It’s pretty simple to cook crab at home, but it can be hard to decide what to serve with it. Crab is a treat that many people love, especially during crab season. It has unique flavors and is fun to eat. Not many foods let you crack open and pull out tasty meat to enjoy. The fact that you have to work hard to get to the meat makes it taste even better. You have to earn it. There is not much better than a crab dinner.
First things first, you need a crab recipe. We wrote this post to help you learn how to cook crab so you can make this tasty breakfast.
As good as crab is, deciding what to serve with crab can make or break the meal. Here are some ideas for what to serve with crab.
The most obvious and well known thing is to serve crab with clarified butter. It’s by far the most iconic and widely used. While it is simple, it enhances the crab meat flavor rather than compliments it. The butter transforms them to a new level of delicious. To make this, melt regular butter (not margarine) and let it cool down. This lets the milk solids settle to the bottom. The butter left on top is clarified – which is what you serve. After that, you should make a great dipping sauce by adding fresh lemon juice and garlic to the butter. Other ideas to improve the butter sauce that much more is rosemary, parsley, or Worcestershire sauce.
Pro tip: Clarified butter goes well with warm crab legs. Do not serve this with cold crab legs are it will solidify.
Crab is one of the most delicious and coveted seafood delicacies. With its sweet, succulent meat and texture, crab makes for an indulgent main course. However, a flawless crab meal needs the right side dishes to complement the decadence of the crab The sides should enhance the flavors of the crab, provide contrasting textures, and round out the meal.
Through extensive research and culinary experimentation, I’ve discovered 28 remarkable side dishes that pair impeccably with crab. These sides run the gamut from traditional fare like buttery mashed potatoes to unique recipes like sesame noodles. I’ve also included tips on how to pick sides based on the type of crab dish you’re making.
So let’s get cooking! Here are 28 sensational side dishes to serve with your next crab meal:
Best Starch Sides
Crab has a rich, sweet flavor and a delicate texture. Starchy sides like rice, pasta or potatoes help balance out the taste and give you a satisfying meal. Here are some carb-based sides that perfectly complement crab:
1. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes infused with garlic are a no-brainer with crab The potatoes tone down the sweetness and absorb the lovely butter sauce from the crab. For extra decadence, fold in sour cream or cheese into the mash.
2. Pasta with White Wine Sauce
A light white wine sauce tossed with angel hair or linguine pasta provides a tangy, herbaceous note to balance the crab. Parmesan and fresh parsley or chives take this side to the next level.
3. Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf, with its fluffy grains and savory seasoning, soaks up the delicious crab juices beautifully. Dress it up with toasted almonds or herbs. Brown or wild rice also pair well.
4. Scalloped Potatoes
For a more indulgent potato dish, rich, creamy scalloped potatoes studded with cheese and cream is a match made in heaven with crab cakes, legs or just chilled crab meat.
5. Mac and Cheese
The ultimate comfort food, a creamy, cheesy baked mac and cheese is a crowd-pleasing crab companion. Top with breadcrumbs or bacon for extra decadence.
6. Twice-Baked Potatoes
Hollowed-out baked potatoes filled with a luscious blend of cheese, bacon, sour cream and butter take spuds up a notch. They’re ideal with snow crab legs or lump crab meat.
Fresh Vegetable Sides
Since crab has a delicate sweetness, bright, fresh vegetables help to cut through the richness. Here are some tasty veggie sides to try:
7. Steamed Asparagus
Vibrant, green asparagus steamed until just tender-crisp pairs perfectly with the sweetness of crab. A drizzle of lemon brightens up the flavor.
8. Green Bean Almondine
Blanched green beans sautéed with butter, garlic and toasted almonds make a nutty, crisp side dish with lovely contrasting texture.
9. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts roasted until caramelized and crispy on the outside provide the ideal nutty, slightly bitter balance for rich crab dishes.
