chunks of meat intact!
  • Want to make this recipe lower carb? Use crushed pork rinds instead of crackers!

Crab Cakes - Best Melt-in-your-Mouth Recipe - Everyday Dishes (1)

Crab Cakes Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Melt-in-your-mouth crab cakes are easier to make than you think! This simple recipe makes crab cakes an entertaining staple.

Ingredients

Yield: 8 crab cakes

4.23 from 81 ratings

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Instructions

  • Transfer crabmeat into a colander then set aside to drain excess liquid. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together egg, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce (optional), garlic powder, paprika and salt until completely combined. Add bell pepper, green onion and parsley then stir to combine.

  • Gently fold in drained crabmeat until well coated. Once the crab is moistened, add cracker crumbs, gently folding until the crumbs are completely mixed in. Try to leave crab chunks as intact as possible. Cover mixture then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

  • Form patties using ⅓ cup of the mixture at a time. When forming the patties, compress the mixture well, but don’t mash them together or they will become too dense. The mixture will be moist, but should hold together. If the mixture does not hold together, just add a bit more cracker crumb.

  • Place a large skillet over medium heat then add just enough oil to barely cover the bottom of the pan. Heat oil until it is shimmering, then gently place crab cakes into the pan. Do not overcrowd the pan and work in batches if necessary.

  • Fry crab cakes until dark golden brown, about 3–5 minutes per side. Remove from pan then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil. Serve piping hot with a wedge of lemon and your favorite tartar sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

The key to this recipe is to handle the crab meat gently. This will keep the patties light and perfect for frying while keeping the large chunks of meat intact!

Author: Cheryl Najafi

Course: dinner

Calories: 121kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 672mg, Potassium: 38mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g

Crab Cakes - Best Melt-in-your-Mouth Recipe - Everyday Dishes (2)

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originally published on Dec 14, 2014 (last updated Nov 3, 2023)

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7 comments on “Crab Cakes”

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  1. Rachel

    Love this recipe. I’ve been using it for years. And it’s spoiled me so much I can’t eat store bought /restaurant crab cakes anymore!

  2. Lindsay Viker

    Absolutely! I really like to vacuum seal any food I’m freezing if possible to keep it as fresh as possible.

  3. Dave

    Since there are only 2 of us, if I make the whole recipe can I freeze them once made but not cooked? I saw the recipe reduction but I figure I have to use the crab anyway.
    Thanks!

  4. Divya s

    Hi,

    I was googling around for the content about the seafood. On this page, I found your fantastic resource. Just wanted to let you know how much your page has helped me.

    We provide fresh fish, blue crab, crab cake, alaskan crab legs, shrimp, shellfish, seafood soup, and more. If you want to check it, you may find it here: https://www.cameronsseafood.com/

    Please have a look at this. Perhaps we might collaborate to write a blogpost or promote one another through any other referral source.

    In any case, thanks for compiling your resource list and have a great day!

    Talk Soon,

    Divya
    [emailprotected]

  5. Lindsay Viker

    Oh definitely! You don’t want them to dry out so you’d probably want to use it up within about 2-3 days and store it in an airtight container.

  6. Cindy

    I’m wondering if this can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge? If so bow soon sho yo ld it be used up? Thank-you!

  7. Deborah Williams

    Made them for the first time came out great thanks

Leave a Reply

Crab Cakes - Best Melt-in-your-Mouth Recipe - Everyday Dishes (2024)

FAQs

What are good side dishes with crab cakes? ›

30 Side Dishes to Serve With Crab Cakes
  • 01 of 31. Fresh Corn Salad. View Recipe. ...
  • 02 of 31. Eggplant Mixed Grill. View Recipe. ...
  • 03 of 31. Mad Hatter Salad. ...
  • 04 of 31. Air Fryer Roasted Okra. ...
  • 05 of 31. Cranked Up Corn Chowder. ...
  • 06 of 31. Vinagrete (Brazilian Tomato Slaw) ...
  • 07 of 31. Grilled Asparagus. ...
  • 08 of 31. Chef John's White Gazpacho.
Feb 11, 2022

Is it better to fry or bake crab cakes? ›

Are crab cakes better baked or fried? You can either bake or fry these crab cakes. My personal preference is to bake them because it's easier (no risk of them falling apart when you flip them) and they are less prone to drying out (it's easy to overcook the crab cakes when frying them in a pan).

