Our 17 Best Summer Blue Crab Recipes
These East Coast specialties are at home in all sorts of dishes
Let's talk blue crabs. These unusually hued crustaceans, harvested from the Atlantic Ocean, are renowned for an appearance as impressive as their meat is delicious. Particularly revered on the East Coast, they're perfect in Maryland-style crab cakes, pasta sauces, and more. Here are some of our favorite blue crab recipes. For a primer on how to clean them and remove the meat, see our guide »
Crab cakes are all too often dry and tough. When contributor Judy Haubert was trying to make a gluten-free crab cake, she inadvertently solved the problem. Using almond meal instead of wheat flour provides structure without becoming starchy, making the cakes moister and more tender than their traditional counterpart.
In Maryland, no party is complete without crab dip. Chef Bryan Voltaggio makes a loaded with artichokes and spinach and topped with crispy pepperoni and cracker crumbs. For something a little more traditional, try crab meat, cream, and Parmesan cheese flavored with garlic, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, and Old Bay seasoning.
Sweet, briny blue crab adds depth to a variety of soups. Our incredibly rich cream of crab soup is a simple base of half & half, flour, yellow onion, and Old Bay that lets the crab be the star. Partan bree is a Scottish crab bisque flavored with fennel and sherry and enriched with rice.
Find all of these dishes and more in our collection of our favorite blue crab recipes.
Fonio-Crusted Crab Cakes
Fonio, a variety of millet, gives Pierre Thiam’s West-African-inspired crab cakes a satisfyingly crisp crust. Get the recipe for Fonio-Crusted Crab Cakes »
Maryland Crab Hot Dog
Buttery corn, fresh crab, and Old Bay-spiced potato chips are piled on top this Maryland-inspired hot dog. Get the recipe for Maryland Crab Hot Dog »
Pan-Fried Crabs in Chipotle Sauce (Jaibas Enchipotladas)
Pan-Fried Crabs in Chipotle Sauce (Jaibas Enchipotladas)
Cream of Crab Soup
Jumbo lump crabmeat stars in an impossibly rich, creamy soup from test kitchen director Farideh Sadeghin. Get the recipe for Cream of Crab Soup »
Crab Toast
Spreading mayonnaise on both sides of the bread before grilling yields a perfectly golden brown crust. Get the recipe for Crab Toast »
Almond-Flour Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli
The substitution of almond flour for conventional wheat flour in this recipe, developed by Judy Haubert, originated as a gluten-free workaround, but actually makes the cakes moister and more tender than traditional crab cakes. Get the recipe for Almond-Flour Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli »
Scottish Crab Bisque (Partan Bree)
Roasted crab shells and sherry lend sweet depth to this luscious bisque. Get the recipe for Scottish Crab Bisque (Partan Bree) »
First Night Crab
This simple recipe for boiled handpicked crab, from writer Isabel Gillies’ mother, welcomes visitors on their first night at the family’s Maine summer house. Warmed in thick cream and served over rice with peas on the side—no salt needed, just a grind of black pepper—it lets the fresh flavor of summer crab really shine. Get the recipe for First Night Crab »
Crab and Shrimp Quiche
Sweet shrimp and crabmeat elevate cheese-filled quiche in this recipe from Long Island, New York’s Modern Snack Bar. Get the recipe for Crab and Shrimp Quiche »
Hot Crab Dip with Pita Chips
The best party foods are ones that combine comfort with luxury. Crab is an extravagant ingredient, but when used in a warm, savory dip, a little goes a long way. Get the recipe for Hot Crab Dip with Pita Chips »
Crab, Spinach, and Artichoke Dip
Crab dip is made even better when mixed with artichokes and spinach and topped with crispy pepperoni and cracker crumbs. Get the recipe for Crab, Spinach, and Artichoke Dip »
Water-Prince Corner Shop Chowder
The Water-Prince Corner Shop and Lobster Pound in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island is known for their seafood-laden chowder. Get the recipe for Water-Prince Corner Shop Chowder »
Maryland Crab Soup
Eddie’s Market in Baltimore, Maryland, shared this recipe with us; it’s a great way to use up the corn and steamed crab left over from a crab feast. Get the recipe for Maryland Crab Soup »
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