Maryland-Style Crab Cakes

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If crab cakes are on a restaurant’s menu you better believe I’ll be ordering them.

But oftentimes the fancy restaurants serving this mouthwatering dish also come with a hefty price tag.

After all, crab meat is pretty expensive just on its own!

So recently I got a little brave and decided to buy a container full of fresh crab meat from our grocery store.

After successfully making these Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, a homemade crab cake recipe was next.

But not just any kind. It needed to to be just right – and taste like those delicious cakes found in the Northeast.  (Specifically in Maryland!)

Ingredients

For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, you can jump to the recipe.

• Crab meat. Fresh crab meat or canned meat can be used interchangeably in this recipe. The fresh meat can be found in-season from October-January, and even throughout the warmer months in some of the Southern states. Jumbo lump crab meat is the best type to use, but you can also opt for regular lump if that is all you can find. Whatever kind of meat you buy, make sure you sort through it to ensure there is no shell remaining. The last thing you want is a crunchy piece when you bite into a tender cake!
• Breadcrumbs. Panko-style are the best, but you can also select a gluten-free brand if needed.
• Seasonings. A combination of paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper are used. However, you can substitute equal amounts of Old Bay for the seasoning amounts listed below.
• Mayonnaise. No crab cake would be complete without a bit of mayonnaise in the mix.
• Mustard. Just a hint of Dijon mustard gives a nice punch to the cake. Feel free to swap it out with yellow or spicy mustard.
• Chives. These are ideal but if you have a hard time finding them green onions will work as well. Here’s a great way to cut green onions.

How to Make Maryland-Style Crab Cakes

Jump to the recipe for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.

• Whisk the filler. Place the egg, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper into a large bowl and whisk until well combined.
• Fold in the crab. Add in the crab meat, chives, and parsley. Gently fold the ingredients until just combine so as not to break apart the crab meat too much.

• Shape into patties. After mixing, let mixture sit in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes for easier shaping. Measure out ⅓-cup of the crab mixture. You can use a measuring cup or even an ice cream scoop. Use your hands to form the mounds into a round disc about 1-inch tall. Repeat with remaining mixture until you have 8 cakes.

• Cook the crab cakes. You can either cook crab cakes in a skillet, bake them in the oven, or pop them in your air fryer. Here are the instructions for all three of these methods. In a skillet, cook over medium for 3 to 4 minutes per side. To bake in the oven, arrange patties on a baking tray and cook at 375℉ for 12 to 14 minutes, flipping halfway through. 375°F oven for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through. In an air fryer, line patties on the grate, spritz with cooking spray, then cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Meal Prep and Storage

• Prep-Ahead: Mix up and form the patties, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to cook up to 1 day in advance.
• Storage: Leftover cakes can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezing: Seal the patties in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Warm them up in a skillet for a few minutes per side or pop them into your air fryer at 350°F until heated through.

FAQs

What to Serve with Crab Cakes?

Garnish the crab cakes with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives, lemon wedges, and pair with some homemade remoulade sauce or tartar sauce.

A few other sauce options are Secret Sauce, Cocktail Sauce, or even this Chick-fil-A Sauce.

More Appetizer Recipes

Be the host with the most and serve these delicious snacks to pique everyone’s appetite.

Cranberry Brie Bites are the perfect sweet option. Give these Crispy Southern Corn Fritters or Crispy Zucchini Fritters for something a little different.

Of course, you can’t go wrong with Classic Deviled Eggs. Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms and Bacon Wrapped Dates are truly impressive.

Or enjoy even more crab with this Crab Salad and these Crab Stuffed Mushrooms!