Baked Crab Cakes (with Minimal Filler!)

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.

Common Questions

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

This recipe for Maryland-style crab cakes is baked in the oven instead of fried, so they come out perfect every time with less oil. My simple recipe uses very little filler (and no mayo!) for the best texture and intense crab flavor. Serve these piping hot with lemon wedges and plenty of remoulade or tartar sauce!

4.67 from 27 votes

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Course: Healthy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked crab cakes, crab cake recipe, crab cakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 6 crab cakes

Calories: 113kcal

Author: Lauren Keating

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

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

Nutrition Facts

Baked Crab Cakes

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 113 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 86mg29%

Sodium 769mg33%

Potassium 205mg6%

Carbohydrates 4g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 16g32%

Vitamin A 111IU2%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 58mg6%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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