Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 462 votes

How to Cook King Crab Legs

King Crab legs is the perfect special occasion or holiday dinner and they're unbelievably easy and quick to prepare. Choose to cook crab in the oven, steamed, grill or in the smoker.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 212 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 6 King Crab Legs
  • 1/3 cup melted butter , for serving

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Be sure crab legs are fully thawed (or if frozen, add a few minutes to the cook time).
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  3. Bake: Place legs (with shell on) on a jelly roll pan or large baking sheet. Put up to 4 legs on a pan. (You may put two pans in the oven but you may have to increase the cooking time). Bake for 25-35 minutes depending on the size. Check them at 25 minutes--they should be hot/warmed though, a little steamy.
  4. Serve: Use kitchen shears or crab crackers to open the shells and remove the meat. Serve dipped in melted butter.
  5. Store leftover crab meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or use leftover crab to make crab cakes or crab dip.

Notes

  • Crab: We prefer King crab but this cooking method will work with snow crab. 
  • Freezing Instructions: Remove remaining crab meat and place in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before eating.
  • To Steam King Crab Legs: Add 1 1/2 cups water in a large stockpot then place a steamer basket in it. Arrange crab legs and layer as many as will fit. Turn heat on and bring water to a boil then cover. Cook for 4-5 minutes, just until warm. If the crab legs are frozen, it will be more like 7-10 minutes.
  • Add 1 1/2 cups water in a large stockpot then place a steamer basket in it. Arrange crab legs and layer as many as will fit. Turn heat on and bring water to a boil then cover. Cook for 4-5 minutes, just until warm. If the crab legs are frozen, it will be more like 7-10 minutes.
  • To Grill King Crab Legs: Brush crab legs with a light layer of oil then grill over medium heat for 5-8 minutes, until warmed through.
  • To Smoke King Crab Legs: This article has great tips for smoking crab legs.

Nutrition Information

Calories 212kcal (11%) Protein 46g (92%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 106mg (35%) Sodium 2107mg (88%) Potassium 514mg (15%) Vitamin A 60IU (1%) Vitamin C 18mg (20%) Calcium 116mg (12%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 212

% Daily Value*

Calories 212kcal 11%
Protein 46g 92%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 106mg 35%
Sodium 2107mg 88%
Potassium 514mg 11%
Vitamin A 60IU 1%
Vitamin C 18mg 20%
Calcium 116mg 12%
Iron 1mg 6%

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