Like crab cakes but don’t like the mess that comes with frying them? Try these crab cakes baked in the oven! They taste just like the real thing without the mess.
Crab cakes are one of my guilty pleasure. I love ordering them in a restaurant. But I don’t often cook them at home. I hate frying — it’s time consuming, messy, and my house smells fishy for days afterward. There must be a way to make a crab cake that tastes good and can be baked in the oven, right? Eureka!.
The crab cakes can be put together ahead of time and kept in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them, which is one of the best things about this recipe. Start by melting to tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet. Add one diced red bell pepper, 1/2 cup minced celery, and 1/2 cup of diced onion. Sauté the vegetables for 7-10 minutes until they are tender. Next, add two cloves of minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
Add two tablespoons of all-purpose flour and stir the food constantly for two minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside to cool.
Crab cakes are an iconic appetizer loved by seafood fans across America. When making these tasty morsels at home, one of the best cooking methods is baking them in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This technique yields crab cakes with a tender interior and crispy, golden exterior. But exactly how long does it take to bake crab cakes at 400 degrees for optimum texture and flavor? Let’s take a deeper look at perfecting the oven-baked crab cake.
Benefits of Baking Crab Cakes
Before delving into cook times, it’s helpful to understand why baking is an ideal crab cake cooking method. Here are some of the benefits of using a 400 degree oven:
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Achieves an evenly browned, crispy exterior crust.
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Allows crab cakes to cook through without drying out.
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Retains moisture and flavor of crab meat.
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Requires minimal oil for easy cleanup.
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Lets you cook a large batch at once.
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Provides consistent results with easy monitoring.
With so many positives, it’s easy to see why baking is a top choice for crab cake preparation.
Estimating Crab Cake Bake Times
When baking at 400 degrees F, most crab cake recipes call for around 15 to 20 minutes total cook time. However, a few factors impact the precise timing:
Crab cake size – Small 2-inch cakes cook faster than 3-4 inch extra-large versions.
Ingredient additions – Veggie or breadcrumb fillers increase required cook time.
Frozen vs. fresh – Frozen crab cakes need a few extra minutes.
Convection vs. standard oven – Convection shortens bake time slightly.
Cake thickness – Thicker cakes over 1 inch tall bake longer.
With those considerations in mind, here are some general crab cake bake time guidelines:
- Petite 1-2 inch cakes: 12-14 minutes
- Standard 2-3 inch cakes: 15-18 minutes
- Jumbo 3-4 inch cakes: 18-22 minutes
- Extra-thick gourmet cakes: Up to 25 minutes
The recipe and size of your crab cakes will determine the precise timings. But that gives a reasonable oven bake time estimate for basic crab cakes.
Step-by-Step Baking Directions
Follow these simple steps for flawlessly baked crab cakes every time:
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Form crab cakes and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.
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Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Lightly brush crab cakes with oil or cooking spray.
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Bake at 400°F for half the estimated cook time.
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Gently flip crab cakes and continue baking until golden brown.
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Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center.
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Let rest 5 minutes before serving warm.
Easy peasy! Just be sure to keep an eye on your crab cakes as oven temperatures can vary.
How to Tell When Crab Cakes Are Done
With all baking, visual and texture cues are important indicators of doneness. Here’s what to look for with crab cakes:
- Deep golden brown color on both sides
- Firm, crispy outer coating
- Flaky, opaque interior with no translucent parts
- Toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
- Internal temperature reaches 145°F
The baking time may need slight adjusting based on your oven, but use these tests for perfect crab cake doneness.
Handy Tips for Crab Cake Baking Success
- Get the oven fully preheated before baking for even cooking.
- Position crab cakes at least 1 inch apart on the pan.
- Brush with oil or use parchment paper for easy release.
- Resist the urge to press down on cakes while cooking.
- Use a spatula to gently flip cakes halfway through.
- Let crab cakes rest before serving for better hold.
- Serve with lemon wedges, remoulade sauce or tartar sauce.
With this know-how in your back pocket, you can confidently bake outstanding crab cakes at home.