Can you eat crab cakes on a diet? ›

Bake Instead of Fry

You can further lower your healthier concerns by eating crabcakes if you bake them rather than fry the crabcakes. If you prefer fried crabcakes, use olive oil. Box Hill Crabcakes recommends incorporating vegetables for more health benefits. We recommend carrots or celery for your crabcakes.

What is the best way to eat crab cakes? ›

8 Ways to Serve Crab Cakes
  1. With Russian dressing. Follow Andrew Zimmern's example and serve cold Baltimore-style crab cakes with Russian dressing and tomato.
  2. With horseradish cream. Make a punchy combo of sour cream, mayonnaise, and horseradish. ...
  3. With gazpacho. ...
  4. On a po' boy. ...
  5. As burgers or sliders. ...
  6. In a salad. ...
  7. With mango puree.
Jun 12, 2017

What pairs nicely with crab? ›

Here are a handful of the best crab side dishes:
  • 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.
Sep 8, 2022

Why do my crab cakes fall apart? ›

While egg is a popular choice, it alone is not enough to make crab cakes retain their shape. A starch binder is also required. The key here is maintaining the proper balance, as too little binder means your crab cakes will fall apart, but too much will give your crab cakes an unfortunate texture.

What is the best crab meat to buy for crab cakes? ›

If you can, we highly recommend buying jumbo crab meat for your crab cakes. This meat comes from two large muscles, and is known for its bright white color and superior taste. It's also made up of bigger chunks, instead of shredded smaller bits, which is ideal for making crab cakes.

How do you keep crab cakes from falling apart when frying? ›

There's actually a pretty easy fix for this common problem. Simply stick your crab cakes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. The time they spend there will allow the crab cakes to solidify their shape.

How do you get crab cakes to stick together? ›

You can refrigerate the crab mixture for 30 minutes in the fridge before forming into patties. This will not only give the crab meat a chance to meld together with all the other flavors, but it will also hold together better when shaping into cakes.

Are crab cakes bad for cholesterol? ›

Crabcakes are sky high in fat. They're often made with mayonnaise, which contains lots of saturated fat. Like cholesterol, saturated fat has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease, stroke and even some cancers.

Do crab cakes have a lot of cholesterol? ›

Crab Cakes, Maryland Style Premium: (4 oz.) calories 240, calories from fat 140, total fat 16g, saturated fat 3.2g, trans fat 0g, cholesterol 140mg, sodium 811mg, total carbohydrate 8g, dietary fiber 0g, sugars 0g, protein 16g, vitamin a 4%, vitamin c 2%, calcium 11%, iron 8%.

Do crab cakes have a lot of carbs? ›

Crab Cake (1 cake) contains 5.1g total carbs, 4.9g net carbs, 10.4g fat, 11.3g protein, and 160 calories.

What vegetables go with crab cakes? ›

Combine carrots, potatoes, and shallots in a small roasting pan. Coat vegetables with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Toss. Bake at 450° for 20 minutes, turning once.

Should I refrigerate crab cakes before cooking? ›

Crab cakes are best served immediately, but you can shape the patties a day or two in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then cook them right before serving.

Why are my crab cakes mushy? ›

Use too little filler and the crab cakes will fall apart. Too much, however, leaves them mushy and tasting like filler. Crab is something that should be treated simply. Don't over-season or add too many ingredients.

What sides go with crab Imperial? ›

What To Serve With Crab Imperial - 36 Side Dishes
  • Meat. • 1 portion Skirt steak.
  • Seafood. • 1 portion Popcorn shrimp.
  • Bread & Baked Goods. • 1 portion Garlic bread. • 1 portion Hush puppies, fried.
  • Deli. • 1 portion Tossed green salad. • 1 portion Vinegar coleslaw, sweet.
  • Other. • ... and more.

Is it better to broil or fry crab cakes? ›

If you're using your crab meat to make crab cakes, then opting to broil them rather than fry them can help reduce the dish's overall fat.

How do you eat leftover crab cakes? ›

Stove. The stove is another method used for reheating crab cakes. This quick and easy method is used to ensure that your crab cake is heated evenly without changing the texture. You can add water lightly steaming your crab cake or add oil frying it for a crispier result when using the stove.

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