When you serve crab, you almost never have leftovers. But sometimes we need to figure out what to do with leftover crab. This collection of crab recipes for leftovers treats the leftover meal with the same care and attention that the original meal did. Plus, these leftover recipes will still taste just as good. There are many recipes that will use your crab or other seafood leftovers in the best way possible.
Any seafood that is left over should be eaten soon after the main meal because it goes bad in just a few days in the fridge. They will taste best when consumed early. You’ll learn the best recipes for leftover crab legs and even more specifically leftover king crab recipes. You’ll never have to ask yourself what to do with left over crab again!.
With its tender, sweet flesh and meaty claws king crab is one of the most prized seafood delicacies. While often served simplistically with just lemon and butter, the versatile king crab can be used in many culinary applications. This large crab species offers a treasure trove of luscious meat waiting to be enjoyed in creative recipes. Keep reading for 10 delicious ways to use king crab meat at home.
The term “king crab” refers to several species of giant crab found in cold, northern waters off Alaska Russia and the Bering Sea. The most common commercially fished species are red king crab and blue king crab.
King crab legs can span up to 5 feet tip to tip in the largest specimens! Each leg is filled with sweet, succulent meat that is snowy white when cooked. The flavor is delicately sweet with notes of the sea. The texture resembles lobster or shrimp.
King crab is low in fat and calories while being rich in protein, minerals like zinc, and B-vitamins. Due to its large size, king crab is typically sold pre-cooked and frozen or thawed. The legs, claws, and body meat provide ample crab to use in recipes.
Simple Ways to Serve King Crab Legs
The easiest way to enjoy king crab is to steam or boil frozen legs until heated through and serve with melted butter or aioli for dipping. However, with minimal preparation, you can expand basic king crab dishes into something more memorable:
- Bake with lemon pepper and breadcrumbs
- Grill legs lightly brushed with olive oil, garlic, and herbs
- Sauté with white wine, parsley, and crushed red pepper
- Serve over creamy polenta or risotto
- Toss with angel hair pasta, chili flakes, and olive oil
- Make crab cakes with minced backfin meat, breadcrumbs, egg, and Old Bay
- Stuff into avocados or lettuce cups
Use King Crab Meat in Salads
The sweet chunks of king crab are a perfect topping for fresh salads. The cold crab pairs wonderfully with crisp greens, fruit, toasted nuts, and tangy dressings. Some salad ideas:
- King crab salad with avocado, mango, and citrus vinaigrette
- Crab Louie salad with hard boiled egg, tomato, cucumber, and green goddess dressing
- Crab and quinoa salad with corn, red onion, bell pepper, and lemon thyme vinaigrette
- Baby kale salad with king crab, strawberries, Parmesan, and balsamic dressing
- King crab pasta salad with fusilli, peas, roasted red peppers, olives, and Italian dressing
The key is balancing sweet crab with something tart like citrus, yogurt, or pickled vegetables. Let the crab be the star by using it generously.
Mix King Crab with Hot Pasta
For an indulgent meal, pair rich, crab-filled pasta with a glass of white wine. The king crab is excellent combined with butter or olive oil and tossed with hot spaghetti, linguine, or angel hair pasta.
Some sauces that complement king crab pasta dishes include:
- Garlic, shallots, white wine, lemon, parsley
- Spicy tomato sauce with wine, crushed red pepper, and fresh basil
- Creamy tomato sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and Parmesan
- Alfredo sauce made with Parmesan, heavy cream, garlic, and spices
- pesto made with basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and Parmesan
Finish with a sprinkling of fresh herbs and lemon zest. Feel free to add veggies like sautéed mushrooms or spinach to make it a one-pot meal.
Put King Crab on Toast
Toast makes a perfect quick appetizer or snack for showing off king crab meat. There are so many possibilities for creative, open-faced king crab toasts:
- Avocado toast with crab, red chili flakes, and lime juice
- Arugula, crab, and goat cheese toast with lemon and olive oil
- Crostini with crab salad and grapefruit segments
- Crab melt with Havarti, tomato, and bacon on toasted sourdough
- Bruschetta with crab, diced tomatoes, and Parmesan
- Sweet potato toast with crab, roasted corn, and cilantro cream
The sweet crab pairs brilliantly with bright, acidic toppings. A little crab goes a long way atop crusty toast.
