Baked Crab Legs In Butter Sauce

Seafood is the dinner of special occasions, whether for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or a well-deserved promotion. Those are the times when the price tag is worth it. But save money by making this deliciousness at home for a truly intimate date night. Not only are baked crab legs super easy, but they’re also a whole lot cheaper than hitting the local seafood restaurant. Drizzle them with a decadent butter sauce, and you’ll be glad you didn’t go out. Dungeness crabs are smaller but sweeter with a nutty flavor. King crabs are monsters, so you can plan on two legs per person but have a seafood cracker on hand to get that sweet, lobster-like meat out. Snow crab legs are easier to open for delicate and briny meat that’s oh-so-delicious. Unfortunately, snow crabs are disappearing thanks to climate change.

Recipe Ingredients

How to Bake Crab Legs in Butter Sauce

Prep the Crab Legs

Defrost – Thaw crab legs in the refrigerator overnight or place them under cold running water for a few minutes to thaw faster. Preheat oven to 375℉ (80℃). Prep – When ready to cook, cut the crab legs in half lengthwise to reveal the crab’s flesh. Use kitchen shears or scissors instead of a knife for safer slicing. (Photo 1) Arrange the crab legs in an oven-safe pan or baking sheet. (Photo 2) Mix butter, garlic, and Creole seasoning in a small bowl and microwave on low for about a minute. (Or heat it in a pan like I did.) Remove when melty and add lemon juice; give it a good stir. (Photos 3-4) Brush the garlic butter sauce all over the crab legs—reserve extra for serving. (Photos 5-6)

Bake

Bake the crab legs for approximately 5 minutes or until heated. Sprinkle with parsley or chives. Serve your baked crab legs immediately with the remaining garlic butter sauce and lemon wedges.

Recipe Variations

Tips and Tricks

Make-Ahead Instructions

Buying frozen crab is excellent for making ahead. Then, make your butter sauce and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for three months.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Crab legs in butter sauce are best straight from the oven. In the unlikely event of leftovers, store cooled crab legs in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 2 days. You can also transfer them into a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 2 months.

What to Serve With Baked Crab Legs in Butter Sauce

Crab legs go wonderfully with roasted fingerling potatoes and corn on the cob, similar to seafood-boil ingredients. Cheddar biscuits are an ideal match as well. If you’re looking for the perfect wine, try a dry Riesling or Chardonnay.