Lump crab cakes are a delicacy that most people reserve for enjoy on a night out, but they’re surprisingly simple to make at home. These homemade crab cakes are baked instead of fried, so they have tons of fresh crab flavor with less oil.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
People can have strong opinions when it comes to whether crab cakes should be baked or fried. Personally, I prefer baking them. Here’s why:
- The steady heat of the oven cooks the crab cakes gently, so you don’t need to worry about the outside of the cakes getting to browned before the insides are cook through.
- Frying the crab cakes also gives them a thicker, crunchier exterior that I find competes with the soft, delicate nature of crab. Baked crab cakes will still be a little bit crispy, but the overall texture will be more consistent and the exterior crust won’t compete with the soft insides.
- Baked crab cakes also don’t need any oil. This keeps the fat content down and prevents you kitchen from taking on that fry oil smell.
- Finally, it’s just plain easier. All six crab cakes can bake at the same time, so you don’t have to worry about cooking them in batches.
Knock-Out Baked Crab Cakes That’ll Have You Hooked!
I don’t know about you, but I get tired of chicken and beef pretty quickly. The problem is that, since I always default to those protein options, it can be hard to break out of the rut and think of something different to make.
I usually end up doing something with shrimp or sausage, but I recently couldn’t get crab cakes out of my head. I used to make them all the time, but at some point, they must have fallen off my radar.
I’m so glad I remembered though because crab cakes are such a perfect alternative to more standard proteins and these crab cakes are seriously fast and easy to make.
These simple baked crab cakes are a great way to make your next weeknight dinner feel extra special.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Crab meat. First off, you’ll need crab meat. But what kind of crab meat is best for making crab cakes? I use lump crab, which comes from the body of the crab (not the legs or claws) and has an intense crab flavor. It typically comes in pretty large pieces, so it gives crab cakes great texture, too. For the best quality, look for refrigerated crab meat near the seafood counter of your favorite grocery store. You can also use canned lump crab meat. This has a lower price-point, but the texture can be a little more mushy than fresh crab. Skip the jumbo lump crab meat, which is made of entirely large pieces. It costs. premium, and the crab will break own as you mix the cakes anyway.
- Eggs. Eggs add moisture and help the crab meat bind together. Traditional crab cakes often use mayonnaise for this, but I never have that in the house and eggs work just as well.
- Ritz crackers. Along with the eggs, crab cakes typically use some breadcrumbs or crackers to help bind them together. I love the subtle buttery flavor that Ritz crackers give them. They also add a slight crunch to the outside of the cakes! I like my crab cakes to taste like crab, not bread, so I use a very minimal amount of cracker crumbs. Just enough to get the job done! If you don’t have Ritz on hand, saltines or panko breadcrumbs also work well.
- Worcestershire Sauce. A splash of Worcestershire sauce adds so much depth and complexity to the flavor of these crab cakes.
- Dijon Mustard. Choose a good-quality smooth Dijon mustard. I like Maille.
- Old Bay Seasoning. The iconic seasoning blend enhances the crab flavor and adds a subtle spice that’s essential for crab cakes. If you can’t find Old Bay, try a blend of paprika, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Paprika. For a pop of color and a subtle smokey flavor.
How to make them
To make crab cakes at home, start by whisking together the wet ingredients and seasonings in a large bowl.
Next, stir in the cracker crumbs. You can use a food processor or blender to make the crumbs or just do what I do and use your hands to crush them.
Finally, add in the crab meat and stir everything together. It will look like there’s way more crab meat than anything else. That’s ok! These are crab cakes after all. Cutting down on the filler keeps calories down and maximizes flavor. Talk about a win-win!
Next, let the crab mixture chill for at least a half hour. This will help it firm up so your crab cakes hold their shape — I know it’s tempting, but don’t skip this step!
Finally, it’s time to form them crab mixture into cakes.
Divide the crab evenly into six portions. Then, using damp hand, form each portion into a thick patty. Place the crab patties onto the baking sheet.
The crab cakes will very very fragile at this point, so treat them delicately! Spritz the cakes with a light mist of cooking spray or a little melted butter to help them brown.
Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake the cakes for about 15 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and crisp on the top.
Recipe Tips
- For perfect and consistently sized crab cakes, use a 1/2 cup measuring cup to scoop out the crab cake mixture, then gently compress the cakes with damp hands.
