Crab cakes are a tasty seafood dish that comes from the United States, especially from the Chesapeake Bay area. You mix lump crab meat with things like breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, and different spices like Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and parsley to make these tasty treats. Crab cakes are formed into patties and pan-fried until they develop a golden-brown crust. People love them because they taste like sweet crab and have a crispy outside. They are usually served with lemon wedges and a creamy dipping sauce. However, you may want a switch up from the common creamy dipping sauce. If you want to serve these tasty seafood patties with something different, check out these 21 easy crab cake sides.
You will see that crab cakes go well with many side dishes that bring out their rich and savory flavors. You can choose from a variety of sides, such as a crisp and tangy coleslaw to go with the rich crab cakes or a bed of mixed greens with a light vinaigrette dressing to make the meal colorful and fresh. Asparagus or Brussels sprouts that have been roasted give the crab cakes a delicious, slightly charred flavor that goes well with them. No matter what your cravings are, there’s something on the list for everyone.
Mango Salsa, a sweet and slightly spicy combo, will go perfectly with crab cakes. Crab cakes are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, so a mango salsa goes well with them because it adds more textures and flavors. You can present the crab cakes with the mango salsa already dolloped on top.
For delectable crab cake sides, potatoes are a go to. A Classic French-Style Potato Salad is made with no mayo, fresh herbs, and zippy add-ons. Dijon mustard, grainy mustard, olive oil, and red wine vinegar are mixed together and tossed with the food while it is still warm. Crab cakes already have a good amount of mayo, so you won’t miss it in the potato salad.
Putting together a salad is one of the easiest things you can do. This antipasto salad is not only simple, but it also has lots of different tastes and textures that go well with the crab cakes. This salad keeps things light – there are no heavy carbs or dressings in it. So crab cakes can remain the star of the show.
You probably already have all the ingredients you need to make your own Coleslaw. All you have to do is pour and mix them together. This plain old Cole Slaw recipe is a simple crab cake side dish you can make at home with things you can manage.
This tomato cucumber mozzarella salad was inspired by the Italian classic caprese salad. It’s full of fresh mozzarella cheese, avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crisp cucumber. A lovely balsamic garlic dressing drizzles over the top. It’s easy to throw together as nothing needs to be cooked.
Try these honey mustard green beans if you want your crab cakes to feel like a full meal and you want to stay healthy. As long as the vegetables are seasoned and cooked well enough to go with the crab cakes and not just look like an afterthought, they make good sides for crab cakes. These honey mustard green beans can stand on their own, or help highlight the crab cakes.
Another salad, yes! Because it’s so easy to get a variety of flavors to pair with crab cakes. This salad has pungent and leafy mustard greens that add texture and flavor to the whole meal. With roasted potatoes added, it becomes a well-balanced dish that will leave each guest completely satisfied.
Chickpea salad is hearty and holds up to the creamy, slightly crispy crab cakes. This is the best Mediterranean chickpea salad you’ll ever taste. It has olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta, herbs, and a tasty homemade dressing. Even though there are a lot of different tastes, these sides for crab cakes are good enough to stand on their own.
We already told you that chickpeas and crabcakes go well together. This salad has a lemon vinaigrette that brings out the seafood in the crabcakes. This Kale Quinoa and Chickpea Salad is packed with flavor, texture, and nutrition. It is great for meal prep. Imagine having crab cakes with this kale quinoa chickpea salad for lunch all week. Your co-workers will be asking you for the recipe.
Broccoli rabe is a member of the cabbage family and has a bitter taste. But when you add some olive oil, garlic, cheese, and ground red pepper, it turns into Rapini, an Italian classic. Since garlic and lemon are used a lot in Italian cooking, Italian food goes well with crab cake sides. This one is no exception.
This simple corn orzo recipe only takes 25 minutes to make and only needs one pan. It’s full of fresh corn and is finished with homemade bacon bits and fresh herbs. It’s even creamier than risotto and it’s much easier to make. This cheesy creamed corn orzo will go well with your crispy crab cakes for a hearty meal that will make everyone happy.
Crispy Brussels sprouts to match the crispy exterior of rich crab cakes go hand in hand. The mild sweetness of the crab and the hint of sweetness in the Brussels sprouts will both come out in the maple bourbon sauce. As the weather cools down, you should eat crab cakes and maple bourbon Brussels sprouts every week.
This bang bang grilled corn recipe is your new go-to if it’s still warm enough to grill. Grilled corn is easy to make and tastes great. We’ve already seen that corn goes well with crab cakes. The bang bang sauce gives the corn a little kick and keeps the dish from being too rich. Pro tip: use some of the bang bang sauce to drizzle over your crab cakes too.
Crab cakes are heavy, but you can still eat them in the summer if you want to. Pair them with this sweet tomato soup. It’s easy and will keep things cooled off in a delicious way. This recipe for homemade gazpacho is a fun way to enjoy summer flavors. It can be kept in the fridge for 4 to 5 days in a covered container, so it’s great to make ahead of time.
