Grilled crab legs are a delicious summer treat that seems indulgent, yet is surprisingly easy to make at home. With just a few simple steps, you can enjoy restaurant-quality crab legs without the high price tag. But knowing exactly how long to cook crab legs on the grill is key to achieving tender, perfectly cooked results.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about grilling crab legs, from the best types of crab legs to use, how to properly prepare and grill them, and exactly how long you should cook crab legs to ensure they turn out juicy and flavorful every time.
Crab legs cooked on the grill have an unbeatable smoky, char-grilled flavor. The high, dry heat of the grill sears the outside of the legs for a crispy texture while gently warming the delicate crab meat inside. It’s a simple, mess-free way to prepare crab at home.
Grilling also allows you to intensify the natural sweetness of the crab meat. The natural sugars in the shell caramelize under the heat, lending even more flavor. This cooking method works well with most types of crab legs including king crab snow crab, and Dungeness crab.
When grilled correctly, the result is tender, succulent crab meat that slides right out of the shell Follow the guidelines below to learn exactly how long you should grill crab legs for perfect results.
Selecting and Preparing Crab Legs for Grilling
Choose High-Quality Frozen Crab Legs
Look for crab legs that are sold pre-cooked and frozen. This ensures the freshest taste and texture. King crab, snow crab, and Dungeness crab are common varieties ideal for grilling.
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King crab legs – Known for their large size, sweet flavor, and tender meat. The longest legs offer the most meat.
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Snow crab legs – More affordable but still tasty. The legs are thinner than king crab.
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Dungeness crab legs – Smaller but sweeter meat. The thinner shells grill up quickly.
Thaw Crab Legs Completely
Always thaw frozen crab legs before grilling. Thawing ensures the crab meat heats evenly on the grill.
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For quick thawing, place legs in a colander or bowl and run cool water over them for 15-30 minutes.
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For slower thawing, place in the refrigerator 8-12 hours or overnight.
Once thawed, use immediately or store in the fridge up to 5 days.
Prep Legs Before Grilling
Rinse thawed crab legs under cool water and pat dry. Use a brush to lightly coat the shells with oil. This prevents sticking on the grill.
If desired, season lightly with Old Bay, lemon pepper, or other crab seasoning. Avoid over-seasoning which can overpower the sweet crab flavor.
Preheat Your Grill
Heat your gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F. The grate should be hot enough that a drop of water sizzles and evaporates quickly.
Use a grill brush to clean the grates well. This prevents crab legs from sticking.
How Long to Grill Crab Legs
Grilling time can vary slightly based on the size and type of crab legs. Follow these general guidelines for perfectly cooked crab legs every time.
Grill King Crab Legs
King crab legs should grill for a total of 14-18 minutes.
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Place legs on hot grill flesh-side down.
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Grill for 7-9 minutes until shells begin browning.
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Flip legs and grill 7-9 minutes more on the shell-side.
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Check for doneness by looking for opaque, white meat throughout when gently separating the shell.
Grill Snow Crab Legs
Snow crab legs will take a bit less time owing to their smaller size. Grill for a total of 10-14 minutes.
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Place legs flesh-side down and grill for 5-7 minutes.
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Flip and grill 5-7 minutes more until meat is opaque.
Grill Dungeness Crab Legs
Since Dungeness crab legs are the smallest, they’ll grill up the quickest in just 6-10 minutes total.
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Grill flesh-side down for 3-5 minutes.
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Flip and grill 3-5 minutes more until cooked through.
Tips for Perfectly Grilled Crab Legs
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Resist the urge to move the crab legs too much during grilling. Moving them frequently can cause the meat to stick to the grill grates.
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Rotate legs halfway through if one side is cooking faster. But otherwise, let them sear undisturbed.
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Use a digital meat thermometer to check for doneness. Insert into thickest part of meat, away from cartilage. Temp should reach 140°F.
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Watch closely near the end of cooking time. Crab legs go from perfect to overdone quickly.
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Let cooked legs rest 5 minutes before eating. This allows heat to distribute evenly.
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Serve grilled crab legs with melted butter, lemon wedges, or dipping sauces. Enjoy immediately for the best texture.
