Making crab legs is easier than you think! Ready in only 5 minutes, these crab legs are the best way to treat yourself to a fancy meal at home!
When it comes to dining out, I’m a sucker for crab. It’s my favorite restaurant food to order. Granted it’s not exactly easy on the wallet, but it’s a splurge I indulge in from time to time.
But here’s the thing – you can totally make snow crab legs at home for a fraction of the price of eating out! They only take 5 minutes and they taste just as good as going out to eat.
There’s nothing tricky to this crab recipe. I usually make 2 pounds, one pound for each serving, but you can make as much or as little crab as you like. Just boil some water, season it, add your crab, and then take it out when the timer goes off. Done. It’s SO easy friends!
What is the Difference Between Snow Crab and King Crab Legs?
Both king crabs and snow crabs have long legs which provide most of their meat. They are both quite tasty, but they do have their differences.
Alaskan King Crab
Large and impressive, the long king crab legs boast thick chunks of meat. But their spiny shells make them more difficult to crack with your hands so a tool, like this crab cracker, is required. King crab is only available from October through January and are more expensive due to their limited availability.
Snow Crab
Like the king crab the snow crab legs are long and meaty, however they are much easier to crack by hand. The meat isn’t as dense though and tends to come out in shreds instead of big chunks. It can be found in late fall through early summer. Being much easier to eat and easier to find makes snow crab legs more popular with home cooks.
Which Should I Buy?
Both are found in most American grocery stores, but it will be up to availability and your pocket book. King crab legs are sold individually while snow crab legs are sold in clusters, usually having 6-8 legs and if you’re lucky, a claw attached. The legs you’ll find at the grocery store are usually cooked and frozen.
What is the best way to cook crab legs?
There are lots of ways you can go about cooking crab legs. Below I’m showing you how to boil them, but you can also steam, broil, bake, grill, or even pressure cook the crab.
How to Cook Crab Legs
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Crab legs – snow crab or king crab
- Water
- Salt
- Old Bay seasoning
- Lemon wedges
- Unsalted butter
How to Boil Snow Crab Legs
I like to make the clarified butter while the crab cooks so everything is done together. The steps below talk you through making both the butter and crab at the same time.
- Season a large pot of boiling water with salt and Old Bay.
- While the water is coming to a boil, start melting butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook the butter until it gets foamy, it only takes a minute. Remove the pan from the hot burner and let the butter hang out in the pan for 5 minutes while the crab cooks.
- Next, place the crab legs into the boiling water. (I use tongs!) Let the crab boil for 5 to 6 minutes until it’s warmed and fragrant.
- Then, use tongs to remove the crab from the pot. Place the crab on dinner plates.
- Use a spoon to remove any solids floating on top of the butter. Then pour the butter into two small bowls.
- Sprinkle a little more Old Bay over the crab legs (optional but I like to do this) and then serve immediately with the clarified butter and lemon wedges.
How long do you boil crab legs?
The crab legs you buy at the store will be cooked and frozen. Thaw them in your fridge before boiling. Crab legs only need to boil for about 5 minutes. You’re simply reheating them and adding a little flavor with the seasoned water. If you buy fresh, raw crab legs, they will need to boil for 6 to 8 minutes.
How do you know when crab legs are done?
Depending on whether you’re crab legs are fresh or frozen, it’s the color you want to watch. Frozen legs are already cooked and will already be orange or red in color. Fresh crab meat will be a greenish brown and when they’re done, the crab turns pink/red and the meat is opaque.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the crab meat with some garlic butter or regular melted butter for dipping. My husband loves squeezing fresh lemon juice over his crab before dipping in butter.
If you’re not sure what to serve up with your crab, a baked potato and some corn on the cob will never steer you wrong! We also love serving with Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Bread, Garlic Green Beans or a crisp Garden Salad.
More Seafood Recipes to Try
If you have a serious love of seafood, you are definitely going to want to try Lemon Pepper Shrimp, Baked Honey Mustard Salmon, Salmon Patties and Grilled Fish Tacos. Bacon Wrapped Scallops are another fancy favorite!
Crab Legs
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- Water
- 2 pounds snow crab legs (or preferred crab)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning plus more for garnish
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Fill a large pot half full with water and bring to a boil. Add salt and Old Bay and return to boiling.
- While the water comes to a boil, place butter in a small saucepan to melt over medium-low heat. Once the butter starts to foam, after about 1 minute, remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes while the crab cooks. Use a spoon to remove the milk solids floating on top of the butter. Pour clarified butter into two small bowls.
- Add crab legs to pot of boiling water and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove crab from the pot and serve immediately. I sprinkle a little more Old Bay over the crab and serve it with lemon wedges and melted butter.
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