How To Cook Crab Legs 3 Ways Recipe

What’s in this Snow Crab Legs recipe?

Whether you have a stock pot, an Instant Pot, or an Air Fryer, you can make perfect crab legs with just a few simple ingredients!

Snow Crab Legs: These have sweet and delicate crab meat, and are known for their exceptionally long legs and tender flesh. They’re the most affordable type at most grocery stores, and are typically sold in clusters (so multiple legs in one!). Lemon: Has an acidic and citrusy flavor that complements the sweetness of the crab meat. Unsalted Butter: Has a rich and creamy flavor that enhances the natural sweetness of the crab meat. Seafood Seasoning: A blend of various herbs and spices, like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and sometimes cayenne pepper, that enhance the flavor of the crab.

Fun Fact: Crab legs can only be sold live or cooked. When you buy crab legs at the store, they are cooked, frozen, and thawed. So we’re really just reheating them!

Variations on Crab Legs

Learning how to cook crab legs is so easy and straightforward, you’ll be able to make some simple variations as you please. Use this recipe to cook Snow Crab, King Crab, or Dungeness Crab Legs. You can change up the flavor by using a different seasonings, like Creole seasoning or blackened seasoning, or by adding some minced garlic and herbs to the butter.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover crab legs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, steam or microwave them until heated through. Be careful not to overcook them, as they can become tough and rubbery.

How to Freeze

Freeze crab legs in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Serve Crab Legs

Serve these snow crab legs simply with melted butter and lemon wedges. After cracking the shells and pulling out the meat, you can squeeze lemon juice on top, then dip the meat into butter, and eat. It’s a true delicacy! They also taste great with garlic aioli, or try tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or bang bang sauce. Make it a full meal by pairing them with corn on the cob, coleslaw, roasted potatoes, sautéed vegetables, crusty bread, Hawaiian rolls, or a fresh salad. If you like this recipe, you’ll love this lobster tail recipe too!