This recipe is so simple and works with king crab legs, Dungeness crab legs, and snow crab legs. Grilled crab legs are a great summer treat.
For seafood fans, freshly grilled crab legs make for an indulgent warm weather treat The smoky sizzle of the grill adds incredible depth and intensity to the natural sweetness of the crabmeat While grilling fresh crab legs can be a bit tricky, cooking frozen crab legs on the grill is easy with the right techniques.
Pre-cooked frozen crab legs like king crab, snow crab and Dungeness crab heat up beautifully on the grill. A few simple tips will ensure you turn out plump, juicy and flavorful grilled crab legs every time. Read on for your complete guide to grilling frozen crab legs like a pro.
Selecting Frozen Crab Legs for Grilling
The best kind of crab legs for throwing right onto the grill are pre-cooked frozen legs. Raw, uncooked legs would be unsafe to just grill up directly from frozen.
Look for legs labeled as pre-cooked, pasteurized or ready to eat. Bright red shell color indicates they have already been cooked. King crab, snow crab and Dungeness crab are common varieties of pre-cooked frozen legs ideal for grilling.
When buying frozen legs, choose legs that are solidly frozen with no signs of thawing and refreezing. Avoid any with freezer burn or ice crystals which indicate poor storage.
Thawing Frozen Crab Legs for Grilling
Never put frozen crab legs directly on the grill! They must be fully thawed first to ensure even cooking and food safety.
Here are some easy methods for thawing frozen crab legs before grilling:
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Place legs in a colander or bowl in the refrigerator. Thaw 24-48 hours.
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Submerge legs in a sink or large container of cold water. Thaw 20-30 minutes.
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Place in a resealable plastic bag and thaw in cold water. Thaw 30 minutes.
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Thaw in the microwave using the defrost setting if available.
Thawed crab legs will feel flexible and movable when ready to grill versus rigid when still frozen. Rinse off any ice crystals before grilling.
How to Grill Previously Frozen Crab Legs
Follow these simple steps for perfect grilled crab legs every time:
- Thaw legs fully using one of the methods above.
- Rinse legs and pat dry. Brush lightly with oil or melted butter.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat, about 400-450°F.
- Place legs directly on grill grates. Grill 4-6 minutes per side.
- Check for doneness early to prevent overcooking.
- Serve legs immediately with lemon and melted butter.
Flip the legs frequently while grilling to prevent burning. Target an internal temperature of 140-165°F to ensure they are fully heated through.
Handy Tips for Grilling Frozen Crab Legs
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If using large king crab legs, consider cutting through the main joint to allow them to lay flatter on the grill grates.
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Use a grilling basket if your grill grates are too widely spaced for the thinner legs to balance on.
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Brush legs with garlic-lemon butter or other flavored butter before and during grilling for extra flavor.
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Add wood chips to gas or charcoal grills for a light smoky flavor. Soak chips first for best results.
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Let legs rest about 5 minutes before cracking open and serving to allow heat to evenly distribute.
Choosing the Best Crab Legs for Grilling
While you can grill most varieties of pre-cooked frozen crab legs, some feature characteristics that really shine on the grill:
King Crab Legs
King crab legs are prized for their thick, meaty claws and legs. Grill gently over medium heat to prevent the delicate meat from drying out.
Snow Crab Legs
Sweet snow crab legs have thin legs perfect for direct high heat grilling. They cook quickly, so watch closely.
Dungeness Crab Legs
The smaller legs of Dungeness cook through fast. Split bodies work well. Brush with garlic-lemon butter while grilling.
Delicious Ways to Season Grilled Crab Legs
Beyond plain grilled crab legs, spices and sauces open up amazing flavor possibilities:
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Coat legs with Cajun seasoning before hitting the grill.
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Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice over grilled legs.
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Serve legs with flavored aiolis, sriracha mayo or chipotle mayo for dipping.
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Toss grilled legs in a Thai peanut glaze or sweet chili sauce.
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Brush legs with a zesty vinaigrette as soon as they come off the grill.
Handy Tips for Freezing Leftover Grilled Crab Legs
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Let crab legs cool completely before freezing to prevent ice crystals.
