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Home » Main Dish » Seafood » Alaskan King Crab Cakes

Alaskan King Crab Cakes

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These Alaskan King crab cakes are filled with meaty chunks of sweet King crab and just enough filling to hold them together. The crab is definitely the star of the show in this crab cake recipe. Serve them as an appetizer or as a main meal or use them in sandwiches.

King crab cakes on a plate with lemon slices and salad greens.

These crab cakes are pan-fried until golden brown and they are so easy to make. This recipe makes 10 large patties as a main meal or you can shape them into 20 small patties and serve them as an appetizer.

Serve them with garlic butter sauce or lemon dill aioli sauce for a spectacular meal.

Ingredients for Alaska Crab Meat Patties

Here is a quick shopping list of the ingredients you will need for these crab cakes.

  • Mayonnaise. Helps bind everything together.
  • Egg yolk. Another binder that also adds richness.
  • Dijon mustard. Dijon has a complex flavor and a little bit goes a long way.
  • Lemon Juice. Just enough acid and tang to balance the flavors.
  • Worcestershire sauce. Another ingredient that adds complexity and an umami flavor the these
  • Tabasco sauce. Just a small dash adds a bit of a kick but doesn’t create too much heat.
  • Old Bay Seasoning. This seasoning blend has a melody of flavors that enhances the sweet and savory flavors of the King crab.
  • King crab meat. The sweet taste of Alaska King crab is unbeatable.
  • Saltine crackers. This is the filler and they add a great flavor without overwhelming the crab.
  • Chives. Finely chopped chives add a hint of oniony, garlicky flavor and compliment the crab.
Ingredients used for making Alaska King crab cakes.

Tips for Success

  • Process the cracker crumbs very finely. The finer the crumbs are, the better the crab cakes will hold together. We used a food processor. You can also use a blender.
  • Fold in the crab meat gently so you don’t break up the large lumps.
  • Refrigerate the raw patties before you pan fry them. If you skip this step the crab cakes will fall apart easily. Cold crab cakes will hold together better while they cook.
  • Use an ice cream scooper to measure out the crab mixture. We heaped a rounded scoop into a ball then patted it into a round cake.
  • Don’t smash the crab cakes down when you cook them. Leave them nice and thick so the crab meat stays juicy and sweet. Smashing them as they cook will squeeze the crab juices out.
Process photos showing how to make crab cakes with King crab.

Variations 

Cajun Spin: Mix in a teaspoon of smoked paprika and pinch of cayenne pepper with the mixture of crab legs. Swap out the chives for chopped green onions.

Lemon Herb Mashup: Add 1 tablespoon of fresh dill and 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley for a bright, herbaceous flavor, and squeeze extra lemon juice over the crab cakes before serving.

Garlic Parmesan Crab Cake Variation: Stir in ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 minced garlic cloves for a rich, savory twist, and top each crab cake with a sprinkle of extra Parmesan before serving.

Southwest Variation: Mix in ½ cup of roasted corn and ¼ cup of chopped cilantro or parsley for a Southwestern flair, and serve with a side of spicy chipotle mayo instead of tartar sauce.

More Crab Recipes

Living in Washington, we frequently have an abundance of crab meat from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Sometimes we just like to eat the crab legs with nothing more than a drizzle of butter. Other times we like to mix things up.

We have classic dishes like Dungeness crab cakes to a simple crab melt sandwich, we have many more selections for you. Here are a few seafood recipes:

Three crabmeat patties made with King crab legs.

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Three Alaskan King crab cakes stacked on top of each other.

Alaskan King Crab Cakes

Easy, pan-fried crab patties made with large chunks of King crab, the best of Alaska! Perfectly seasoned and full of sweet crab flavor, these crab cakes are good as an appetizer or a main dish.
4.44 from 23 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Servings: 10 crab cakes
Calories: 282kcal
Author: Dahn Boquist

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • 1-½ pounds Alaskan King crabmeat
  • 20 Saltine crackers ground very finely
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Combine mayonnaise, egg yolk, lemon juice, Dijon, Worcestershire, Tabasco sauce, and Old Bay in a mixing bowl.
  • Fold in the crabmeat, saltines, and scallions.
  • Form 10 patties. Cover with plastic wrap and let the patties sit in the fridge for 30 minutes. 
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 to 4 crabs cakes and cook until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minus per side. 
  • Transfer to a plate and repeat with the other crab cakes.

Notes

  • Grind the saltine crackers very finely. A food processor or blender will do the best job.
  • We used an ice cream scooper to measure out the crab mixture.
  • There should be enough salt in the Old Bay but feel free to add additional salt if desired. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 650mg

Dahn Boquist

Dahn is a retired nurse, recipe creator, home cook, baker, and self-proclaimed foodie. She loves creating in the kitchen and cooking for family and friends. She lives in Washington State with her husband and dog. When she isn't cooking or baking, you can usually find her spending time with her grandchildren or exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

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4.44 from 23 votes (23 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




srandalljohnsmail.com

Tuesday 11th of January 2022

Seems like a great recipe. But I didn't have a pound and a half of crab, and trying to adjust for what I have, I ended up with a loose mixture. Do you think I could bake the crab cakes? I don't think mine will hold together enough to even get into the frying pan!

Dahn Boquist

Tuesday 11th of January 2022

Yes, you can bake these. They will do fine in the oven at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes. You could also add a little extra egg or mayonnaise to bind them together better.

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