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.
King crab legs are a delicacy that many people love to enjoy during the summer grilling season Their sweet, succulent meat is perfect for soaking up lemon and butter on the grill However, cooking king crab legs properly on the grill can be a bit tricky. Undercook them and the meat stays stuck inside the shells. Overcook them and you end up with dry, rubbery crab. Follow this simple guide to learn how to grill king crab legs just right every time.
Pick Your King Crab Legs
King crab legs come from three different species of crab – red, golden, and blue. Red king crab, which comes from Alaska is the most common. The legs are thicker with a reddish shell. Golden king crab legs are smaller and thinner with a brownish shell. Blue king crab is the rarest and has blue hued legs. Any type works well for grilling. Look for legs that are 8-14 ounces each and avoid any with broken shells or that smell fishy. Thawed and preprocessed legs are best for easy grilling.
Proper Thawing is Key
Never throw frozen legs right on the grill. They need to thaw completely first to cook evenly. There are two ways to safely thaw king crab legs. For a quick thaw, place the legs in a colander or bowl and run cold water over them for 15-30 minutes until thawed. For a slower thaw, put them in the refrigerator 8-12 hours ahead (or up to 24 hours). Once thawed, rinse the legs and pat dry with paper towels before grilling.
Prep the Grill
Make sure your grill is very hot. Heat your gas or charcoal grill to 400-450°F. The high and steady heat is key for getting the perfect sear on the shells while gently steaming the meat inside. Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking. Then use tongs to rub a little oil directly onto each leg. The oil helps transmit the heat evenly to the crab.
Grill Those Legs
Place the legs directly over the heat source in the center of the grill. Close the lid to maintain heat Grill the legs for 5-7 minutes per side Check for doneness at 5 minutes – the shells should be bright red with char marks and smell toasty. If the meat still seems stuck inside, grill another 1-2 minutes per side until it easily releases. Resist the urge to move the legs too much which can break the shells.
Check for Doneness
There should be some resistance when you twist a leg, but the meat should pull out in neat chunks, not big hunks stuck in the shell. Use metal skewers to pull out any stubborn pieces. If needed, you can also carefully crack some legs with a mallet. Take care not to overcook and dry out the delicate meat. It takes some practice to master the perfect doneness.
Go for the Garlic Butter
King crab is delicious with just a squeeze of lemon, but for a real treat, serve it with garlic butter for dipping. Melt one stick of salted butter in a small pan. Add 3-4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon lemon juice and simmer 2 minutes. Pour into small ramekins for dipping the hot crab meat right off the grill.
##Serve it up in Style
Arrange your perfect grilled king crab legs on a serving platter. Provide small dishes for the shells. Have lemon wedges, garlic butter, and crackers or bread ready for guests. A chilled white wine or wheat beer are excellent pairings. Steam some corn on the cob or prepare a fresh salad to complement this tasty, impressive entrée from the grill.
Grilling king crab legs takes a bit of practice to master proper doneness. But the sublime taste of their succulent meat hot off the grill makes it well worth the effort. Follow these tips and you will be serving up restaurant-quality crab legs all summer long for your lucky guests. The sweet, smoky flavor is addictive, and the garlic butter sends it over the top. So fire up your grill and enjoy king crab season in style. Your friends and family will be begging for your grilling secrets.
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 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.
Char-Grilled King Crab Legs
FAQ
How long does it take to cook king crab legs on the grill?
Is it better to boil or grill crab legs?
Can you grill crab legs in foil?
How do you grill cooked crab legs?
To grill cooked crab legs, preheat the grill to medium-high and place them in the center with the turn off the center burner. Brush or spritz the crab legs with olive oil. Cook for about 5 minutes or until warmed through. Serve with a grill-safe mini skillet of butter and garlic next to the crab legs.
Can You thaw king crab legs before grilling?
A: It’s best to thaw the king crab legs in the refrigerator overnight before grilling to ensure even cooking. Q: Can I use a gas grill to grill king crab legs? A: Yes, a gas grill can be used to grill king crab legs. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and follow the same steps as with a charcoal grill.
Can You Grill king crab legs on a gas grill?
A: Yes, a gas grill can be used to grill king crab legs. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and follow the same steps as with a charcoal grill. Grilling king crab legs is an easy and impressive way to serve this delicious seafood. By following these simple steps, you can achieve perfectly grilled king crab legs every time.
How long do you cook a king crab leg?
To cook king crab legs, place them on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, you can broil them 5-8 minutes under a HIGH broiler flame, ensuring they are at least 6 inches away, until warmed through.