Learn How to Cook King Crab Legs perfectly as well as how to serve them, where to buy them, and what to look for. It’s the perfect dinner for a special occasion or holidays and is so easy and quick to prepare!
Want all of my seafood favorites? Make sure to try Crab Cakes, Cioppino, Shrimp and Grits, Seared Scallops, or Air Fryer Salmon Bites!
Anyone can master King Crab Legs!
My parents served King Crabs legs for Christmas Eve dinner growing up (we’d also have steak, for a surf and turf” special meal), and I’ve carried on this tradition with my own family! The best part is king crab legs is one of the easiest meals to make since crab legs are already fully cooked! All we do is warm them up, and they’re ready to eat in 30 minutes.
But, crab legs are an expensive item to buy, so I want to teach you the best way to heat them perfectly. Serve them with one of our Christmas Menu Ideas, with sides like Twice Baked Potatoes and Wild Rice Pilaf.
Tips for Buying Crab:
Type of Crab: King Crab is absolutely my favorite, and what this recipe is for. You get the most meat with your money since it has the highest meat-to-shell ratio. King Crab meat breaks off in large, tender chunks and has the perfect sweet, mild flavor. It is incredible! You could also use this method for snow crab.
Where to Buy: I always snag mine from Costco since they carry crab legs all year – you can even order them through their website with shipping. Most local grocery stores carry them throughout the holidays.
What to Look For: If you are going to spring for this delicacy, you want to choose the right ones! Look for big, thick crab legs. Skip any that have skinny legs or else you won’t end up getting very much meat in the shell. Get the hardiest ones you can find – they will typically cost a little more. The crab should look fresh with the exposed meat to be white and never slimy. It should have a fresh seafood aroma and not stinky or pungent.
How to cook King Crab Legs:
*In the United States, most crab has already been cooked then flash frozen. If it’s still frozen, thaw them in the refrigerator before heating or add a few more minutes to the cooking time.
Bake: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper then arrange king crab legs on top. Place in the oven at 350°F for 25 minutes, or until it’s hot and a little steamy.
Serve: Crack the legs open lengthwise with kitchen shears or crab crackers. Enjoy dipped in butter, if desired.
How to Eat Crab Legs:
You want the meat to be the star here so I love the simplicity of serving crab legs with melted butter, and sometimes lemon wedges on the side. Sometimes people like to add a little minced garlic, salt, and pepper to the melted butter.
In my house, we pass around the kitchen shears, but you could also use a crab cracker or a fun seafood shell cracking set if you want to have guests over.
Storage and Freezing Instructions:
To Store: Remove remaining crab meat and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You could use leftover crab to make crab cakes or crab dip.
To Freeze: Remove remaining crab meat and place in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before eating.
Alternate Cooking Methods:
- Steaming: Add 1 ½ 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.
- Grilling: Brush crab legs with a light layer of oil then grill over medium heat for 5-8 minutes, until warmed through.
- Smoking: This article has great tips for smoking crab legs.
More Recipes with Crab:
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How to Cook King Crab Legs
Instructions
- Be sure crab legs are fully thawed (or if frozen, add a few minutes to the cook time).
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- 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.
- Serve: Use kitchen shears or crab crackers to open the shells and remove the meat. Serve dipped in melted butter.
- 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
Nutrition
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