Enjoy King Crab Omelets
For a protein and vitamin packed breakfast or brunch, use king crab meat in fluffy omelets and frittatas. Some combinations worth trying:
- King crab omelet with spinach, goat cheese, and roasted red peppers
- Crab, avocado, and bacon omelet with hollandaise sauce
- Frittata with kale, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, and king crab
- Mini crab cake omelets with green onion and crispy potatoes
- Mexican-style crab omelet with avocado, peppers, onion, cilantro, and cotija cheese
Make it a meal by serving crab omelets with roasted potatoes or fruit on the side. The velvety egg base lets the sweet crab shine.
Bake Seafood Casseroles
For a hearty, comforting meal, bake casseroles layered with king crab, rice, pasta or breadcrumbs. Popular choices like macaroni and cheese or rice pilaf are upgraded with sweet chunks of crab. Some casserole ideas:
- King crab baked ziti with ricotta, mozzarella, and marinara
- Cheesy crab and rice casserole with Swiss, cheddar, crab, rice, celery, and crackers
- King crab stuffed shells with ricotta, Parmesan, and crab-stuffed pasta shells
- Crab soufflé with crab meat, egg yolks, cream, and cheese baked in ramekins
- Crab & artichoke dip casserole with toasted breadcrumbs and Parmesan
The rich casseroles pair well with a leafy green salad or roasted veggies.
Make Crab Cakes
For an impressive appetizer or entree, transform king crab meat into crispy crab cakes. Mix together fresh crab, bread crumbs, egg, mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper. Shape into patties and pan fry in olive oil and butter until golden brown. Serve with homemade aioli or remoulade sauce for dipping.
Mini crab cakes also make awesome party bites. Stuff the cakes with extras like roasted red peppers, green onion, or Parmesan cheese. The sweet crab shines when paired with a tangy sauce.
Use King Crab in Risotto
The indulgent Italian rice dish known as risotto is fantastic when studded with king crab. The starchiness of the Arborio rice complements the sweet meatiness of the crab.
Follow your favorite risotto recipe, stirring crab into the rice during the final 5 minutes of cooking. Garnish with fresh herbs like dill, chives, or parsley. Some variations to try:
- Simple crab risotto with Parmesan cheese and white wine
- King crab risotto with peas, lemon, and garlic
- Spicy crab risotto with tomato, basil, and red chili
- Creamy crab risotto with mascarpone and chives
The plump grains of rice absorb the crab-infused broth, forming a rich mosaic of textures and flavors.
Make Crab Dip
For a simple party appetizer, use king crab meat in a creamy, cheesy dip. This crab artichoke dip is always a crowd-pleaser:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 14-oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 lb king crab meat, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mix everything together and bake at 350°F until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve with crackers, chips, or fresh vegetables.
Elevate Seafood Chowders
Chowders are classic comfort food, and king crab makes them extra decadent. Follow your favorite chowder recipe, adding bite-sized king crab during the final 5 minutes of simmering time. Some chowder ideas:
- Creamy New England clam chowder with king crab
- Spicy tomato-based Manhattan chowder with crab
- Thai coconut curry chowder with shrimp, crab, and vegetables
- Smoky seafood chowder with crab, cod, bacon, and potatoes
- Quick crab and corn chowder
Garnish bowls with oyster crackers, croutons, or fresh herbs. The sweet crab combined with veggies and spicy seasonings is delightful.
King Crab Legs Bring Endless Possibilities
With its luxurious taste and texture, king crab can elevate everything from pasta and risotto to toast and salads. Follow these recipes or get creative with your own crab-infused dishes.
Savor every sweet, succ
Make it a salad
Adding crab to a salad can make it a light meal with new flavors. It pairs well with apple and pomegranate, creating a healthy and light salad perfect throughout the summer. There is another salad called cobb salad that can have extra crab added to it to make it taste better and make it a full meal.
Add it to a pasta
Crab meat is often put on top of pasta, and it can make a dish more complete when added to
the sauce during the cooking process. You can cook the crab in the sauce or put it on top of the cooked pasta. This will become a favorite quickly.
You can quickly use up any crab meat you have by making a dip that goes with almost any dish. It can be an appetizer or part of a main dish, and it’s simple to make. You can make your own crab dip recipe by adding or taking away ingredients you don’t like. It’s a great party food or personal snack.
More and more people are making charcuterie boards, which has made room for charcuterie boards with seafood or crab. It can be a great way to use up leftovers before a party or get-together while still looking like you put in a lot of work and impressing everyone. Or make it for your own movie night at home and keep it for yourself.
If you have leftover crab meat and are looking for crab recipes or want to make appetizers, stuffed mushrooms are a great way to go. This also applies to stuffed peppers, or even using it to top off bread. For a diverse group of people, offer a vegetarian option with tofu or no meat at all, so everyone can enjoy what you’ve made.