Oh, the joy of opening a can of crab—it’s like unlocking a treasure chest from the sea! Growing up, my mom would whip up these incredible crab cakes that had just the right amount of crunch and zest—pure culinary magic. Whether you’re feeling adventurous or just need a quick fix, these canned crab dinner ideas are your ticket to a scrumptious evening.
Steps
- Combine crabmeat with seasonings and form into patties for flavorful crab cakes. Cook until golden brown, then serve with aioli and wine.
- Prepare a seafood stew by simmering canned crabmeat with broth and spices. Serve with crusty bread for soaking up the flavors.
- Enhance tuna salad by mixing in canned crabmeat. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve chilled.
- For a creamy crab dip, mix crabmeat with cream cheese and spices. Heat until hot and bubbly, then serve in a bread bowl or with crackers.
- Fill wonton wrappers with a mixture of cream cheese and crabmeat for homemade Crab Rangoon. Deep fry until golden and crispy.
- Create elegant appetizers by filling biscuit dough or phyllo cups with a cheesy crab mixture. Bake until the filling is heated through and the tops are golden.
- Combine crabmeat with cream cheese and spices for a hot crab dip. Serve with onion or garlic crackers for dipping.
- Prepare stuffed mushrooms by filling them with a creamy seafood mixture. Top with bread crumbs and bake until the mushrooms are tender and the topping is golden.
- Stuff haddock fillets with a mixture of crabmeat and cheese. Bake until the fish is cooked through and the stuffing is hot.
- Top English muffins with a cheesy crab mixture and bake until the cheese is melted. Serve with clam chowder for a hearty meal.
- Make a cold crab dip by mixing crabmeat with horseradish, cream cheese, and green onions. Add Old Bay seasoning for extra flavor.
- Combine crab dip with artichoke dip for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Serve in sourdough loaves with reserved bread for dipping.
- Create a quick appetizer by topping softened cream cheese with crabmeat, lemon juice, and cocktail sauce. Serve chilled.
- Assemble a seafood loaf by mixing crabmeat with other ingredients and baking until set. Serve warm, sliced as a sandwich melt.
- Wrap canned crabmeat in bacon for a quick appetizer. Serve with warm duck sauce for dipping.
- Stuff jumbo pasta shells with a creamy seafood mixture. Bake until heated through and serve as an appetizer or light meal.
- Elevate macaroni salad by adding canned crabmeat. Keep the dish simple to let the crab shine.
- Make Southwestern crab cakes by combining crabmeat with corn, peppers, and spices. Chill before cooking to help them hold together.
- Prepare a breakfast hash with crabmeat and Old Bay seasoning. Serve with fried eggs for a complete meal.
- Create Korean-inspired crab cakes with ginger and fish sauce. Use panko bread crumbs for a different texture.
- Make a Caribbean-inspired soup with crabmeat and spinach or callaloo leaves. Simmer until the flavors meld together.
- Roll out puff pastry and fill with a crab mixture for pinwheels. Chill the pastry if it becomes too warm to handle.
- Wrap crab salad in egg roll wrappers for a fusion appetizer. Fry until golden and serve with dipping sauce.
- Use an Instant Pot to make a quick spinach and crab dip. Ready in under an hour and perfect for paleo or Whole30 diets.
- Top broiled grouper with a creamy crab and shrimp sauce. Serve with your choice of side dishes.
- Grill lobster tails stuffed with a buttery crab mixture for a special occasion meal. Impress your guests with this elegant dish.
- Recreate a steakhouse favorite by serving steak with a crab topping. Pair with wild rice for a complete meal.
- Mold a crab mixture into a shape for a striking appetizer. Add extra crabmeat for a more intense crab flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 pound canned crabmeat
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
FAQ
- What are the benefits of using canned crabmeat over fresh crab?
- Canned crabmeat is generally more affordable and convenient than fresh crab. It requires less preparation time, making it perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners.
- Can I use canned crabmeat in seafood stew recipes?
- Absolutely! Canned crabmeat is a great addition to seafood stews like cioppino, where it pairs well with a crusty bread to soak up the flavorful broth.
- How can I prevent crab cakes from crumbling while cooking?
- To keep crab cakes from falling apart, you can refrigerate them for an hour or freeze them for about 20 minutes before cooking. This helps firm them up, so they hold together better.
- What is a simple appetizer I can make with canned crabmeat?
- A quick and easy appetizer is crab dip. You can serve it hot or cold, paired with crackers or in a bread bowl for dipping.
- Can canned crabmeat be used in fusion recipes?
- Yes, canned crabmeat can be utilized in fusion dishes, such as Southwestern crab cakes or Korean crab cakes, bringing together diverse flavors for unique culinary experiences.
Tips
- For crab cakes, if the mixture is too wet and prone to crumbling, chill it in the fridge for an hour or in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up before cooking.
- When making crab stuffed haddock, ensure the fish is as dry as possible to prevent excess liquid in the pan during cooking.
- For crab puff pastry pinwheels, if the dough becomes too warm or sticky, refrigerate it for five to ten minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Enhance a cold crab dip by adding Old Bay seasoning to give it a classic Chesapeake Bay flavor profile.
Equipment
- Instant Pot – For the Instant Pot Spinach Crab Dip.
- Deep Fryer – For making Crab Rangoon.
- Panko Bread Crumbs – While not equipment, panko is a specific type of breadcrumb that might not be a staple in every pantry.
- Wonton Wrappers – For Crab Rangoon, not typical in every household.
- Frozen Puff Pastry – For Crab Puff Pastry Pinwheels, also not a staple in every household.
