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.

Transfer to a platter and serve with lemon.

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!

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