Baked Crab Legs in Butter Sauce

Baked Crab Legs in Butter Sauce – Easy baked crab legs brushed with a decadent garlic butter sauce ramped up with Creole seasoning. Enjoy a gourmet treat right at home without the huge restaurant price tag. And it’s ready in less than 20 minutes—from start to finish!

Seafood is the dinner of special occasions, whether for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or a well-deserved promotion. Those are the times when the price tag is worth it. But save money by making this deliciousness at home for a truly intimate date night.

Not only are baked crab legs super easy, but they’re also a whole lot cheaper than hitting the local seafood restaurant. Drizzle them with a decadent butter sauce, and you’ll be glad you didn’t go out.

Choosing Which Crab to Buy

Before going to your nearest grocery store, let’s discuss which crab legs to buy and why. We can typically choose between three types of crab legs. Dungeness crabs, king crabs, and snow crabs are usually available fresh or frozen, depending on the season.

Dungeness crabs are smaller but sweeter with a nutty flavor. King crabs are monsters, so you can plan on two legs per person but have a seafood cracker on hand to get that sweet, lobster-like meat out. Snow crab legs are easier to open for delicate and briny meat that’s oh-so-delicious. Unfortunately, snow crabs are disappearing thanks to climate change.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Crab Legs – Take your pick between Dungeness or king crab legs, fresh or frozen.
2. Garlic Butter Sauce – Melted butter, garlic, Creole seasoning, and lemon juice make the ideal sauce for any seafood! 
3. Garnish – Sprinkling the crab legs with chopped chives or parsley makes an attractive dinner entree.

How to Bake Crab Legs in Butter Sauce

Prep the Crab Legs

• Defrost – Thaw crab legs in the refrigerator overnight or place them under cold running water for a few minutes to thaw faster.
• Preheat oven to 375℉ (80℃).
• Prep – When ready to cook, cut the crab legs in half lengthwise to reveal the crab’s flesh. Use kitchen shears or scissors instead of a knife for safer slicing. (Photo 1)
• Arrange the crab legs in an oven-safe pan or baking sheet. (Photo 2)
• Mix butter, garlic, and Creole seasoning in a small bowl and microwave on low for about a minute. (Or heat it in a pan like I did.) Remove when melty and add lemon juice; give it a good stir. (Photos 3-4)
• Brush the garlic butter sauce all over the crab legs—reserve extra for serving. (Photos 5-6)

Bake

• Bake the crab legs for approximately 5 minutes or until heated. Sprinkle with parsley or chives.
• Serve your baked crab legs immediately with the remaining garlic butter sauce and lemon wedges.

Recipe Variations

1. Seafood swap. You can swap the crab with other crustaceans or seafood using the same recipe. 
2. Seafood pasta. Remove the crab meat, mix it with the sauce, and stir it into your favorite pasta for a seafood pasta extravaganza. A drizzle of heavy cream and some freshly grated Parmesan delivers a delicious seafood Alfredo.
3. Seasoning swap. Trade out Creole seasoning for Italian, jerk, or Old Bay seasoning.

Tips and Tricks

1. Remember to split the legs in half because that’s how your sauce flavors the crab meat. Cutting them also makes them easier to eat.
2. Avoid overcooking the crab legs since that will give you rubbery crab legs. 🤦🏾‍♀️ Keep in mind that frozen crab legs are usually pre-cooked.
3. Yes, you can skip thawing frozen crab legs, but it adds just a little cooking time.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Buying frozen crab is excellent for making ahead. Then, make your butter sauce and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for three months.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Crab legs in butter sauce are best straight from the oven.

In the unlikely event of leftovers, store cooled crab legs in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 2 days. You can also transfer them into a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 2 months. 

What to Serve With Baked Crab Legs in Butter Sauce

Crab legs go wonderfully with roasted fingerling potatoes and corn on the cob, similar to seafood-boil ingredients. Cheddar biscuits are an ideal match as well. If you’re looking for the perfect wine, try a dry Riesling or Chardonnay.

More Mouthwatering Seafood Recipes to Try

1. Maryland Crab Cakes
2. Crab Salad
3. Corn and Crab Bisque
4. Pellet Grilled Salmon

This blog post was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated with additional tips