What are your favorite types of meat and seafood? Did you know that you could combine them to make a tasty dish that is also a feast for the eyes and ears? Meats like beef, pork, and chicken are all great on their own, but here are some meal ideas that use different kinds of meat with crab meat.
Crab meat is cherished for its sweet, delicate flavor and tender texture. While crab is certainly delicious on its own, pairing it with complementary proteins can take your meal to the next level. The key is finding proteins that enhance, rather than overpower, the natural flavors of the crab. Here are 7 creative ways to serve crab with other meats for culinary bliss.
1. Filet Mignon Topped with Lump Crab Meat
This surf and turf classic combines tender filet mignon with sweet lump crab meat The mild flavor of the filet allows the briny crab to shine. Simply season and grill filet mignon steaks to desired doneness. Top with a heaping mound of chilled lump crab meat just before serving The temperature contrast showcases the luxurious texture of both proteins. Drizzle with clarified butter or hollandaise sauce for even more decadence.
2. Bacon-Topped Crab Cake Sandwich
Smoky, salty bacon makes a fantastic topping for crab cakes in sandwich form The bacon provides crispy crunch while accentuating the sweetness of the crab Make crab cakes using your favorite recipe, then fry until golden. Cook bacon until crispy; drain on paper towels. Serve crab cakes on buns topped with bacon, plus tartar sauce, lettuce, and tomato for a fabulously rich sandwich.
3. Crab Dip Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Transforming chicken breasts into vessels for crab dip is an ingenious way to combine crab with poultry. Make a creamy crab dip using lump crab, cheese, seasonings and mayonnaise or sour cream. Cut chicken breasts to create a pocket, then stuff with crab dip. Bake until chicken is cooked through and dip is hot and bubbly. The chicken provides substance while the crab dip supplies decadent flavor.
4. Crab and Sausage Soup
Sausage and crab complement each other beautifully in this hearty soup. Spicy sausage provides a nice contrast to the sweet crab. Make your favorite sausage soup, adding lump crab during the last 5-10 minutes of simmering so it retains its delicate texture. Garnish bowls with extra crab meat, parsley, croutons or oyster crackers. The soup provides warmth while the crab adds luxurious flavor.
5. Creamy Crab and Chicken Alfredo
Crab Alfredo is a white sauce lover’s dream. Chicken breasts lend substance, while crab provides succulent bites of flavor. Make an Alfredo sauce from butter, cream, parmesan, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook fettuccine, chicken breasts and lump crab. Toss everything together, sprinkling extra crab on top. The rich sauce, tender pasta, chicken and sweet crab create comforting creaminess in every bite.
6. Crab-topped Eggs Benedict with Breakfast Sausage
For a delightful brunch dish, top eggs Benedict with crab instead of ham. Partner with breakfast sausage for extra richness. Make crab cakes or sauté lump crab. Poach eggs and cook sausage patties. Place crab cakes or crab meat atop English muffins, then top with a poached egg and hollandaise. Serve with sausage on the side. It’s an elegant twist on breakfast!
7. Crab Legs and Ribs
For the ultimate surf and turf platter, pair crab legs with ribs. Bookend a platter with crispy ribs on one side and cracked crab legs on the other. This allows everyone to enjoy their favorites—picking crab with their hands or biting into tender ribs. Provide dipping sauces, coleslaw, cornbread and pickles on the side. It’s a messy, fun way to enjoy two classic crowd-pleasers together.
The key to successfully pairing crab with other proteins is choosing meats that work in harmony. Opt for mild flavors and tender textures that won’t overtake the crab’s subtle sweetness. Whether it’s stuffed in chicken, blanketing steak or floating in soup, crab enhances and elevates any dish. Use these suggestions as a springboard for creating your own innovative recipes pairing perfect proteins with prized crab.
Crab Meat And Bacon
Bacon makes any dish even crunchier and adds a nice salty kick. Bacon goes quite well on crab cake sandwiches, for example. If you want to change things up, try a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich instead of the usual fillings.
Chicken Breasts In Crab Dip
Want to cook chicken breasts differently? Add chicken to your next batch of dip. The meat needs to be cut in half like a butterfly, with a scoop or two of the drop in the middle. The meat needs to be closed back up before it goes into the oven. For the best results, choose a thicker dip.
Best Crab for your Crab Recipe
FAQ
What kind of meat goes with crab?
What brings out the flavor of crab?
What are the best side dishes for crab legs?
Crab legs need a tasty side dish to round out the meal. The best side dishes for crab legs will compliment the delicate crab meat of king or Maryland blue crab. There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card.
What to eat with crab legs?
Starchy dishes are a must-have side for crab legs. Take inspiration from Red Lobster (a popular restaurant) and whip up a batch of cheesy biscuits for a decadent meal or go tropical with a lightly sweet coconut rice. We all know lobsters are fabulous with biscuits, so why not pair them with crabs too? My favorite are these cheddar chive biscuits.
What to eat with crab meat?
Serve the crab salad chilled to highlight the sweetness of the crab meat. Pan-fry the crab cakes for a crispy exterior and serve them with a flavorful aioli. Steaming the crab with garlic butter infuses the meat with rich flavors, and serving it with crusty bread allows you to savor every last bit of the delicious sauce.
What goes well with crab?
Pickled capers, vinegar, and lemon add a refreshing, salty tang that pairs well with crab. Step up your grilling game and try cooking this beloved spring veggie over the flames. Topped with bacon and a sherry vinaigrette, your guests will ask for a second helping of this bright side dish.