Baked Crab Cakes
These Baked Crab Cakes are made Maryland-Style and are unbelievably easy and delicious. Made with sweet flaky lump crab meat, Old Bay seasoning, and very little filler, these golden brown baked crab cakes are served with a slice of lemon and an incredibly flavorful tartar sauce.
Baked Crab Cakes
Once you start baking crab cakes in mini muffin pans, you’ll never make them any other way!
Most people will agree that the best crab cakes are ones that are made with fresh jumbo crab meat, is packed with very little filling, and is loaded with lots of flavor. And these Maryland crab cakes are just that.
Full of wonderful texture, tons of crab meat, packed with flavor, still the best part for me is they are oven baked not fried.
So, when you’re looking for an amazingly quick appetizer, snack, or light dinner, grab some fresh lump crab and a few pantry staples, form into mini cakes, pop into your oven, and viola!
In less than 30 minutes, your baked crab cakes will have a delicately crispy exterior and that perfect flakey flavorful interior. They make a great appetizer before having the Best Shrimp Scampi or this Instant Pot Crab Boil for dinner!
Serve with an Old Bay flavored or old fashioned tartar sauce and enjoy!
Ingredients Needed
Lump crab meat – I prefer to use fresh crab claw or jumbo lump crab meat that I purchase from the seafood counter or from the local fish monger.
In a pinch using pre-packaged crab meat is fine as long as it’s from a reputable source packaged with only lump or claw meat.
Vegetables – Onion and Celery
Condiments – Whole grain mustard and prepared horseradish
Onion – I used white onion but feel free to yellow or even a sweet onion.
Breadcrumbs – Be sure to use any plain style bread crumbs. Just try to stay away from seasoned breadcrumbs as it changes the flavor profile. You can also use cracker crumbs!
Seasonings – parsley, paprika, Old Bay Seasoning, salt & pepper
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Can I use imitation crab meat?
While you can use imitation crab meat if you are in a bind, I would advise against it. The main ingredient and flavor of this dish comes from the crab which means you’ll want to use fresh, real crab.
Imitation crab meat isn’t crab meat at all, but white fish compressed into a crab-like shape and tinted orange.
How to Make Baked Crab Cakes
First: Make the crab cakes: In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the carb cakes being careful not to overwork the mixture or break up the crab too much.
Second: Press crab cake mixture into a prepared mini muffin pan. You will fill 20 spaces.
Third: Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow cakes to cool. Once cooled, run a knife around the edges of the crab cakes to loosen from the muffin pan. Be careful not to cut or break the crab cakes.
Once they are cooled, it’s time to serve on platter with tartar sauce and lemon wedges!
Old Bay Tartar Sauce Ingredients
- mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- prepared horseradish
- lemon juice
- pickled jalapeno
- Old Bay Seasoning
- capers
Mayonnaise – Feel free to use regular or light versions of your favorite real mayonnaise. You can also substitute plain Greek yogurt.
Old Bay Seasoning – You should be able to find Old Bay Seasoning in the spice aisle of your local grocer.
If you are unable to find it in the store, feel free to make your own homemade version by combining celery salt, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, ground dry mustard, ground mace, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, allspice, cloves, and ginger.
How to Make Old Bay Tartar Sauce
First: While the crab cakes are baking, make the Old Bay tartar sauce.
Second: Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until fully combined. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Serving Suggestions
If you are looking to keep in line with Maryland tradition, then serve these crab cakes with a shrimp boil, corn on the cob, and French fries.
However, I enjoy them with crispy celery slaw or traditional cabbage slaw for a light and flavorful meal.
How long do they last?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When ready to reheat, bake at 375°F until warmed through and serve.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Of course! Make the crab cakes according to recipe, place them in pan and cover. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to make, bake according to directions.
Can I freeze them?
There are two ways you can freeze a crab cake.
First: Cook crab cakes according to directions, allow them to cool completely and then place in a freezer safe storage container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Second: Freeze the crab cakes raw. Portion out 20 cakes and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze, uncovered, for approximately two hours.
Once frozen, place in a freezer safe storage container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to make, allow crab cakes to defrost in the fridge overnight and then bake.
Tips for No Leftovers
- Serve multiple types of dip with crab cakes. This Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce is delicious with this recipe.
- If you do not have a mini muffin pan, feel free to use a regular size muffin pan. Just adjust the cooking time to 25-30 minutes.
- If you prefer frying the crab cakes, heat a skillet over medium heat with a little oil. Fry the crab cakes until crispy on the outside and cooked to 145F on the inside.
- If you cannot find fresh lump crab meat, use pre-packaged lump or claw meat from a reputable source.
- Seafood seasoning or even a Cajun blend could be used in place of Old Bay seasoning.
- According to the USDA, seafood is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Gently pack the mixture into the muffin tins. Don’t compact the crab cakes too tightly as this will produce an overly dense cake.
- To make gluten-free, swap out regular breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
This baked crab cake recipe is quick and easy to make. They are perfect as a crowd pleasing appetizer, snack, or light dinner!
Baked Crab Cakes
Ingredients
- 8 ounces lump crab meat
- 1/2 stalk celery finely diced
- 1/2 small onion finely diced
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
- 1 egg beaten lightly
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Tartar Sauce for Serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Prepare a mini muffin pan (or regular muffin pan) with non-stick pray.
- Mix all of the ingredients for the crab cakes in a bowl being careful not to overwork the mixture. You want the crabmeat to stay in chunks.
- Lightly press the mixture into a mini muffin pan. You will fill 20 spaces. (10 if you use a regular size pan)
- Bake for 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145F.
- While the crab cakes are baking, mix the Old Bay tartar sauce.
- Mix all the ingredients for the Old Bay tartar sauce in a small bowl.
- Keep chilled until ready to serve.
- When the crab cakes are finished baking, remove the muffin pan from the oven.
- Let them cool for a minute or so before continuing.
- Run a knife around the edges of the crab cakes to loosen them from the muffin pan. Be careful not to cut or break the crab cakes.
- Serve with lemon and tartar sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- Serve multiple types of dip with crab cakes. This Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce is delicious with this recipe.
- If you do not have a mini muffin pan, feel free to use a regular size muffin pan. Just adjust the cooking time to 25-30 minutes.
- If you prefer frying the crab cakes, heat a skillet over medium heat with a little oil. Fry the crab cakes until crispy on the outside and cooked to 145F on the inside.
- If you cannot find fresh lump crab meat, use pre-packaged lump or claw meat from a reputable source.
- Seafood seasoning or even a Cajun blend could be used in place of Old Bay seasoning.
- According to the USDA, seafood is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Gently pack the mixture into the muffin tins. Don’t compact the crab cakes too tightly as this will produce an overly dense cake.
- To make gluten-free, swap out regular breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Nutrition
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Made these for a potluck the other night, I never even got one, they were gobbled up so quickly!
These turned out so good!! I added them to the top of salads for a luncheon that I did over the weekend and everyone loved it! I love the simplicity!! Thank you!!
Crab cakes are the BEST and these are so easy! Loved making them in the muffin pan – that’s brilliant!
Hi, I am made them and they are delicious so much so that I ate one even though it was way too salty. I only made 2 and froze the rest. What should I do to save them?
I’m sorry you found them too salty. Unfortunately once they are baked all you can do is add them to something else like a mixed green salad or top with a salt free sauce, maybe a tartar sauce. You could try mixing them up with a mayo dressing to make like a crab spread for sandwiches or crackers. I will make a note in the recipe card about adding salt slowly.