It’s a little sweet and sour because brown sugar, vinegar, and apple sauce are used to make it. Moving over, sausage. The new best meal is this crispy, tender cabbage with crispy, tender crab cakes. It makes the whole meal taste fresh and is an easy way to cook a lot of food at once.
For crab cake sides that hit the spot, think potatoes. Roasted fingerlings satisfy that itch for smoky flavored vegetables. They bring a depth of flavor that is needed to balance the saltiness of the crab cakes. With under 10 ingredients, you can have this side dish on the table in under an hour. You can also swap the fingerlings for sweet potatoes for a fun twist. Either way works well for crab cake sides.
Whether you bake or fry them, French fries are the ultimate side dish for crab cakes. And, of course, they need to be extra crispy to beat crab cakes’ soft, creamy center. This recipe shows you how to make extra crispy French fries right at home. It gives you all the tips to have perfect fries every time.
With how delicious this creamy corn chowder is, the crab cakes might feel like a side dish. But either way, they pair perfectly together. Lots of potatoes, sweet corn, and crispy bacon in this chowder. All of these things go well with crab cakes. It’s also another recipe you can have done in under an hour.
Back to keeping things light and refreshing, let’s take a look at this chopped vegetable salad. Large chunks of fresh vegetables are mixed together with a tangy, homemade vinaigrette. The zesty garlic dressing is what ties in the crab cake flavors. With a mixture of textures, this salad is a wonderful side dish for crab cakes.
While most sauces wouldn’t make the crab cake sides list, Louisiana Remoulade Sauce absolutely does. It’s creamy, classic, creole spicy, and delicious. It will bring your crab cakes to life. Make a big batch, because this sauce is always the first thing to go. Everything you need to do is mix it all together and put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. It’s as easy as that.
Similar to the green beans, sugar snap peas add amazing flavor and texture when paired with crab cakes. This recipe for Roasted Garlic Parmesan Sugar Snap Peas is healthy and quick to make. They are on this list of crab cake sides because they have a hint of salty, buttery panko crumbs and just the right amount of garlic.
You can change the sides that come with each easy crab cake option to suit your tastes. This makes for a complete and satisfying meal with these tasty seafood treats. Get to cooking! No ratings yet.
Crab cakes are a delicious appetizer or entrée that deserves an equally tasty side dish. Their sweet, flaky crab meat works well with a variety of flavors and textures. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite side dish pairings that complement crab cakes perfectly.
Crab cakes are typically made with lump crab meat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, eggs, and seasonings. They have a lovely sweet and briny flavor from the crab, balanced by the richness of the mayo. The crisp outer coating provides great texture contrast.
When choosing side dishes for crab cakes, you’ll want options that enhance but don’t overpower their signature taste Sides that cut through the richness or offer brightness work well Here are 16 of my top recommendations for side pairings
1. Steamed Asparagus
Few vegetables pair as nicely with seafood as fresh, steamed asparagus The grassy, vegetal flavor highlights crab’s sweetness Asparagus also boasts a crisp-tender texture that contrasts the cakes’ softness. Blanch spears briefly so they retain their snap.
2. Herbed Rice Pilaf
A rice pilaf seasoned with dill, parsley or other fresh herbs makes a pleasant bed for crab cakes. The rice’s fluffiness offsets the crab meat’s density. Stirring the herbs in adds vibrant color and flavor.
3. Celery Root Remoulade
Remoulade is a classic French condiment that works magic with crab. The creamy, tart sauce cuts through the mayo-laden cakes. To make it next level, use shredded celery root instead of celery. Its subtle sweetness plays off the crab beautifully.
4. Tomato Salad with Basil
A tomato salad seasoned with torn basil leaves, olive oil and balsamic vinegar provides a bright, lively crab cake pairing. The sweet tomatoes complement the shellfish, while the acidic dressing cuts richness.
5. Roasted Carrots
Because their sweetness mirrors shellfish, roasted carrots make a fantastic crab cake accompaniment. Toss carrot sticks with olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme before roasting. They’ll turn out caramelized and full of flavor.
6. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Smooth, creamy mashed potatoes are a pleasing contrast to crab cakes’ crunchy exterior and chunky texture. Infuse them with roasted garlic to add complexity without overpowering the crab. They’ll soak up any tasty pan drippings, too.
7. Crispy Brussel Sprouts
Pan-roasted brussel sprouts charred to a crisp complement crab cakes through their contrasting texture. Their pleasantly bitter, nutty taste also balances the sweet shellfish nicely. Toss halved sprouts in oil, salt and pepper before cooking.
8. Fresh Corn on the Cob
Sweet grilled corn on the cob makes a fun, summery crab cake side. The corn’s pleasant sweetness and juicy crunch plays well with the crab meat. Roast ears in their husks on the grill before serving alongside your crab cakes.
9. Greek Salad
A classic Greek salad tossed with olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion and feta cheese offers lots of contrasting flavors and textures to balance a crab cake meal. The bright vegetables cut through richness beautifully.
