The Best Side Dishes to Serve with Crab for a Delicious Meal

Crab is a delicious and versatile protein that can be prepared in endless ways. From crab cakes to cracked crab legs this crustacean is a seafood lover’s dream. However cracking into a plate of crab isn’t complete without the perfect side dishes to complement its sweet, briny flavor. The right sides can take your crab dish from great to extraordinary.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best side dish pairings for crab so you can create a mouthwatering meal Whether you’re preparing crab legs, crab cakes, or just want to highlight crab meat in a salad or pasta dish, these sides are sure to impress

Complementing Crab’s Delicate Flavor

The sweet, salty flavor of crab meat deserves to be the star of the show in any crab dish. This means that side dishes served alongside should complement the crab rather than compete with it. Sides that are too heavily spiced or flavored can easily overpower delicate crab meat.

Instead, you’ll want light, fresh sides that won’t dominate the flavor palate. Bright, acidic components like lemon or garlic cut through the richness of crab. Crunchy, starchy sides provide texture contrast and balance. Herbs and veggies add freshness.

Best Vegetable Side Dishes for Crab

Vegetables naturally pair beautifully with seafood. Their crisp texture and bright, clean flavors are perfect for showcasing succulent crab meat. Some of the best vegetable sides for crab include:

Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Butter

Few things complement crab better than steamed artichokes dipped in garlicky butter. The buttery sauce enhances crab’s richness while the artichokes’ slight bitterness and texture contrasts the sweetness of the crab.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts caramelize beautifully when roasted, developing a deeper, nuttier flavor. Their crunch stands up well to soft crab meat. Roast them simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper or experiment with unique flavors like lemon zest, red pepper flakes, or parmesan.

Zucchini, Corn, and Onion Hash

This easy sautéed veggie hash combines the natural sweetness of corn and zucchini with savory onion. It’s simple but satisfying, letting the crab take center stage. The mix of textures and flavors pairs perfectly with crab cakes, stuffed crab shells, or crab dip.

Classic Coleslaw

A go-to summer cookout side, tangy coleslaw complements rich crab dishes. The crunch of the cabbage and carrots combined with the creaminess of the dressing cools the palate. Jazz it up with apples, pineapple, or citrus for a fruit-filled slaw.

Starch and Grain Sides for Crab

Starches like potatoes or rice and grains like corn pair wonderfully with crab. They provide a neutral base that soaks up rich seafood flavors and juices. Potatoes, in particular, are one of the most versatile sides. Consider these crab-loving starches:

Twice-Baked Potatoes

These crispy, creamy spuds are indulgent alongside crab. Load them with cheese, garlic, bacon, chives, or other flavors to make them your own. Twice-baked potatoes are substantial enough to be a meal with simply prepared crab meat.

Cottage Fries

These crispy, irregular hand-cut fries are crunchy outside and fluffy inside. Fry them or bake them in the oven for a healthier option. Cottage fries pair perfectly with lighter crab dishes like crab salad, salad with crab, or crab dip.

Sweet Corn Bread

A Southern favorite, moist corn bread makes a comforting companion for cracked crab or crab cakes. The sweet corn flavor complements crab without overpowering it. Bake corn bread with jalapenos, cheese, or other fun add-ins.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Fresh cilantro and zesty lime give this rice huge flavor that won’t compete with crab. The lime brightens up rich dishes like baked crab-stuffed shells or cheesy crab dip. Rice also soaks up delicious crab juices you won’t want to miss.

Ideal Sauces and Dips for Crab

Sauces and dips add moisture and flavor to crab dishes. Cooling, creamy sauces pair wonderfully with hot crab dishes. Savory sauces lend even more richness. Consider making:

Lemon Garlic Butter

Melted lemon garlic butter is hands-down the most popular dip for boiled crab legs and claws. The buttery sauce enhances the crab’s sweetness while lemon provides brightness. This pairing is a tried and true classic.

Brandy-Infused Mayonnaise

Spiked with brandy or cognac, this decadent sauce adds sophisticated flavor to crab dishes. The crab’s sweetness balances the alcohol’s bite. The mayo base pairs perfectly with crab’s richness. Use as a dip or in crab salad.

Crab Boil Dipping Sauce

Capture the flavors of a crab boil in one dip! This piquant sauce contains melted butter, lemon, garlic, cayenne, paprika, and other zesty spices. It’s ideal for dunking snow crab legs or clusters.

Aioli

This acclaimed mayonnaise-based sauce can be flavored endlessly with herbs, citrus, garlic, and more. A saffron aioli pairs exquisitely with crab cakes or makes a gourmet topper for crab-stuffed avocados.

Best Crab Salads and Slaws

Crab meat is fantastic showcased in fresh, colorful salads and slaws. Salads provide a lighter pairing for rich crab dishes. The crunch of the veggies combined with a bright dressing keeps the crab as the focus.

Mango Crab Salad

This fruity salad combines fresh crab with mango, bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro. The sweet mango and crab contrast beautifully with the salad’s jalapeno kick. A lime vinaigrette ties it all together.

Almond Caesar Salad with Crab

Give the classic Caesar a crabby twist by topping it with lump crab meat. Romaine, parmesan, croutons, and a bold dressing complement sweet crab. Add almonds or avocado for even more texture and flavor.

Crab Louie

This salad was created in 1914 in a San Francisco hotel and remains beloved today. It combines crab and shrimp with greens, hard-boiled egg, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a tangy dressing. It’s a filling, fresh pairing for crab entrees.

Crab and Avocado Stack Salad

Layers of crab, avocado, tomatoes, and mozzarella make this salad a feast. The creamy avocado and sweet crab make an irresistible duo, while the tomatoes and greens lend freshness. Drizzle with a light vinaigrette to finish.

Elevating Crab with Creative Sides

Beyond traditional veggie and starch sides, some creative, outside-the-box pairings can take your crab dish to a whole new level. Consider these unexpected crab complements:

• Garlic Cheese Biscuits – Buttery, garlicky biscuits are perfect for dunking in crab dip.

• Sweet Corn Souffle – The sweet corn flavor balances salty crab beautifully.

• Bacon Deviled Eggs – Filled with crab, bacon, and spices, these deviled eggs will be the star appetizer.

• Roasted Grape and Arugula Salad – Roast grapes caramelize beautifully and pair with peppery arugula and crab for a gourmet salad.

• Cheesy Polenta – Creamy polenta topped with parmesan is an upscale, satisfying side for baked crab cakes or casseroles.

• Hushpuppies – These crispy fried cornmeal dumplings begging to be dunked in melted butter alongside snow crab legs.

Elevate Your Crab with the Perfect Sides

Serving up amazing crab? Complete the meal with side dishes that enhance flavors and textures. Bright vegetables, starchy potatoes and grains, creamy sauces, and fresh salads all complement crab’s signature sweet and briny taste. The key is choosing sides with simple yet bold flavors that won’t compete with the crab.

With this guide’s suggestions, you’re sure to find the perfect crab and side pairings to impress guests or simply treat yourself. So go beyond the typical boiled crab legs with butter and be inspired to create your own memorable crab feast.