This crab cake recipe is so simple and tasty! I love fresh, crispy crab cakes, and these Baltimore Crab Cakes are really hitting the spot. This is the BEST crab cake recipe, and once we add on the homemade tartar sauce…YUM! I can’t get enough of these things.
Crab Cake Recipe
The best crab cake recipe in the world? Well, I think so! These Baltimore Crab Cakes are just sooo tasty!
I love seafood. There’s really nothing better than fresh seafood, whether grilled, fried, or baked. And with my love for crab cakes, it only made sense that I should come up with the Best Crab Cake Recipe ever. These things are just too good! Especially when combined with my Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe.
These Baltimore Crab Cakes really are amazing. I kept it pretty classic with mayonnaise, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and (of course) great crab meat. I fried them up just enough to make them a little crispy so that they have the perfect texture, but the baking powder keeps them fluffy.
This Crab Cake Recipe is a great summer appetizer to serve with dinner, lunch, or for parties. Add a bit of lemon juice and dill, and serve with fresh tartar sauce and enjoy!
These Baltimore Crab Cakes are so simple yet delicious. It’s the perfect dish for summer!
How to Make Crab Cakes
This might surprise you, but the Best Crab Cake Recipe is actually really easy to make. The crab meat mixture only takes a few minutes to prepare, and you can make it a bit ahead of time if needed. Once your crab meat is ready, pat them into patties, and then you’ll just fry them in a skillet for a few minutes each. Simple as that!
Crab Cake Recipe Tips
- Prepare the crab meat mixture ahead of time and refrigerate so they’re ready when it’s time to cook.
- Be careful not to overwork the crab cake patties when molding them into shape.
- Cook your crab cakes in multiple batches so they don’t get crowded in the skillet.
- Adding a bit of baking powder will make your crab cakes light and fluffy.
You’re going to love these classic Baltimore Crab Cakes! They will melt in your mouth as soon as you take a bite. Be sure to watch the video and check the recipe card for the full recipe.
Baltimore Crab Cake Recipe with Homemade Tartar Sauce
The Best Crab Cake Recipe wouldn’t be complete without a creamy Homemade Tartar Sauce. The flavor of fresh dill pickle mixed with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, chives, and green onion is so bold and tart. It just makes these Baltimore Crab Cakes taste even better! Check out the full Tartar Sauce Recipe here.
What is a good side dish for crab cakes?
These tasty Baltimore Crab Cakes definitely need some tartar sauce. But besides that, they need a good side dish too! Luckily there are plenty of easy side dishes to go along with classic crab cakes. You can’t go wrong with any of these options:
- Homemade coleslaw
- Instant Pot Potato Salad
- Shoestring Fries
- New England Clam Chowder
- Grilled Lemon Butter Asparagus
- Cheesy Garlic Cornbread Drop Biscuits
In general, crab cakes taste great with other seafood dishes, bisque, and fresh veggie dishes.
How long do you cook crab cakes in a skillet?
You want to cook this crab cake recipe for about 3 minutes on each side (6 minutes total). They fry up quickly, so keep an eye on them.
How long can you keep uncooked crab cakes in the fridge?
If you want to prepare your crab cakes ahead of time, you can make the mixture and store it in the refrigerator for about 3 days (I wouldn’t leave it any longer than that). When you’re ready to cook them, take out the crab meat mixture and mold it into crab cake patties.
Enjoy these Baltimore Crab Cakes all summer long along with Homemade Tartar Sauce. Once you make these, you’ll have no doubt that they’re the Best Crab Cake Recipe. SO delicious!
Watch the video or see the recipe card below for details on how to make Crab Cakes. Enjoy!
Be sure to try these other seafood recipes too:
- Shrimp and Grits Appetizer Cup
- Surf n Turf Recipe
- Shrimp Corn Chowder
- Crab Legs Recipe
- Lobster Mac and Cheese
- Baked Salmon with Basil Walnut Pesto
- Buffalo Shrimp Tacos Recipe
- Margarita Fish Tacos
- Parmesan Crusted Lemon Pepper Tilapia
- Crab Rangoon
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Baltimore Crab Cakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 saltine crackers finely crushed
- 1 pound lump crabmeat; jumbo lump crab meat is best if available
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce or 1 teaspoon OLD BAY Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley optional
- Garnish: fresh dill and lemon wedge
- For Serving: Homemade Tartar Sauce (click for recipe)
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, gently combine the crushed crackers with the crabmeat.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, egg, Worcestershire Sauce, baking powder, hot sauce and parsley until smooth.
- Gently fold the mayonnaise mixture with the crabmeat mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to cook.
- When ready to cook, divide the crabmeat mixture into 8 equal parts and very gently pat into 1½-inch hamburger-like patties. DO NOT OVERWORK. Set the patties aside until ready to cook.
- Set a large skillet over medium heat and, when hot, heat the oil until it shimmers. Set the crab cakes in the hot oil and cook, about 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown on both sides and hot throughout. It is important to not crowd the skillet, so cook the crab cakes in two batches.
- Transfer the cooked cakes to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil and then to a serving plates.
- Garnish with fresh dill leaves and a wedge of fresh lemon.
- Serve with Homemade Tartar Sauce.
- Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
Nutrition Information
Awesome recipe, I used 1 package of ritz crackers instead of the saltines and added 3 hits of franks hot sauce. They were a hit. My husband was so happy.
That looks like one tasty crab cake, Terresa! Thanks so much for sharing!
As a Maryland Girl, born and raised in Baltimore, I would be amiss if I didn’t say that this is the same recipe my mother, grandmothers and aunts ALL USE. However, you left out an important step. Before you add anything to the crabmeat you have to gently pick through the meat with your fingers to make sure there isn’t any shell in the meat. Unless you have steamed and picked the meat yourself prior to making the crab cakes there will always be some remnants of the shell in the packaged crabmeat.
Thanks so much for sharing this tip, Susan!
Most excellent the flavor and taste totally awesome. I am a connoisseur of crab cakes and this recipe is spot on. I have had really good Chesapeake Bay blue crab cakes before and this time I used the leftover king crab and they came out great. Great recipe
That looks absolutely delicious, Karl! Thanks so much for sharing!
This recipe is it. Period, enough. So great.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Chadwick!
This is my go to recipe for crab cakes—so delicious! I’m wondering if they can be cooked in the air fryer
I have not tried that!
The crab cakes are delicious and the tartar sauce, too! Thanks so much for an easy gourmet dinner!
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
These are amazing! And so is that tarter sauce! Made it once according to the directions. Made it the second time but added more of everything! Soooop darn good!!!!!!’
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Shelley!
Can I substitute crackers for a gluten free crab cakes?
I see no problem with it!
Couldn’t read the recipe.. Crap popping up all over the place…
I am sorry, the ads are sadly necessary to keep this site going so you can have access to free recipes. There is an option at the top of the website to jump straight down to the recipe and skip everything in between and it allows you to print a recipe that is printer-friendly
The recipe says serves four. Does that mean it makes four? Or how many crab cakes does it make?
Makes 8 crab cakes with 2 per serving!