Easy Crab Cakes

Dig in; it’s crab cake time!
Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or jazzing up your next backyard BBQ.

Delicious and easy to make, these are perfect for lunch or as an appetizer.

These no-fuss crab cakes have a lot of flavor (and a lot of crab) in a one bite. Crab patties are pan fried until crispy on the outside and tender inside.

This classic recipe is a keeper for party food like appetizers, side dishes, or even a light entrée with a side salad!

Fresh ingredients: Experience a jumbo lump crabmeat explosion with minimal fillers and panko breadcrumbs, ensuring each bite is meaty and flavorful with bright herbs and a zesty citrus twist.
Easy-peasy Lemon Squeezy: Never made a crab cake? No worries, they’re easy!
Blend, shape, and achieve that perfect golden brown finish with a quick pan-fry.
Versatile: These crab cakes are great as appetizers, side dishes, or even the main course. Pair them with your favorite greens, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a splash of hot sauce for an extra kick.

Ingredients for Crab Cakes

Crab Meat: Go for those meaty lumps and claws! Ensure you pick high-quality fresh crab meat, and always check for any sneaky bits of shell or cartilage. While I prefer lump crab meat, you can use canned crab as well.
Seasoning: Dijon mustard, a hint of Worcestershire, and fresh herbs add great flavor. for the ideal flavor. And don’t forget the iconic Old Bay seasoning to elevate the taste.
Breadcrumbs: I use very little filler, just enough to keep it all together. Panko with a little bit of mayo is my fave choice for the best texture. You can use crushed saltine crackers in place.
Variations: Customize to your heart’s content! Add diced red or green onions, bell peppers, or even a touch of cajun seasoning. Watching your carbs? Swap out the panko with crushed pork rinds for a delicious, low-carb alternative.

mayonnaise , seasonings , worcestershire , crab , egg, dijon , panko , parsley , oil and lemon to make Easy Crab Cakes with lables

How to Make Crab Cakes

For the best crab cakes, chill them so they keep their shape while they cook.

In a large bowl, whisk mayonnaise, egg, mustard, and Old Bay seasoning.
Add the remaining ingredients (per recipe below), being gentle so you don’t break up the crab too much.
Chill crab cakes and cook them in oil for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through and lightly browned. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

adding seasonings a dijon to mayonnaise and egg to make Easy Crab Cakes

adding crab and other seasonings with panko to bowl to make Easy Crab Cakes

What to Serve With Crab Cakes

Serve crab cakes with homemade tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or light garlic aioli.

Leftover Crab Cakes?

Leftover crab cakes can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a dry saute pan on medium heat to make them crispy again or reheat them in the air fryer. Freeze cooled crab cakes for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. Leftover crab cakes can be chopped and added to a crab salad, or mixed into a cheesy crab dip.

Easy Crab Cakes on a blue dish with lemon wedges

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Easy Crab Cakes

This Crab Cake recipe is easy to follow and makes juicy crab cakes that have meaty crab in every bite!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Chill Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Author Holly Nilsson

Check the crab meat for any hard and sharp cartilage, remove, and discard.
In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, beaten egg, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Old Bay seasoning.
Add crab meat, bread crumbs, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Gently fold to combine, being careful not to break up the crab.
Gently press to shape into 6-8 crab cakes using ⅓ cup each, then place on a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick over medium heat. Cook the crab cakes 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown.
Serve immediately with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.

Be gentle with the crab mixture so the crab doesn’t break apart. Don’t skip the refrigerating, or the crab cakes will not hold together.
To bake crab cakes: Preheat oven to 450℉. Place crab cakes on a foil-lined baking tray and bake for 13-18 minutes until browned.
Leftover crab cakes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan with a bit of oil over medium heat.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Seafood

Cuisine American

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