5 from 12 votes
How To Cook Crab Legs (3 Ways!)
This recipe explains three methods to cook crab legs—boiling, steaming, and baking—using snow, Dungeness, or king crab legs. Each method ensures the crab meat heats through while preserving its natural sweetness. The cooked legs are served with a garlic lemon butter sauce for dipping.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
Servings:
2
people
Calories:
83 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 4 snow crab legs thawed, or Dungeness crab legs, or 6 individual king crab legs, clusters
Crab Dipping Sauce
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 garlic minced, cloves
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Boiling Crab Legs: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Place the crab legs in the pot, gently bending at the joints if needed, to make sure they're completely submerged in the water. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, or until heated through.
- Steaming Crab Legs: Fill a large pot with an inch of water, and place a steamer basket on top. Bring the water to a boil. Place the crab legs in the basket, and steam for 8 to 10 minutes, or until heated through.
- Baking Crab Legs: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the crab legs in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes (depending on size), or until heated through.
- Crack the legs open. Once the crab legs are cooked, use crab crackers or kitchen shears to open them up. Dip the crab meat in the garlic butter sauce and enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If crab legs are still frozen, add more cooking time to each method to ensure they are heated through.
Nutrition Information
Calories
83kcal
(4%)
Protein
18g
(36%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Cholesterol
42mg
(14%)
Sodium
830mg
(35%)
Potassium
202mg
(4%)
Vitamin A
24IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
7mg
(8%)
Calcium
46mg
(5%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 83
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 83kcal | 4% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 42mg | 14% |
| Sodium | 830mg | 35% |
| Potassium | 202mg | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 24IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 46mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.