Delectable Crab Cake Recipes for the Oven
Now that you’re a crab cake baking pro, try these tasty crab cake recipes cooked to perfection at 400 degrees:
Old Bay Crab Cakes
- 1 lb. jumbo lump crab meat
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
Mix ingredients gently, form into patties, and bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes.
Southwest Crab Cakes
- 1 lb. lump crab meat
- 1/4 cup panko crumbs
- 1 egg
- 3 Tbsp salsa
- 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Combine ingredients, shape into cakes, and bake at 400°F until browned, about 18 minutes.
Lemon-Parsley Crab Cakes
- 1 lb. lump crab meat
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt
Mix ingredients, form cakes, and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
Get creative with different herb and spice blends! The oven at 400°F consistently bakes crab cakes to perfection.
Crab Cakes Worth Celebrating
From texture to taste, oven-baked crab cakes are a foolproof appetizer to please a crowd. Mastering the simple 400 degree baking method lets you serve up restaurant-quality crab cakes anytime. Just follow the visual cues for doneness, and your crab cakes will have the ideal balance of crisp exterior and moist, delicious interior.
So next time you’re planning a summer menu or looking to impress at dinner, bake up a batch of incredible crab cakes. Your guests will be begging for your recipe after savoring these seafood delights. Fire up the oven and enjoy bakery-fresh crab cakes right at home – it’s a surefire way to be the toast of the party!
Assemble the Crab Cakes
Dump one 8 ounce can of lump crab meat into a large mixing bowl. Be sure to give the crab a quick once over for any shells and cartilage. You don’t want to bite into something tough! Add two large eggs, one tablespoon of mayonnaise, one teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup of breadcrumbs, 1/4 teaspoon of paprika, 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley, and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the crab.
Stir everything up to combine, then add additional salt and pepper to your preference. Add the cooled vegetables and stir again. Form the crabmeat mixture into patties that are roughly 2 ½ inches wide and ½-inch thick. I like to use an ice cream scoop to get them out and then use the bottom of the spoon to pack them down. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.
The patties need time to get firm before they go into the oven because they won’t be fried. After making the patties, put the baking sheet in the fridge for 30 minutes to let the patties cool down. While you wait, go ahead and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the crab cakes or 25 – 30 minutes until golden brown.
Storage, Reheating and Freezing
Storage: Once the crab cakes are cool, put them in a container that won’t let air in within two hours. Putting a layer of paper towels or waxed paper between the crab cakes before stacking them helps soak up any extra water.
Freezing Unbaked: To freeze crab cakes that haven’t been baked, put them on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and put the sheet on a flat surface in the freezer. Freeze overnight, then transfer the patties to an airtight container or plastic bag. Do not thaw before baking. Just follow the cooking directions as written, but add 10 to 15 minutes to the time to account for the thawing. Consume within three months.
Freezing Baked: Baked crab cake can also be frozen. If storing in an airtight container, layer waxed paper between them as I mentioned above. If storing in a freezer bag, follow the method outlined for freezing unbaked crab cakes. Bake from frozen, following the cooking instructions, adding an extra 10-15 minutes additional cooking time.
Guy Fieri’s Baked Crabcakes with Old Bay Remoulade | Guy’s Big Bite | Food Network
How long do you cook crab cakes at 425?
The recommended cooking time for baking crab cakes at 425°F is about 10-12 minutes, whether you are using an oven or air fryer. Bake crab cakes at 375°F for 12-15 minutes in the oven or 8-10 minutes in an air fryer. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet.
How do you cook crab cakes in the oven?
Here are a few different ways to heat up already cooked crab cakes: Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the crab cakes on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the crab cakes are heated through and crispy on the outside. Stovetop: Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and add a small amount of butter or oil.
What is the best temperature to bake crab cakes?
The best temperature to bake crab cakes in the oven is typically 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature allows the crab cakes to cook evenly and gives them a nice golden brown color. Here is a table with approximate baking times for crab cakes in the oven at various temperatures:
How long do you bake frozen crab cakes?
Note: It is generally recommended to bake frozen crab cakes for about 25-30% longer than fresh crab cakes. For example, if the recommended baking time for fresh crab cakes is 15-20 minutes at 375°F, you would expect to bake frozen crab cakes for 20-25 minutes at the same temperature.