Here are ten of the best sides to eat with Alaskan King Crab Legs. You won’t be sorry if you add one or two of these to your crab feast menu.
Whether roasted, baked, mashed, or fried, potatoes are a classic go-to side with crab legs. Add a little garlic and butter and you’ll have yourself the ultimate complementary flavors.
Crab is a sublime seafood, prized for its sweet and delicate flavor When preparing crab at home, pairing it with the right side dishes is key to creating a incredible meal. The ideal crab accompaniments will enhance the natural flavors of the crab meat without overpowering it.
In this article, I’ll share 12 of my favorite crab side dishes to serve for flawless crab pairings. From veggies to potatoes to salads and more, these recipes perfectly complement fresh crab
The Best Vegetable Sides for Crab
Vegetables pair beautifully with crab. They provide texture contrast, bright colors, and fresh flavors. Here are some stellar veggie sides to consider:
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts roast up crispy, caramelized, and irresistible. Toss the sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast at 400°F until browned. The nutty flavor and crunch of roasted Brussels is fantastic with sweet crab.
Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Butter
Few veggies pair as nicely with crab as artichokes. Cook artichokes simply – steam them to tender doneness. Serve warm with melted garlic butter for dipping the leaves. Artichokes have a subtle flavor that allows the crab to shine.
Sauteed Zucchini and Corn
Saute zucchini, corn, and onions in olive oil with minced garlic and herbs like basil and oregano. The mixture of flavors and colors looks beautiful next to crab meat. It also adds freshness and summery flair.
Delicious Starchy Sides for Crab
Starchy sides provide comforting textures and fill out the meal. Potatoes, rice, and breads make excellent crab companions.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Smooth, creamy mashed potatoes are a classic for good reason. For crab, kick them up a notch by mashing with roasted garlic, butter, and cream. Hearty and indulgent garlic mashes are fantastic with sweet crab.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
These cheesy biscuits are wildly addictive. Bake up fluffy biscuit dough flavored with cheddar, garlic powder, parsley, and cayenne pepper. Serve biscuits warm with melted butter. They soak up all that delicious crab juice perfectly.
Cilantro Lime Rice
Fresh and fast, cilantro lime rice adds brightness to balance rich crab. Simply cook rice with lime juice and zest, olive oil, cilantro, and garlic. The citrus flavors complement crab flawlessly.
Salad and Sauces for Serving with Crab
Cool salads and flavorful sauces make excellent crab accoutrements. They cut richness and highlight crab’s natural sweetness.
Kale Caesar Salad
A Caesar salad offers a refreshing contrast to hot crab. For a twist, use tender kale instead of romaine. Toss the kale with classic Caesar dressing of olive oil, lemon, anchovies, parmesan, garlic, and pepper. Top with croutons for a satisfying crunch.
Lemon Dill Sauce
This easy blender sauce comes together fast. Puree sour cream, mayo, lemon juice and zest, dill, garlic, and a pinch of cayenne. Drizzle the tangy sauce over hot crab for an incredible pairing.
Cajun Rémoulade
A rémoulade sauce infused with Cajun spices makes the perfect dip for boiled crabs. Whisk together mayo, Creole mustard, lemon, hot sauce, paprika, garlic, cayenne and celery seed. Dunk crab claws right in for finger-licking flavor.
Now you have 12 sensational side dish options for serving with crab! With fresh vegetables, potatoes, rice, biscuits, salads, and sauces, you can create incredible crab meals.
These recipes help highlight and complement crab’s natural sweetness without overpowering its delicate flavor. The sides also provide satisfying textures ranging from crispy Brussels sprouts to creamy mashed potatoes.
With endless options for customizing your meal, a crab feast need never get boring! Try mixing and matching different pairings for variety. Or pick two or three complementary sides to offer guests an array of flavors and textures.
