A tasty meal is as easy as baking crab legs, and it doesn’t take long at all. Some salt, aluminum foil, and a baking dish are all you’ll need to bake king crab legs in the oven. (We love lemon slices, herbs, or garlic. ).
Remember that the Alaskan king crab legs will already be cooked, glazed, and frozen when they get to your door. Your crab legs were either cooked right on the fishing boat where they were caught in the Bering Sea or as soon as they got to land. This is how the fresh taste is kept. So all you have to do when they get to your kitchen is thaw and cook the crab legs.
FIRST STEP: Let the crab legs thaw in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours or overnight, no matter how you’re cooking them. Once they’ve thawed, you can keep your king crab legs in the refrigerator for up to 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.
STEP THREE: Place the king crab legs in your baking dish with whatever additional flavors you want. Lemon goes well with the light, buttery taste of crab legs, but garlic cloves and thyme also taste great together. Choose whichever your taste buds tell you!.
FIRST STEP: Add about 1/8 inch of hot water to the pan’s bottom. Then, tightly cover the dish with aluminum foil. Don’t forget to cover! This will help make steam that will keep the crab legs from getting dry.
Then it’s time to crack them. Take them out of the oven, leave them alone, and let them cool for a few minutes. We believe crab legs are best served with melted butter, cold beer and a whole crew of friends.
Crab legs are a delicious seafood treat that can seem intimidating to cook at home. However, baking crab legs in the oven is actually a very easy and foolproof cooking method. With just a few simple steps, you can have tender, juicy crab legs ready in no time using foil to help seal in flavor and moisture.
Why Cook Crab Legs in the Oven?
Cooking crab legs in the oven has several advantages over other methods like boiling or steaming
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Requires minimal preparation – Simply season the crab legs, wrap in foil and pop it in the oven. No need to monitor a pot on the stove
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Infuses more flavor – The crab legs essentially steam in their own juices and seasonings, allowing the flavors to fully penetrate the meat.
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Prevents overcooking – The foil pouch creates an even, gentle heat that cooks the crab legs perfectly without drying them out.
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Easy clean up – Foil packets contain any mess, so clean up just requires tossing away the foil.
Step-By-Step Guide to Oven-Baked Crab Legs
Follow these simple steps for tender, juicy crab legs baked right in your oven:
Ingredients
- Crab legs, thawed if frozen
- Melted butter
- Seasonings like Old Bay, lemon pepper, garlic powder, etc.
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 425°F. This high heat helps seal in the moisture and flavor.
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Pat the crab legs dry and arrange in the center of a large sheet of aluminum foil.
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Brush the crab legs generously with melted butter and season as desired. Garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, lemon pepper, paprika, and fresh herbs all pair well with crab.
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Wrap the foil tightly around the crab legs, folding and crimping the edges to seal the pouch. Make sure the seal is tight.
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Place the foil packet on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on thickness.
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Check for doneness after 15 minutes. The crab meat should be opaque and firm. If needed, reseal the foil and bake for 2-5 minutes more.
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Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before carefully opening the packet to release the steam.
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Serve the hot crab legs with lemon wedges, drawn butter, and any other desired sauces or sides. Enjoy immediately.
The retained heat will continue gently cooking the crab meat as it rests, ensuring it stays hot and juicy when served.
Variations for Oven Crab Legs
This basic method leaves room for plenty of tasty variations:
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Splash some white wine or beer into the foil pouch for extra moisture.
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Mix fresh herbs, diced garlic, citrus zest, or spicy peppers into the butter before brushing it on.
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Stuff the crab shells with breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs and butter before wrapping in foil.
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Add vegetables like sliced lemons, potatoes or corn on the cob to the foil packet.
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Serve with fun dipping sauces like aioli, remoulade, mustard sauce, or warm drawn butter.
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Pair with crusty bread for dipping in the natural crab juices.
Helpful Tips for Baked Crab Legs
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Thaw frozen crab legs overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
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Choose crab legs similar in size so they cook evenly. Break apart any large clusters.
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Wrap each crab leg individually in foil rather than crowding into one pouch.
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Check for doneness early and reseal the foil quickly to prevent overcooking.
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Let crab legs rest before opening foil to allow juices to absorb back into the meat.
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Use sturdy aluminum foil and wrap it tightly so steam doesn’t escape.
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Be extremely careful when opening the hot foil packets to avoid steam burns.
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Provide crab crackers, small forks and picks to easily extract the meat.
Quick & Easy Dipping Sauces
Crab legs are amazing on their own, but dipping sauces take them to the next level. Whip up one of these 5 minute sauces:
Lemon Butter – Melt butter, stir in fresh lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, salt and pepper.
Remoulade – Combine mayo, lemon juice, Dijon, hot sauce, herbs and chopped pickles.
Cocktail Sauce – Mix ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce.
Mustard Sauce – Whisk stone ground mustard, mayo, lemon juice, Worcestershire and Old Bay.
Garlic Aioli – Blend mayo, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt.
Enjoy Restaurant-Worthy Crab Legs at Home
Baking crab legs in foil pouches is one of the easiest ways to prepare fresh seafood at home. With minimal effort you’ll have tender, juicy, flavor-packed crab legs ready in about 20 minutes. Experiment with fun flavors and serve them alongside easy homemade dipping sauces. Your oven does all the work so you can focus on enjoying time with family and friends.
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.
How to cook crab legs in the OVEN!! (Easy recipe)
Can you cook crab legs with foil?
Yes, you can definitely cook crab legs in the oven with foil. Using foil helps to preserve the moisture and flavors of the crab legs while they are being cooked. What temperature should I set my oven to? Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) for cooking crab legs with foil. This temperature ensures that the crab legs cook evenly and thoroughly.
How do you cook crab legs in the oven?
Tent the foil by bringing together all four sides of the aluminum foil to create a “packet” around the crab legs. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. For easy handling, allow the crab legs to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with the reserved Old Bay butter mixture for dipping.
How do you cook frozen crab legs?
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) or 400°F (205°C), depending on the recipe. If using frozen crab legs, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or under cold running water for 30 minutes. Arrange the crab legs in a single layer on a baking sheet or sheet pan. If desired, line the pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
How do you cook crab legs in a crock pot?
Arrange the crab legs in a single layer on a baking sheet or sheet pan. If desired, line the pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Brush the crab legs with olive oil or melted butter, then sprinkle with your desired seasonings. Bake the crab legs for 12-15 minutes, or until heated through.