10. Fruit Salad with Citrus
A fresh fruit salad gives any seafood meal a lively finish. The sweetness of fruits like watermelon, berries and mango highlight crab’s natural sweetness. Add citrus segments or a drizzle of juice to cut the mayo.
11. Grilled Vegetables
Grilling vegetables like zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers adds smoky depth that pairs wonderfully with crab cakes. The nice char contrasts the cakes’ softness, too. Simply toss vegetables in olive oil before grilling to add lots of flavor.
12. Coleslaw
Creamy, vinegar-based coleslaw provides a refreshing, crunchy slaw that lightens up a crab cake meal. Using a mix of cabbage and carrots adds more interest. Toss the slaw with your favorite mayo dressing before serving.
13. Cucumber Salad
A simple cucumber salad with sliced cucumbers, red onion, and a tangy dressing emphasizes crab’s sweet side. The cool crunch of the cucumbers balances the cakes’ richness. Dress with a vinaigrette or yogurt-based sauce.
14. Beer Bread
Warm slices of homemade beer bread go great with crab cakes. The bread’s hint of malty sweetness and yeasty aroma pairs nicely with the sweet shellfish. Bonus – beer bread is super easy to whip up.
15. Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Roasted sweet potato wedges offer a sweet, starchy counterpoint to briny crab cakes. Their creamy texture contrasts the cakes’ crunch, too. Toss sweet potato chunks with olive oil, cumin and chili powder before roasting.
16. Spinach Salad
A spinach salad topped with candied nuts or bacon provides a nice balance of flavors and textures next to crab cakes. Spinach’s bitter notes offset crab’s sweetness. Add tomatoes, mushrooms or citrus to brighten things up.
While these are some of my personal favorites, don’t be afraid to get creative with your pairings! The key is balancing crab’s signature briny sweetness by adding something acidic, creamy, crunchy or bright. Combining flavors, colors and textures will make your crab cake meal memorable.
Some simple salad greens, roasted veggies or a slice of crusty bread may be all you need to let the crab flavor shine through. Or get decadent with cheesy potatoes, buttery corn or crisp brussel sprouts. For a restaurant-worthy finish, a fresh fruit salad or spinach salad adds elegance.
Simplify preparation by utilizing summer produce at its seasonal peak. Ingredients like juicy tomatoes, sweet corn and zucchini take little time to prep. You can roast vegetables ahead of time and whip up quick salad dressings while the crab cakes cook.
Inviting friends over for crab cakes? Set up a fun topping bar so guests can customize their own sides. Provide bowls of prep veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and lettuce. Offer crumbled feta, bacon bits, candied nuts and croutons as mix-ins. Add several dressing options to drizzle on top.
Crab cakes deserve a stellar supporting side cast. With so many delicious possibilities, there’s no shortage of ways to complement their signature seafood flavors. Next time you make crab cakes at home, try out a new side pairing from this list. Your guests will love mixing and matching all the wonderful flavors.
What To Serve With Crab Cakes: 21 Simple Sides
- ▢ 8 oz rotini pasta *measured dry- about 2 cups
- ▢ 2 cups canned corn, drained well
- ▢ 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- ▢ 1 red pepper, diced
- ▢ 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ▢ 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
- ▢ 1/4 cup plain 0% greek yogurt
- ▢ 1/3 cup fat free sour cream
- ▢ Juice of 2 limes
- ▢ 1 tbsp real lime zest
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ▢ 1.5 tsp chili powder
- ▢ 1/4 tsp salt
- ▢ 1/4 tsp pepper
- ▢ 1/2 cup light crumbled feta
- As directed on the package, boil the pasta. Then, run it under cold water and set it aside.
- Put the mayo, yogurt, sour cream, lime juice and zest, salt, pepper, and chili powder in a small bowl. Mix the ingredients together.
- Put the corn, onion, pepper, cherry tomatoes, and garlic in a large bowl and mix them all together. Add in the pasta then fold in the sauce mixture. Gently stir in the feta cheese.
- Put it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. It makes 10 servings of 1 cup.
Guy Fieri’s Baked Crabcakes with Old Bay Remoulade | Guy’s Big Bite | Food Network
What to serve with crab cakes?
Lucky for you and your wallet, these coastal delicacies can be easily made at home. Now the only hurdle to enjoying crab cakes is choosing what side dish to pair with them. To help complete your meal, we’ve rounded up the best side dishes to serve with crab cakes, from colorful salads to creamy soups.
What do you eat with crab pie?
When it comes to pairing food with crab pie, there are many options to choose from.According to **Southern Living**, it’s best to find something bright and flavorful yet simple enough not to outshine the
What goes well with crab?
This sweet, summery side dish is the perfect pairing for crab. Photo by lutzflcat. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, cilantro, and parsley are tossed in a lime juice and vinegar mixture for a bright and flavorful side dish that pairs beautifully with crab. Show off your summer produce with this unique slaw recipe.
What ingredients go well with crab cakes?
Here are some popular ingredient pairings that will make your crab cakes truly shine: The bright acidity of citrus fruits, such as lemon or lime, adds a refreshing tang to the rich crab cakes. Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the crab cakes before serving to enhance their flavor.