10. Corn on the Cob
Sweet summer corn brushed with butter and sprinkled with salt and pepper makes a fun, hands-on accompaniment for a crab feast.
11. Broccolini with Lemon
Broccolini sautéed in olive oil and finished with lemon zest, red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese gives a light crunch and acidity.
12. Roasted Carrots
Honey-glazed rainbow carrots roasted until tender and caramelized offset crab’s richness with natural sweetness.
Savory Baked Sides
Warm baked vegetable casseroles provide comfort and texture contrast to balance succulent crab. Here are some savory baked sides to try:
13. Creamed Spinach au Gratin
This luscious spinach casserole with Gruyère cheese and béchamel sauce is indulgent yet offsets crab’s sweetness.
14. Zucchini Gratin
Thinly sliced zucchini in a casserole with Parmesan, mozzarella and a creamy base makes an irresistible pairing with crab cakes.
15. Hashbrown Casserole
Creamy, cheesy hashbrowns studded with veggies like bell peppers and onions makes a hearty baked side.
16. Cornbread Stuffing
Thanksgiving-style cornbread stuffing with celery, onion, herbs and chicken stock soaks up the delicious crab juices perfectly.
17. Baked Acorn Squash
Filled with browned butter, pecan crumble and cranberries, this baked squash side provides a subtly sweet complement.
Fresh, Bright Salad Sides
Cool, crunchy salads with bright vinaigrettes help cut through crab’s rich flavors. These salad sides balance beautifully:
18. Apple Fennel Slaw
Thinly sliced apples and fennel mixed with cabbage and a cider vinaigrette makes a crisp, licorice-accented slaw.
19. Citrus Avocado Salad
Tangy citrus fruits like grapefruit and orange segments pair wonderfully with cool, creamy avocado and crab.
20. Tomato and Peach Salad
Juicy tomatoes and peaches with fresh mozzarella, basil and a red wine vinaigrette complement crab’s sweet profile.
21. Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Briny olives, feta, tomatoes, cucumber and herbs in an orzo salad with red wine vinegar provides fresh contrast.
22. Cucumber and Radish Salad
Crisp cucumbers and radishes in a light lemon dill dressing provide perfect crunch and acidity.
More Unique Crab Side Pairings
Beyond the basics, these unique sides provide fabulous crab pairings you may not have considered:
23. Creamed Corn
Sweet creamed corn makes an unexpected but fantastic match for crab. The natural sugars balance the brine beautifully.
24. Sweet Potato Fries
Crispy, crunchy sweet potato fries with chipotle aioli lend fabulous smoky spice and texture.
25. Fried Green Tomatoes
Tart, fried green tomatoes with a Cajun rémoulade sauce complement crab with Southern flair.
26. Latkes
Crispy, golden potato latkes with applesauce or sour cream make a fun Eastern European-style crab pairing.
27. Coleslaw
Cool, creamy cabbage slaw with a hint of tang mellows crab’s richness.
28. Garlic Bread
Warm, buttery garlic bread is perfect for dipping into delicious crab butter sauce. Cheesy garlic bread takes it over the top.
Choosing Sides Based on Crab Type
The variety of crab preparation affects what sides pair best:
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For whole crab or crab legs, opt for dipping sauces and hands-on sides like corn, artichokes or garlic bread.
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With crab cakes or fried soft shell, starchy sides like fries, rice or mac and cheese pair well.
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For crab salad or chilled meat, choose fresh sides like salads, slaw or raw vegetables.
The options for incredible crab and side pairings are endless. Use this guide to get inspired to prepare the perfect accompaniments that will have your guests raving. A thoughtfully composed meal with crab as the shining star and complementary sides is a foolproof way to provide a fabulous dining experience. Now get cooking and savor the fruits of the sea!
