The Best Crab Cakes Recipe (2024)

Chock full of jumbo lump crabmeat, the Very Best Crab Cakes are light on fillers for the most perfect tender bite you’ll ever take. Simple to prepare, these crab cakes are perfect for easy weeknight dinners or elegant dinner parties.

If you didn’t get your fill of seafood this summer, you’re in luck. I’m sharing my FAVORITE recipe ever with you today and it’s made the only way it should be. The Best Crab Cakes ever made have very little filler making them tender, succulent and perfect.

I’m a very picky crab cake eater so I tend to shy away from them at restaurants. A lot of places tend to keep their costs down by plumping up their crab cakes with tons of fillers…mainly breadcrumbs. Lots and lots of breadcrumbs.

Then, they dredge them in MORE breadcrumbs before frying them….and basically what you’re left with is a mealy crab dip, deep fried and coated in crusty crumbs. I’m more of a purist when it comes to my crab cakes.

Crab Cakes

If you’re a crab lover, crab cakes are like the best thing ever. Maryland crab cakes are a type of fish cake, similar to my salmon patties, made of crab meat mixed with mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, lemon, mustard and little else.

They’re usually pan fried, baked, broiled or even deep fried but this recipe we use the pan frying method because it gives the outside a nice crust but leaves the inside tender.

Some versions of crab cakes even mix in Old Bay seasoning which adds a nice eastern shore flavor but I prefer to make them without it.

How To Make Them

This easy Crab Cake comes together quickly making it ideal for a quick dinner.

I like them loaded with jumbo lump crab meat, a little mayo, a little mustard, a teensy bit of breadcrumbs, parsley, a squeeze of lemon and some seasoning. Keep it simple and you will have the best Maryland style Crab Cake in your life.

Step by Step Instructions

Whisk together the mayonnaise, hot sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and mustard.

Pick over the crabmeat for shells.

Fold the crab meat and breadcrumbs into the sauce being careful not to break up the crab too much.

Shape the crab into 6 equal size patties and arrange on a baking sheet.

Chill the patties for 30 minutes to allow them to firm up.

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.

Add the crab cakes to the pan and cook until golden. Flip and continue to cook on the other side until golden.

What Type of Crab To Use

We use jumbo lump crab only for this recipe. Jumbo lump crab comes from larger crabs and is sold in tubs or cans in your grocer’s seafood department.

It is quite expensive so you can use a less expensive lump crab for this recipe if you prefer or if Jumbo Lump is unavailable.

Pro Tips

Pick over the crab meat for shells. I guarantee you’ll find one or two and you definitely don’t want to find them when you’re eating your crab cakes.
Fold the crab meat into the sauce, carefully. You can’t to keep as much of the crab in tact as you can so don’t manhandle it when mixing the ingredients together.
CHILL your crab cakes before cooking. By chilling your crab patties, this will help them from falling apart while cooking.
Breadcrumbs matter. We use Panko Breadcrumbs, which are lighter and less dense than traditional breadcrumbs. The lighter crumb helps the crab cakes remain light and tender.

How To Freeze Crab Cakes

To freeze your Maryland Crab Cakes, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment and transfer to the freezer.

Freeze until firm.

Wrap each crab cake in plastic wrap and transfer to a freezer bag or freezer safe container.

Freeze for up to 6 months.

This homemade Crab Cake recipe is great for weeknight dinners because they come together in less than 30 minutes. But they also make a great first course for entertaining or make little mini crab cakes for a passable appetizer for the holidays.

What To Serve Them With

Crab Cakes are super versatile and can be served with just about anything. We love them in a casual setting the Baltimore way with a side of coleslaw and a pile of Truffle Fries.

We also love to make the ultimate crab cake sandwich for a low key summer dinner!

Or you can serve them surf and turf style with a juicy Filet Mignon! Top them with homemade co*cktail sauce or drizzle them with hollandaise.

They’re a great addition to a buffet with this simple Shrimp co*cktail and these super amazing Tuna Sundaes (don’t let the name sway you…they’re spectacular.)

I bet you never knew how versatile and easy a crab cake can be, am I right? And this is the World’s Best Crab Cake Recipe…..for reals.

More Easy Crab Recipes

If you’re looking for something a little more along the lines of a dip….may I tempt you with this super easy, extra cheesy Hot Crab Dip?

