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Easy Crab Cakes Recipe

We are going to show you how to make the absolute best crab cake recipe using fresh or canned crab. It is perfect to make all year long!

Do you love crab cakes but don’t know how to make them? Follow this recipe and you’ll be making your own in no time. All it takes is a little patience, some good ingredients, and the right cooking skills.

These are the best crab cakes are delicious served with tartar sauce and lemon wedges for an extra zing!

This recipe will show you how easy it is to make delicious crab cakes that taste better than any from your favorite restaurant! Whether they’re appetizers at your next dinner party or you are looking for some new brunch recipes, these crab cakes can be made in under 30 minutes.

On the east coast in places like the Chesapeake Bay (hello maryland crab cakes) or New England, fresh blue crabs can be enjoyed. But your local seafood department is always an option.

crab cakes

How to Make Classic Crab Cakes

Be sure to scroll down to get the full printable recipe with instructions and ingredients! 

Ingredient Checklist:

  • 1 1/2 cup crab meat
  • 2 tbsp green onions, chopped
  • 1 tsp tarragon, chopped
  • ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 4 tsp lemon juice, fresh (½ lemon squeezed)
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers, or butter flavored crackers, crushed
  • 1-2 tbsp of butter for cooking
crab cakes

Directions

In a medium bowl, add the egg, mayonnaise, red pepper flakes, green onions, tarragon and lemon juice.  Mix until well combined. 

Add the crab meat to the egg mixture, blend well. 

Use a ziploc bag and rolling pin to crush the crackers, add the crushed crackers to the crab meat mixture. Mix until well combined. 

Form 8 small crab cakes and prepare a skillet with melted butter over medium high heat. 

crab cakes

Add the crab cakes to the skillet and cook for 5 min approximately on each side or until a light golden brown. 

Remove from heat, serve immediately. 

crab cakes

What to Serve with Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Examples of additional recipes or dishes that pair well with crab cakes are:

crab cakes

Recipes for sauces that go well with your crab cakes 

blue claw crabs
What kind of crab should I to use to make crab cakes?

You can use any of the blue crab meat, fresh crab meat or canned, such as:
Jumbo lump crabmeat
Fresh Lump crabmeat (also known as backfin meat)
Claw Meat
Regardless of the type of crab meat you use, be sure check through for pieces of shell.

How to Store Maryland-Style Crab Cakes

Sadly, because crab cakes are made out of mostly perishable ingredients, be sure to enjoy right away and refrigerate your leftovers, enjoying them within 24 hours. Wrap your crab cakes in plastic wrap.

More delicious easy recipes to enjoy if you love seafood

crab cakes

Easy Crab Cakes Recipe

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
We are going to show you how to make the absolute best crab cake recipe using fresh or canned crab. It is perfect to make all year long!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups crab meat
  • 2 tbsp green onions, chopped
  • 1 tsp tarragon, chopped
  • ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 4 tsp lemon juice, fresh (½ lemon squeezed)
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers, or butter flavored crackers, crushed
  • 1-2 tbsp of butter for cooking

Instructions

    -In a medium bowl, add the egg, mayonnaise, red pepper flakes, green onions, tarragon and lemon juice.  Mix until well combined. 

    -Add the crab meat to the egg mixture, blend well. 

    -Use a ziploc bag and rolling pin to crush the crackers, add the crushed crackers to the crab meat mixture. Mix until well combined. 

    -Form 8 small crab cakes and prepare a skillet with melted butter over medium high heat. 

    -Add the crab cakes to the skillet and cook for 5 min approximately on each side or until a light golden brown. 

    -Remove from heat, serve immediately. 

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Delicious Stuffed Flounder Recipe Paired with Portillo Wines

Friday 17th of August 2018

[…] find in the summer and flounder in the winter. The stuffing is just a variation of our favorite crab cake recipe, so if you find yourself with leftover filling like I did, give the cakes a […]

Marei

Saturday 2nd of July 2016

I am not really a crab fan. I dont eat such. But with this easy and delicious recipe that you have created, I might try something I hate. Thank you.

Heather M

Friday 8th of August 2014

Yum! I love love love crab cakes. Fresh would be best.

Cynthia

Friday 25th of July 2014

I'm a big fan of any seafood but especially crab. These crab cakes look delicious. Thank you for Linking at the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you again next week.

Clare

Friday 11th of July 2014

I have to say I've never eaten a crab cake let alone cooked one myself - but you make it look really easy!

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