Crab Legs Recipe

Learn how to make Crab Legs 4 easy ways; from the Instant Pot to steaming, baking and grilling. We love to serve crab meat with this incredible garlic lemon butter which tastes restaurant-quality.

Home cooked crab legs couldn’t get any easier so you can enjoy a crab feast at home for much less than you would pay to dine out. Watch the video tutorial below and you will crave it until you make it.

Crabs must be sold live or cooked. In most grocery stores, crab legs will be sold pre-cooked and either frozen or thawed from frozen. Since most crabs are sold already cooked, the process of “cooking” them is really easy – you are basically adequately heating them up while maintaining their juiciness and natural flavor. Can you guess our favorite method?

How to Cook Crab Legs (4 Easy Ways)

Learn how to make easy Crab Legs 4 ways; from the instant pot to steaming, baking and grilling. We love to dip crab meat into the incredible crab dipping sauce.

Prep: 5min

Total: 15min

Yield: 2

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 397 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 42 g, Fat 24 g, Saturated Fat 15 g, Cholesterol 155 mg, Sodium 2197 mg, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs snow crab legs ((4 clusters))
• 1 cup water ((for Instant pot or steaming methods))
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

Instruction:

1. In a medium saucepan melt 4 Tbsp butter and add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Stir 30 seconds until fragrant then remove from heat. Off the heat, squeeze in 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice. Divide between ramekins to serve.
2. Close the lid, set vent to sealing position and cook on manual high pressure 4 minutes then switch vent to venting position and do a quick release* of remaining pressure.
3. Place wire rack or basket at the bottom of a large stockpot. Add 1 cup of water. Place crab legs over the rack (as many as your pot will accommodate). Bring the water to a boil then cover and steam cook until fragrant and steaming hot (5-10 minutes). Frozen crab legs will take longer, thawed crab legs cook faster).
4. Grill over medium/high heat at 450˚F for 15 minutes if frozen or 10 minutes if thawed. Crab legs are ready when you see steaming as you open the foil pack.
5. Create the same foil pack of 4 crab leg clusters. Place on a baking sheet and onto the center rack of a preheated oven at 450˚F for 25 minutes if frozen or 15 minutes if thawed. The crab legs are ready when you open the foil pack and they are steaming.

How To Cook Crab Legs

All of the best ways to enjoy fresh or frozen snow crab legs, from steaming to grilling and even an Instant Pot.

Prep: 5min

Total: 20min

Yield: 4 serving(s)

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. snow crab leg clusters (about 4)
• 2 tbsp. kosher salt
• 1 tbsp. smoked paprika
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 3/4 tsp. cayenne
• 3/4 c. butter, melted
• 2 c. water
• 3 qt. water
• 1/4 c. distilled white vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp. mustard seeds
• 2 tsp. allspice berries
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Instruction:

1. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘Crab And Seasoning Mix’, ‘itemListElement’: []}
2. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘How to Bake Crab Legs’, ‘itemListElement’: [{‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, combine butter, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, mustard seeds, allspice, and 1/4 cup seasoning mix. Layer crab legs in a 13″-by-9″ pan. Generously brush with butter mixture, concentrating on clusters of meat.’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Tightly cover pan with foil and bake until heated through and steaming, about 15 minutes. If crab legs are frozen, bake about 10 minutes more.’}]}
3. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘How to Grill Crab Legs ‘, ‘itemListElement’: [{‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: “Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. In a small bowl, combine butter, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, mustard seeds, allspice, and 1/4 cup seasoning mix. Layer crab legs on a large sheet of foil. Generously brush with butter mixture, concentrating on clusters of meat. Pinch long sides of foil together to create a tight seal. Fold each side in, sealing any remaining gaps. Pay close attention to tips of legs to ensure that they don’t poke through foil and cause leakage. “}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Close lid on grill and grill foil packets until legs are heated through and steaming and shells are a bright orange-y red color, about 10 minutes. If crab legs are frozen, grill about 5 minutes more.’}]}
4. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘How to Pressure Cook Crab Legs’, ‘itemListElement’: []}
5. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘How to Steam Crab Legs ‘, ‘itemListElement’: []}
6. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘How to Boil Crab Legs’, ‘itemListElement’: []}
7. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘Loaded Butter (Optional)’, ‘itemListElement’: []}

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