We also love this crab dip because you just, basically, mix all the ingredients in a bowl then start the dipping. Or try these super simple Stuffed Mushrooms.…stuffed with CRAB.

This super easy Crab Salad is basically throwing a bunch of stuff in a bowl and tossing it around. OR this Maryland Style Crab Soup is healthy and packed with veggies….we make it all the time and it DOES have Old Bay in it.

If you’re in the mood for crabs in the shell, these Dungeness crabs are as easy as they are tasty!

Get the Recipe:The Very Best Crab Cakes Recipe

Yield: 6 people

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Chill time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Maryland style Crab Cakes made with jumbo lump crab meat and very little filler! The BEST crab cake recipe you'll ever make.

4.91 from 66 votes

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Ingredients

▢ 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, picked over for shells
▢ 1/2 cup mayonnaise
▢ 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
▢ 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
▢ 1 teaspoon hot sauce, I use Tabasco
▢ 1 large egg, lightly beaten
▢ 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
▢ 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
▢ 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
▢ 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

In a medium bowl, carefully pick over the crab and remove any shells.
In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, dijon, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, egg, pepper, lemon zest and parsley.
Add the mayonnaise mixture to the crab and, carefully, fold together being careful not to break up the crab meat too much. Gently fold in the breadcrumbs.
Form 1/3 cup of the crab mixture into 8 patties and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment. Chill for 15-20 minutes.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the crab cakes and cook over medium heat until golden, approximately 3-4 minutes. Turn the crab cakes over with a spatula. Cook until golden brown, crispy and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes.
Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately with tartar sauce and lemon wedges, if desired.

Video

Notes

To freeze: Arrange the crab cakes in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze until firm. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

To cook, thaw completely and then cook as instructed in the recipe card.

Serving: 6g, Calories: 234kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 66mg, Sodium: 835mg, Potassium: 179mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 180IU, Vitamin C: 7.6mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 0.9mg

Author: Kellie

Course: Seafood

Cuisine: American

FAQs

Is it best 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).

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What kind of crab meat is best for crab cakes? ›

It's very important to use fresh, good-quality lump crab meat. Look for fresh-off-the-boat crab meat, which is sold in a clear plastic container, usually resting on ice in the seafood department. It's expensive, but one pound is enough to make six generous crab cakes (or 12 mini ones).

Get More Info ›

What is the difference between Maryland crab cakes and regular crab cakes? ›

The Differences In Maryland Crab Cakes

For starters, they typically use more meat and less other filling compared to regular crab cakes. Of course, every recipe is different, but Maryland's versions really allow the crab meat to shine and only use enough fillers to hold the cakes together.

What's in premium crab cakes? ›

INGREDIENTS: CRAB MEAT, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, EGG AND EGG YOLK, WATER, SUGAR, VINEGAR, SALT, MUSTARD POWDER, ACETIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM), BREAD CRUMBS (UNBLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SALT, YEAST), EGGS, MUSTARD (DISTILLED VINEGAR, WATER, NO.

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Why are my crab cakes mushy? ›

Why are they mushy on the inside? Using canned crab meat that hasn't been fully drained may lead to extra liquid in the mixture, making the cakes mushy. Using low-quality crab meat may also lead to mushy cakes, which is why I recommend using lump crab meat.

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What is the best oil to fry crab cakes in? ›

Aside from the price, one of the main reasons to fry your crab cakes in a vegetable oil like canola oil is that it has a neutral flavor that won't change the taste of the cakes. This will allow the flavor of the crabmeat (plus any spices and veggies) to really shine through without extra or unwanted notes from the oil.

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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. When you remove the crab cakes, their internal temperature should be 145° F. Take them from the oven and let set for about 5 minutes before serving.

What is the best way to cook pre made crab cakes? ›

As a general guideline, bake them in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Monitor the cakes closely to prevent them from becoming dry or overcooked.

Learn More ›

Is it better to bake or pan-fry? ›

Because ovens heat air, and air has no calories, baking in an oven does not add additional calories or fat to the foods you cook. This is why baking is a smarter option when working on controlling calorie, cholesterol or fat intake, as you are left only with the calories and fat from the foods in the pan.

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Can you bake good catch crab cakes? ›

To cook in an oven: preheat the oven to 450°F. Brush the crab cakes with a little oil then bake on a tray for 12 minutes. Flip them over and bake for another 5-7 minutes, until crispy and golden brown. Let them stand for a couple of minutes before serving then enjoy!