Frequency of entities:
malt vinegar: 1
Cheddar Bay biscuits: 1
classic coleslaw: 1
smashed potatoes: 1
lemon garlic butter sauce: 2
Cheddar jalapeño cornbread: 1
roasted vegetables: 2
rice pilaf: 1
scalloped potatoes: 1
mac and cheese: 1
mashed potatoes: 1
alfredo pasta: 1
broccoli with lemon: 1
steamed asparagus: 1
green beans almondine: 1
roasted brussels sprouts: 1
sweet corn on the cob: 1
broccolini with lemon: 1
roasted carrots: 1
creamed spinach au gratin: 1
zucchini gratin: 1
hashbrown casserole: 1
spinach artichoke gratin: 1
stuffing: 1
baked acorn squash: 1
apple fennel slaw: 1
citrus avocado salad: 1
tomato peach salad: 1
Mediterranean orzo salad: 1
cucumber radish salad: 1
creamed corn: 1
sweet potato fries: 1
fried green tomatoes: 1
latkes: 1
coleslaw: 1
garlic bread: 1
What to Eat With Crab?
There are countless side dishes that will pair very nicely with crab. We recommend keeping a pretty straightforward side dish so the crab does not get overshadowed. Below are many side dishes we recommend for what to eat with crab meat. You can find many crab side dish recipes for the suggestions below.
Another side option is a lemon rice pilaf. This is a nice comforting dish that complements the crab flavors in a delicate way.
Salad is always a great option as well. Having crab steamed is a nice light meal, and salad is a great way to keep the whole meal light. You can also serve salad with garlic butter roasted crab to balance out the richness of that preparation. An orange and mandarin salad is suggested because it is crunchy, cool, and sweet in the right amounts. This can also be served as an appetizer before the crab to get people excited about what’s to come.
Since vegetables have refreshing and earthy flavors, they are a nice complement to the sweet meat of crab. Not all veggies are created equal, though. Some of the best vegetables to pair are asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers and onions. Roasting them will caramelize them and bring out the natural sweetness that will pair so well with crab. This side dish can be served with warm or cold crab.
Another type of vegetables that is a really fun pairing is steamed artichokes. For this food, you should use your hands to pull it apart, eat the meat, and throw away the rest. It’s a great accompaniment once you’re already messy and letting your guard down.
First off, everyone loves mashed potatoes. Literally. I’ve never met anyone who actively dislikes mashed potatoes. Can you say, ultimate crowd pleaser? Any preparation of potato, really, pairs well with crab. But we know that mashed potatoes are that much of a widely loved fan favorite.
Another absolute crowd winner is, you guessed it, French fries. They’re absolutely delicious and super convenient to eat. Everyone loves them. And, you can even serve garlic fries to contrast steamed crabs or to complement garlic roasted crab.
Any type of corn can pair nicely with Crab. But to enhance the hands on eating experience, we recommend corn on the cob. Fresh and messy to eat, both of these things are great. You can cook corn on the cob in a lot of different ways, such as by grilling, steaming, boiling, or even microwaving it.
This one is the most obvious. Wine so clearly pairs incredibly well with crab. Especially white wine. Pinot gris, chardonnay and dry Riesling are the top recommendations for wine pairing.
Yes, crab tastes sweet and delicious. But, it is light. Light enough that you’ll still have room for dessert when you’re finished devouring your crustacean. To keep with the light and refreshing theme you can go with a lemon cheesecake. Or of course go for the classic chocolate cake.
What to serve with crab legs
You definitely want to supply crab crackers, crab forks and if possible, bibs. It can be messy and hard to eat crab, but these tools bring the fun back.
Other than butter, you can create all sorts of sauces to serve with crab. For instance, mustard with dill, mayonnaise, lemon and salt and pepper. Another sauce you can try is spicy diablo dipping sauce. Or perhaps a hollandaise.
You can of course consider the most common and popular of all, cocktail sauce. You can even make this sauce at home by mixing together horseradish, Worcestershire, tabasco, lemon and ketchup. Play with different combinations and add pepper to give it an extra kick.