Grilled Crab Legs Are Summer Fun
Now that you know exactly how long to cook crab legs on the grill, you can enjoy this impressive appetizer or entree all summer long. Adjust cooking times based on the size and type of legs you select. A little trial and error will help you master the technique.
The beauty of grilling crab is that most of the work is done ahead of time. Simply thaw, prep, and toss the legs on a hot grill for a gourmet meal in minutes.
So grab some crab legs at the store and invite the neighbors over. Just be sure to have plenty of napkins, melted butter, and cold beverages ready when hungry guests arrive!
Grilled king crab legs are amazing for a multitude of reasons. First, the taste is out-of-this-world. Secondly, it’s one of the easiest preparations for crab legs. And lastly, cooking and eating outside means a fast clean-up!
Remember: When our Alaskan king crab legs arrive on your doorstep, they are already cooked, glazed, and frozen. They have already been cooked at that point, either on the fishing boat or as soon as they land. This keeps the fresh taste. Really, your job is simply to thaw and reheat the crab legs.
First, you’ll need to thaw the crab legs 8-12 hours overnight in the refrigerator. Once they’ve thawed, you can safely keep your king crab legs in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. It’s possible to freeze them for up to a year because of the glaze we use, so you don’t have to thaw and cook them right away.
Tip: Get your grill ready before you start cooking. Those black, charred chunks of sludge won’t help your crab legs.
Once your crab legs are thawed, the next step is to coat each leg evenly in olive oil. (Don’t skip this step! This is what prevents the legs from sticking to the grill and tearing. ) This is most easily accomplished using a silicone basting brush to make sure all sides are covered!.
While you’re prepping your king crab legs with olive oil, you should be preheating your grill. The best temperature for grilling crab legs is medium-low — about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Any hotter than that, and you risk overcooking your crab legs (yikes!). Once your grill reaches that temperature, it’s time to rock and roll.
Place your crab legs on the grill for about five minutes. No need to move them around during that time frame. After five minutes, use tongs to flip the crab legs over to the other side. The second side will take about five minutes longer, but keep an eye on them. They only need to be heated all the way through.
And that’s it! Pass the sides around, crack open a cold beer, and get crackin’! Make sure melted butter or one of our favorite sauces is ready when it’s time to eat.
Here’s a quick snapshot of how to grill your crab legs:
What you’ll need:
- Oil
- Brush
- Grill Tongs
Instructions:
- To keep the king crab legs from sticking, brush oil on all sides of them.
- For five minutes, put the king crab legs on a medium-low grill that is about 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- For another five minutes, flip them over and cook them until they’re warm all the way through.
Here’s a step-by-step video of how to grill Alaskan king crab legs.
Get your Alaskan King Crab Legs now and get ready to grill! Want the latest recipes, deals, and new books? Sign up here.
Sourced Straight from Sea to Table
Sourced through trusted experts and chosen for taste, texture and quality.
Flash frozen to lock in the fresh-off-the-dock taste.
Packaged with dry ice and shipped overnight directly to your door.
Simply thaw, prep, heat, and eat.
Grilled Snow Crab Leg with Buttered Corn
How long do you cook crab legs on a grill?
Ensure grill grates are clean and bring grill to medium-high heat. Place crab legs over direct heat and close the lid. Let cook 5-7 minutes. Open grill and flip. Close lid and let cook another 4-5 minutes or until they are warmed through. Remove from grill and serve immediately with melted butter or ghee .
How long do you cook crab legs per person?
Let the crab legs thaw and then place them on a medium-high heat grill for 5-7 minutes per side. Remove and serve with melted butter and fresh lemons. How Much Crab Legs Per Person? Plan on one pound of crab legs per person if you are serving other sides with it, or if this is an appetizer before serving the main course.
How long do you cook crab legs in garlic butter sauce?
Combine well and simmer on low-medium for about 15 minutes so sauce can thicken. The garlic butter sauce will get thicker the longer it simmers! Start the grill, and heat to 350 degrees. Brush each piece of the crab leg with the garlic butter sauce.
What temperature do you cook crab legs on a grill?
Thse crab legs are best cooked over indirect heat (meaning no fire or coals directly under the crab legs) with the overall temperature of the grill hovering around 225 degrees F. If you need a refresher on preparing your grill for indirect heat cooking, refer to my post on How to Cook with Two-Zone Grilling.