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How to Cook Crab Legs (4 Easy Ways)

Learn how to make easy Crab Legs 4 ways; from the instant pot to steaming, baking and grilling. We love to dip crab meat into the incredible crab dipping sauce.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 397 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

What You Will Need to Cook Crab:
  • 2 lbs snow crab legs (4 clusters)
  • 1 cup water (for Instant pot or steaming methods)
Ingredients for Crab Dipping Sauce:
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves minced or pressed
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions

How to Make Crab Dipping Sauce:
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a medium saucepan melt 4 Tbsp butter and add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Stir 30 seconds until fragrant then remove from heat. Off the heat, squeeze in 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice. Divide between ramekins to serve.
Instant Pot Crab Legs:
  1. Place a trivet in a 6 qt Instant Pot and add 1 cup water. Add 3-4 clusters of fresh or frozen crab legs per batch folding the legs to fit more in (thawed are easier to fit than frozen).
  2. Close the lid, set vent to sealing position and cook on manual high pressure 4 minutes then switch vent to venting position and do a quick release* of remaining pressure.
Steamed Cook Crab Legs:
  1. Place wire rack or basket at the bottom of a large stockpot. Add 1 cup of water. Place crab legs over the rack (as many as your pot will accommodate). Bring the water to a boil then cover and steam cook until fragrant and steaming hot (5-10 minutes). Frozen crab legs will take longer, thawed crab legs cook faster).
Grilled Crab Legs:
  1. Using heavy-duty aluminum foil, create a foil pack with 4 clusters of crab legs. Using a long sheet of foil with the crab legs in the center, bring the two ends together and fold them together twice. Fold the other two ends together twice to seal the foil packet. Do not add water since it will steam cook with the natural moisture from the crab legs.
  2. Grill over medium/high heat at 450˚F for 15 minutes if frozen or 10 minutes if thawed. Crab legs are ready when you see steaming as you open the foil pack.
Oven-Baked Crab Legs:
  1. Create the same foil pack of 4 crab leg clusters. Place on a baking sheet and onto the center rack of a preheated oven at 450˚F for 25 minutes if frozen or 15 minutes if thawed. The crab legs are ready when you open the foil pack and they are steaming.

Notes

  • *Pro Tip: Set up your Instant Pot outside or to depressurize under the range vent. otherwise your kitchen will be quite fragrant! Also, You can repeat with a second batch right away using the same water at the bottom.

Nutrition Information

Calories 397kcal (20%) Carbs 1g Protein 42g (84%) Fat 24g (37%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Cholesterol 155mg (52%) Sodium 2197mg (92%) Potassium 463mg (13%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 754IU (15%) Vitamin C 18mg (20%) Calcium 116mg (12%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 397

% Daily Value*

Calories 397kcal 20%
Carbs 1g
Protein 42g 84%
Fat 24g 37%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 155mg 52%
Sodium 2197mg 92%
Potassium 463mg 10%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 754IU 15%
Vitamin C 18mg 20%
Calcium 116mg 12%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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