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's the best crab meat for crab cakes? ›

Instead, look for lump crab meat in the seafood section of your grocery store. This meat comes from the body of the crab and it is chunky enough that it is ideal for crab cakes. Other types of crab meat, such as backfin or claw meat, have a slightly flakier texture that's less ideal for cakes.

Why do my crab cakes fall apart when cooking? ›

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.

How often should you eat crab cakes? ›

If you're eager to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation for eating seafood twice a week, try today's recipe for Maryland-style Crab Cakes.

What's the best way to eat crab cakes? ›

Many people prefer to eat their crab cakes layered with lettuce and tomato on a soft bread bun. This is an excellent way to enjoy a crab cake because the soft, buttery flavor of the bun perfectly complements the soft, buttery flavor of the crab meat.

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).

What makes a Maryland crab cake different? ›

Maryland Crab Cakes: Hailing from the Chesapeake Bay region, Maryland-style crab cakes are renowned for their simplicity and emphasis on the star ingredient – crab. These cakes typically showcase lump crab meat, lightly bound together with minimal fillers such as breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, and a blend of spices.

Is crab cake healthy? ›

It is low in fat and calories. In other words, it's very healthy for your heart while remaining a fulfilling and satisfying main course. At Box Hill Crab Cakes, we serve numerous crab snacks, including our famous crab cakes. Read on to learn how those crab cakes may offer a few health benefits.

How long will crab cakes last in the refrigerator? ›

Crab cakes should be stored in the refrigerator for no more then 1-2 days. For longer storage, crab cakes can be stored in the freezer. Crab cakes can remain in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What tastes good on crab cakes? ›

From sweet mango puree to smoky chipotle mayo, here are five terrific sauces for crab cakes.
  • Crab Cakes with Smoky Onion Remoulade.
  • Crispy Crab Cakes with Tomato Butter.
  • Spicy Crab Cakes with Mango Puree.
  • Crisp Crab Cakes with Chipotle Mayonnaise.
  • Crab Cakes with Horseradish Cream.
Jun 12, 2017

How do you tell if crab cakes are done? ›

Crab Cake Cooking Directions

Place crab cakes in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the cakes are golden brown on top and firm to the touch. (Please make sure to keep an eye on them in the final five minutes.) When you remove the crab cakes, their internal temperature should be 145° F.

Why do you have to refrigerate crab cakes before cooking? ›

Refrigerate Your Crab Cakes

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. It also helps to bring out their flavors more, so there's more benefits to be reaped here!

What kind of crab are crab cakes made of? ›

While meat from any species of crab may be used, the blue crab, whose native habitat includes the Chesapeake Bay, is the traditional choice and generally considered to be the best tasting.

Is claw or lump crab meat better for crab cakes? ›

Not to be confused with jumbo lump crab meat, lump crab meat comes from the body of the crab. This body meat has a “sturdier” consistency, which makes it perfect for crab cakes. Its taste is often said to be stronger than jumbo lump meat but less overpowering than claw meat.

What is the tastiest crab meat? ›

Blue Crab. The blue crab is among the best types of crab due to its sweetness and quality flavor. Many describe the flavor as rich and buttery.

Can you use frozen crab meat for crab cakes? ›

Can we use frozen crab meat as a substitute for fresh crab meat while making fish cakes, prawn cutlets, etc.? if its actual crab meat, it should work though frozen crabmeat is measurably inferior to fresh or even pasteurized crabmeat in a jar.

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