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Portion legs into resealable bags or airtight containers for easy reheating later.
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Freeze up to 3 months for best quality and taste.
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Thaw grilled legs gently in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
Grilled Crab Legs Can’t Be Beat in Summer
Pre-cooked frozen crab legs are ideal candidates for the grill. With proper thawing and minimal prep, you can enjoy incredibly tender and flavorful grilled crab all season long.
Follow the techniques above for foolproof crab legs bursting with sweetness and smoky char. Then get creative with zesty sauces, seasonings and sides to take your grilled crab legs to the next level.
So fire up the grill this summer and treat your family and friends to these spectacular seafood favorites hot off the grate!
Grilled Crab Legs
There’s no need to find a big pot or make a mess in the kitchen when you grill crab legs. It’s my favorite way to cook them. Just thaw the legs and heat them on the grill. Then open them up and enjoy! Other crab dishes I love are baked crab cakes, crab cauliflower fried “rice,” and tomato, corn, crab, and avocado salad.
As a treat for my family, I recently grilled red king crab legs. But you can grill any kind of crab leg. Golden King, Dungeness crab legs and snow crab legs are two other good options. Because they are usually the biggest and have the most meat, king crabs are the most popular type of crab. Snow crabs are similar to king crabs but have thinner legs. Dungeness crabs have the smallest legs of the three and are known for their very sweet meat.
Most Alaskan king crab legs are already cooked and frozen, so all you have to do is thaw and heat them up. It’s best to thaw your legs before grilling so they heat up evenly on the inside.
Fill up your sink with cold water and put the crab legs in it for 20 to 30 minutes. This will heat them up quickly. When thawed, rinse the legs well. You can also defrost overnight in the refrigerator, just be careful they don’t leak.
How to Grill Crab Legs
Grilling crab legs is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Put the legs on a grill that is hot but not smoking. Spray them with olive oil spray.
- Put the lid on and cook for seven minutes on each side, or until everything is hot.
- Cut slits along the side with a sharp paring knife while wearing gloves. This will make it easy to pull out the meat.
In the summer, it’s fun to cook crab legs on the grill for dinner. Grilled crab meat goes great with just about any side. I love serving it with corn on the cobb. Some other serving suggestions are this Summer Tomato Salad, Lemon-Parsley Potato Foil Packets, or Macaroni Salad with Tomatoes.
They are expensive to buy, but cheaper than ordering out so I rather just make them myself. My family likes to eat crab legs with melted butter, but it’s totally optional. On low heat, I melt a stick of butter on the stove while the crab legs are grilling. I then add fresh lemon juice to the butter. You can also add some garlic and make garlic butter. And if you want to skip the butter altogether, fresh lemon squeezed over the crab is perfect.
Grilled Snow Crab Leg with Buttered Corn
Can you cook crab legs on a grill?
Grilled Crab Legs is such a treat in the summer, this foolproof recipe is so easy and works with king crab legs, Dungeness crab legs and snow crab legs! Heat grill to medium-high. Spritz crab legs all over with olive oil spray and place on hot grill. Cover and cook about 7 minutes on each side, or until the meat in the center is heated through.
How do you cook frozen crab legs?
Carefully drop the frozen crab legs into the boiling water. King crab will need about 6-8 minutes, whereas snow crab will be done in about 4-6 minutes. Once cooked, drain the water and serve immediately with melted butter and lemon wedges. Boiling can make the crab legs rubbery and less flavorful, so use this method only as a last resort.
Can You reheat crab legs?
Most crab legs are pre-cooked so they only need to be reheated. First, thaw your crab legs. Then place them on the grill for 5-7 minutes, flip, and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Your cook times will vary depending on what type of crab you are cooking. Once they are fully cooked, all you have to do is serve them with melted ghee or butter!
Can you cook snow crab legs in butter before grilling?
If you are using snow crab legs, you can follow the same time and temperature guidelines written in the recipe below, but toss the entire crab leg clusters in the seasoned butter before grilling instead of splitting the smaller legs. Serve with more seasoned butter for dipping. Oh, and don’t forget the napkins!