I recommend serving crab as soon as it’s cooked for maximum enjoyment of the sweet meat. Prepare any veggie sides and sauces ahead of time for easy finishing. For hot side dishes, time them so everything finishes cooking together.
Now you have insider tips for expertly pairing sides with crab. What are your favorite go-to combinations? Share your special crab side dishes in the comments!
Corn on the Cob
What about butter? We can’t forget the most common side dish for crab legs: corn on the cob. We don’t know why these two sides became the standard thing to eat with crab, but we’re not complaining.
Even though coleslaw is usually served with barbecue, we think this creamy cabbage dish goes perfectly with the juicy crab meat.
The salty sweetness of cornbread works well to compare and contrast with your crab meat. Plus, with all the protein of the crab legs, adding in some carbs is never a bad idea.
Hear us out. Maybe this sounds strange, but the best way to eat steamed artichoke petals is to dip them in butter before you scrape off the meat. If you’re going to dip your crab in melted butter anyway, you might as well eat an artichoke with it for extra vitamins and a sour taste.
Sometimes the simple option is the best one. On the side, a nice, crunchy green salad can help fill you up without taking away from the main course too much. Or, if you’re feeling creative, pair your crab legs with a Caesar salad for more garlicky goodness.
Since you’re going to be eating a lot of crab, you might want to serve some roasted vegetables as a side dish. You can bake broccoli, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts at 400°F with a little olive oil on top until they are crispy.
We know, we know. Steak isn’t necessarily a side. But can we really have a list of the best foods to eat with crab legs and not mention surf and turf? No, we cannot, and our friends at Market House can help with that.
People usually mix lobster with everyone’s favorite cheesy noodles, but crab meat also goes really well with this salty side dish.
Does melted butter count as a side? We’re going to say yes. Plus, you can even fancy up your butter, easily, with Mr. Sticks “Just Add Butter” Seasoning. Its made from all-natural ingredients that pair perfectly with our all-natural crab, for maximum flavor. Need some all-natural butter? We always recommend this one right here.
Luckily, when it comes to pairing your Alaskan king crab legs with a side, you really can’t go wrong. Just pair one delicious food with another — then enjoy!
Sourced through trusted experts and chosen for taste, texture and quality.
Flash frozen to lock in the fresh-off-the-dock taste.
Packaged with dry ice and shipped overnight directly to your door.
Simply thaw, prep, heat, and eat.
What Can I Make With… Imitation Crab! | Cooking for Two | 4 Easy Recipes using Imitation Crabmeat
FAQ
What flavour goes well with crab?
What is the best way to eat crab meat?
What goes well with crab meat?
Lump crab meat is best when mixed with cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream. Of course, warm spices and bubbly cheddar cheese help, too! Anything else will seem lackluster after tasting this delicious baked crab dip. 25. Cream Cheese Crab Spread This recipe is a terrific conversation starter and such a fun appetizer spread.
Are coconut crabs healthy to eat?
Crabs are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins like riboflavin and minerals like selenium, copper, phosphorus. Coconut crabs are not known to be poisonous. The fat in the abdomen and the egg inside the female are the delicious edible parts. It is prepared by steaming or boiling them in coconut milk. Consuming coconut crab along with sea mango, cerbera manghas may make the coconut crab toxic due to the presence of cardiac cardenolides(cardiac active steroids). This causes electrolyte imbalance that affects the electrical conductivity of the heart.
What to eat with crab?
One delicious option is to combine Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, lemon, horseradish, and pepper. It’s sweet, refreshing, and easy to make! Here’s another idea: mayonnaise, dijon mustard, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It’s thick, creamy, and amazing with crab. 3. Cheddar Bay Biscuits No seafood feast is complete without cheddar bay biscuits.
What vegetables go well with crab?
During summer dinners, combine zucchini and bell peppers for a light, tangy dish. In autumn, try hearty vegetables like carrots, onions, and squash. Grilled or roasted vegetables pair well with all varieties of crab, which is part of the reason they are a traditional side.