Crab Melt

The classic, old-fashioned crab melt is elevated with chunks of fresh crab, a creamy dressing and juicy tomatoes. This quick and easy recipe is inspired by a San Francisco crab melt recipe. It’s an open-faced sandwich that makes a delicious and flavorful lunch, dinner, or brunch.

We love to make crab melts using fresh sourdough bread but other favorites include a crab melt on English muffin or rye bread. Our sprouted rye bread is another great option!

Loaded with fresh herbs, two types of cheese, and thick slices of juicy tomatoes, there’s a lot to love about this crab melt!

Similar to our Alaskan King Crab Cakes, we don’t skimp on crab with this recipe! It is the ultimate comfort food with a fresh, zesty spin!

Why This Crab Melt Recipe Works

Every bite of our crab melt is scrumptious and flavor-packed. From the chunks of fresh crab to the easy dressing and that creamy layer of melted cheese, what’s not to like!?

Plus, whenever fresh sourdough or rye bread or a warm English muffin becomes the vessel for all of this goodness, you know it’s open-faced sandwich perfection.

Here’s why we love this recipe:

• It’s an elevated spin on a San Francisco crab melt.
• We use fresh ingredients, including fresh crab meat, for the best flavor.
• It is a quick and easy meal that’s ready in under 15 minutes
• You can heat it in a regular oven or an air fryer

If you’ve never made a homemade crab melt, get ready for a tasty treat!

Crab Melt Ingredients

For this easy crab melt recipe, you will need:

• mayonnaise
• celery
• green onions
• fresh dill
• lemon zest and juice
• Worcestershire sauce
• seafood seasoning
• lump crab meat
• bread of choice (we prefer sourdough or English muffins)
• large tomatoes, sliced
• grated cheddar cheese
• grated Muenster cheese

Lump crab meat can be found at most grocery stores and is the easiest way to prepare this crab melt recipe. However, if you want to go for the ultimate flavor, you can always pull the meat from freshly-cooked crab legs, too!

And there is no crime if you want to use canned crab meat but if you can get your hands on fresh crab, this sandwich will be so much better.

How to Make a Crab Melt

Let’s talk about the process. Most of the work is chopping and slicing and that’s about it! This simple crab melt only needs about three minutes under the broiler to get nice and toasted, just enough to melt the cheese.

For the full printable recipe card, scroll to the bottom of the page. For now, here’s a quick look at the steps:

1. Mix the ingredients: Make the creamy dressing then fold in the crab meat.
2. Assemble the crab melts: Spread the crab mixture on lightly toasted bread and top with tomato and grated cheese.
3. Broil: Place the pan under the broiler and cook just until the cheese melts and gets bubbly (about 2-3 minutes).

Tips for Crab Melt Success

While this process is soooo simple, keep these tips in mind when you’re preparing your crab melts.

• Fold the crab meat in gently so the lumps do not break apart.
  
• You can swap in dried herbs for fresh herbs but reduce the amount by half.
  
• Watch the sandwiches as they broil since some broilers have hot zones. If needed, rotate the sandwiches as they broil.
  
• Some broilers require the oven door to be cracked while the broiler is on. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions for using your broiler.
  
• If you want to use an air fryer, heat it in the air fryer at 400°F for 4 to 5 minutes or until the cheese gets bubbly.
  
• Serve with our air fryer French fries and a wedge salad.

More Crab Recipes

Living in the Pacific Northwest, we frequently have an abundance of crab meat. We have classic dishes like Dungeness crab cakes with garlic butter sauce to a simple crab dip. Here are a few more.

• crab pasta
• crab enchiladas
• crab stuffed shrimp
• salmon and crab Wellington
• crab cocktail
• King crab cakes

This easy-peasy crab melt recipe is a new favorite of ours and one you can enjoy any time! It is quick to prepare and is a tasty, elegant version of a tuna melt.

Sure, the San Francisco crab melt has earned a reputation for a reason, but this simple recipe proves you can easily make one from the comfort of your own kitchen!

Helpful Tools

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• Baking sheet
• Cheese grater

Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love:

This is the best Steak and Lobster Sandwich. Enjoy surf-and-turf sandwich-style! This delicious sandwich includes meaty steak and lobster topped with melted cheese. It’s all tucked into homemade garlic bread to create one epic and memorable sandwich!

Our Crab Stuffed Shrimp makes a great party appetizer. The ultimate seafood appetizer, this recipe is a delicious and impressive way to serve shrimp. It’s an elevated and sophisticated recipe that is easy to prepare and is sure to be the star of your dinner party!

Grab your favorite dippers of choice and dig into all of the hot, melted, cheesy goodness of this hot crab dip. It is super easy to make and you’ll be blown away by all of the flavors!

This is the most delicious seafood mac and cheese you’ll ever taste. Loaded with shrimp, Dungeness crab meat and tender chunks of salmon, this mac and cheese is topped with bread crumbs to give it a crunchy topping.