- This mixture also makes delicious crab stuffed mushrooms! Hollow out cremini or portobello mushroom caps and fill them with the crab cake mixture. Bake until the mushroomss are soft and the crab is lightly browned on top.
- If using canned crab meat, be sure to drain it properly before adding it to the mixture. Excess liquid can cause the cakes to be too soft.
- Be gentle! Mixing the crab meat gently keeps it from getting mushy and helps maintain its lump texture.
Common Questions
What Should I serve with crab cakes?
I served these easy crab cakes with lemon wedges and plenty of Greek Yogurt Remoulade Sauce or cocktail sauce. They’re also great with homemade aioli.
On the side, I made baked potato wedges. These were also great dunked in the remoulade!
For a lighter meal, you could also serve these crab cakes on top of a salad. I like to use baby lettuces and balsamic vinaigrette.
They’re also fantastic as a crab cake sandwich! Try them on a soft brioche bun and to p them with plenty of remoulade or your favorite tartar sauce
What should i do with lefotvers?
Wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
Leftover crab cakes are great for brunch. Top them with fried or poached eggs and some lemony hollandaise sauce for a delicious crab Benedict!
Can I make mini crab cakes?
Yes! Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to shape the crab cakes and cook them for 8-10 minutes. They make sure a fun appetizer, especially for holiday parties!
Can I make them in the air fryer?
Yes, arrange the crab cakes in a single layer and air fry at 400ºF for about 12 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you might need to cook them in batches.
More fish and seafood recipes you’ll love:
- Catfish Nuggets
- Spicy Crab and Corn Chowder
- Crab Pasta
- Crab Empanadas
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Sauteed Shrimp with Artichokes
- Shrimp Ceviche
- Baked Salmon and Sweet Potato
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Salmon with Lemon Curd Sauce
- Szechuan Shrimp
- Baked Salmon Patties
Baked Crab Cakes
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 pound lump crab meat
- 9 Ritz crackers crushed
- Cooking spray or melted butter
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, mustard, Worchestershire, Old Bay, and paprika until smooth. Stir in the cracker crumbs until fully incorporated, then fold in the fold in the crab meat.
- Refrigerate the crab mixture for 30 minutes to help it firm up.
- Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Using a ½ cup measuring cup, divide the crab mixture into 6 equal portions. Use damp hands to press each portion gently into a loose patty.
- Spritz the tops of the crab cakes with oil spray (or brush with butter) and sprinkle with paprika.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops of the crab cakes are golden brown and slightly crisp
Best crab cakes I ever made ! Baked in air fryer . My photo looks exactly like yours .the cakes moist and crispy outside . I make just 4 that perfectly filled 1/2 C measuring cup to top so could compress. Help shape when inverted
I serve with asparagus and baked small Yukon potatoes
I’m wondering if this recipe would work with the imitation crab meat. It’s not as pricey as crab meat. I think I’ll try it but I would like to know your thoughts.
Unfortunately the texture of imitation crab is very different and I’m not sure they would turn out well.
How much paprika do you recommend? It’s in the instructions but not the ingredients list.
Why am I reading this at 11 oclock at night! Now I have a craving to make these. They look divine. I love the idea of baking them. such wonderful cakes of delght.
I absolutely love that you baked these crab cakes and because there is no mayo my husband would really enjoy them!! What a great way to make this recipe healthier!
The last time I had crab cakes was over a year ago, my neighbors folks live in Baltimore and came to town over the holidays and brought fresh crab cakes with them. Very much like yours. It was a CRAB cake, not a celery and onion cake with a tiny bit of crab!
These look and sound delicious; now wondering where I can source some lump crab meat. Lobster and crab in the Rocky Mountain region are mythical creatures. 🙂
Now that I’ve seen these crab cakes, I can’t “unsee” them. That means I’ll need to make them soon or I’ll have crab cake dreams until I do!
omg, I’m going to be thinking about these crab cakes all day. I buy crab cakes at a grocery store in Reno that are mostly crab and I love them. And now I can use your recipe to make them at home. I can’t wait!!!
I love crab cakes but they do fall apart. I’ll have to try your method. Or maybe the air fryer….
They come out wonderfully in the air fryer, too!
My crab cakes always fall apart, so will be following your recommendations and recipe with my next batch! They look amazing!!!