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23 Crab Recipes That Are Amazing All Year Round

Feeling crabby? Look no further.

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flaky crab cakes stacked and served with tartar saucepinterest
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER, FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Forgive our (many!) puns, but there's nothing about cooking with crab that makes us feel anything near crabby. And while you might think of crab only as a summertime staple (or the main component of our favorite crab cakes), crab is truly an all-year-round protein here to become a staple for dinners, appetizers, sides, and more. Regardless if you're hand-picking the crab yourself or using canned or imitation, these 18 crab recipes are beyond easy and will really fancy up any get-together. No crabbiness, guaranteed. 😉

There's a lot of competition for the best (shell)fish in the sea, but crab is certainly at the top of our list. While fresh crab legs are obviously ideal (we've got a handy guide on 5 ways to cook crab legs here), jumbo lump crab straight from the can is an excellent year-round alternative that's easy to grab from the store. Think about it: crab rangoon, crab-stuffed mushrooms, and hot crab dip are all things you can and (and should) make casually for a last-minute party or just a random Wednesday? You're going to want to stock up on some cans, that's for sure.

Crab is great for so much more than just snacks and appetizers too. Make a whole sushi night of it with our recipes for California rolls and spicy crab rolls, add them to our crab-stuffed avocados for a light dinner, or really live your crab cake-filled dreams with our crab cake burgers. Looking to really impress at dinnertime? Our Viet-Cajun boil is a feast for the eyes and a literal feast in itself!

1

Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms

crab stuffed mushrooms
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

In the world of fancy appetizers, the crab-stuffed mushroom reigns supreme, but don't stop there. Transform crab-stuffed mushrooms into a dinner-worthy entrée by using portobello mushrooms instead of cremini. For a twist on this classic, check out our crab & artichoke-stuffed mushrooms next.

Get the Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.

2

Crab Cakes

flaky crab cakes stacked and served with tartar sauce
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Crab cakes are an appetizer staple at fancy seafood restaurants, but they're actually surprisingly easy to make at home! Ready in 30 minutes, this is the perfect easy appetizer to serve up when you want to feel transported to a seaside escape.

Get the Crab Cakes recipe.

3

Crab-Stuffed Avocado

ripe avocado stuffed with chili and cumin spiced lump crab, tomato, mango, and scallion, served with plantain chips
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you thought mini crab cakes would make your brunch feel fancy, wait until your guests see these crab-stuffed avocados. Stuffed into a halved avocado and served with plantain chips, this is crab salad, elevated.

Get the Crab-Stuffed Avocado recipe.

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4

Crab Rangoon

crab rangoon

Crab rangoon is a bit of a sleeper hit in the world of Chinese-American appetizers. They're basically little pockets of cheesy crab dip wrapped up in a crispy wonton shell. What's not to love?

Get the Crab Rangoon recipe.

5

Spicy Crab Rolls

spicy crab rolls
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER, FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

This spicy crab sushi roll utilizes inexpensive imitation crab, called surimi, to create the beloved creamy and piquant roll. If you’ve got fresh crab on hand—lucky you!—it would be delicious in surimi’s place.

Get the Spicy Crab Rolls recipe.

6

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

air fryer crab cakes
Andrew bui

Crab cakes are the best because you get all the deliciousness of crab without all of the tedious, messy work of pulling meat from the shells. Since you're already skipping that mess, go even further and skip the pan-fry too, and make 'em in your air fryer.

Get the Air Fryer Crab Cakes recipe.

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7

Sushi Bake

seasoned sushi rice and spicy chopped crab baked and topped with sriracha, kewpie mayo, avocado, cucumber, and furikake
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This easy casserole is the perfect entry point for trying your hand at making sushi at home or introducing sushi to picky kiddos. It’s exactly like your favorite spicy roll, but with extra toppings, like creamy sliced avocado, cucumber, and plenty of sriracha.

Get the Sushi Bake recipe.

8

Crab Cake Egg Rolls

jumbo lump crab, tossed with mayo, chili garlic sauce, and old bay seasoning, folded in a wonton wrapper, then deep fried until deep golden brown and crisp
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

These two-bite beauties combine the decadence of a crab cake, and the crisp-chewy texture of your favorite take-out egg rolls all into one platter-friendly package.

Get the Crab Cake Egg Rolls recipe.

9

She-Crab Soup

she crab soup
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Similar to a crab bisque, this creamy soup comes to us from the South Carolina low-country. Thick, rich, and loaded with crab flavor, it promises to take you to Charleston in less time than it takes you to clean your bowl.

Get the She-Crab Soup recipe.

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10

Crab Artichoke Dip

crab artichoke dip

This dip takes classic spinach and artichoke dip and turns it up a notch by adding flavorful, rich crab. Not only extremely decadent, this cheesy crab dip is surprisingly easy. It comes together in just 35 minutes!

Get the Crab Artichoke Dip recipe.

11

Crab Meat Salad

crab meat salad vertical
Parker Feierbach

Don't sleep on crab meat salad! While it might not get all the attention it deserves, this hearty "salad" will be a hit at any lunch potluck. Get the crackers ready ASAP.

Get the Crab Meat Salad recipe.

12

Viet-Cajun Boil

vietcajun boils, pinch boil house
Photographer: Linda Xiao. Food Stylist: Erika Joyce.

Fusing Vietnamese flavors with the art of the Cajun crawfish boil, Vietnamese-Cajun is perhaps one of the greatest new American cuisines of the 21st century, and this Viet-Cajun boil is proof.

Get the Viet-Cajun Boil recipe.

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13

Hot Crab Dip

hot crab dip delishcom
Emily Hlavac Green

Okay we'll say it: Hot crab dip belongs in the party dip hall of fame. Packed with melty cheese and sweet, tender crab meat, this rich dip is the perfect opener to any casual game day celebration or dinner party.

Get the Hot Crab Dip recipe.

14

Crab Cake Bites

crab cake bites on a platter next to a dish of white chive dip
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Turn the classic seafood dish into the cutest bite-sized app with these crab cake bites. Ready in a little over 30 minutes, these bites are the easiest way to add the fancy factor to your party, whether you're planning your Christmas dinner or New Year's bash.

Get the Crab Cake Bites recipe.

15

Best California Roll

california rolls delishcom
Emily Hlavac Green

Just getting into sushi? California rolls are the perfect place to start. No raw fish is required—just imitation crab—which is typical for this type of roll. All you need is a sushi mat, and you're ready to roll! 😉

Get the Best California Roll recipe.

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16

How To Cook Crab Legs

how to cook crab legs

Snow crab legs are one of life's greatest luxuries, but their high price can make preparing them at home feel a little daunting. No more! Dig out your crab cracker, because with these tried-and-true cooking methods, you'll be feeling fancy in a matter of minutes.

Get the How To Cook Crab Legs recipe.

17

Crab Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms

crab artichoke stuffed mushrooms
Parker feierbach

We'd venture to say stuffed mushrooms are one of the world's best party snacks along with the old standbys deviled eggs & pigs in a blanket. This version is even MORE irresistible with the addition of sweet, tender crab, fresh scallions, and rich cream cheese.

Get the Crab Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.

18

Crab Bisque

crab bisque   delishcom
Parker Feierbach

Forget lobster bisque—this is where it's at. What even is crab bisque, you might be asking? It's an old-school creamy soup that's perfect for a special occasion. Spoiler: It's also easy as hell.

Get the Crab Bisque recipe.

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19

Crab Cake Burgers

crab cake burgers vertical
Ethan Calabrese

There's nothing to be crabby about with these burgers, which are basically our dream come true: an XL version of a crab cake. Could this be the most brilliant hybrid meal ever? We think so.

Get the Crab Cake Burgers recipe.

20

Slow-Cooker Crab Dip

slow cooker crab dip
Ethan Calabrese

We LOVE this dip with Ritz crackers, but slices of French bread or pita chips would also be delicious. If you’d like to go a healthier route, sliced cucumber or celery sticks are the way to go.

Get the Slow-Cooker Crab Dip recipe.

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