Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (2024)

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This Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoned) is a traditional favorite made with fresh picked crab meat and and roasted red peppers. They are perfect for that beach vacation!

Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (1)

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The right amount of crunchy Panko breadcrumbs is the essential ingredient to the best crab cakes.

The succulent crab mixture is tossed with just the right amount of breading.

It’s just enough filler for the most delicious crab cakes.

A trip to the eastern shore would not be the same without my mother’s delicious classic Old Bay crab cakes recipe.

The crab meat is freshly picked that day and with the addition of sweet roasted red peppers this dish is sure to become a favorite in your home.

This recipe is an oldie but a goodie.

It’s really not my mother’s original recipe – she found it on the back of theOld Bay Seasoningcan years ago.

But it’s a classic nonetheless.

I’ve made it my own by adding roasted red peppers and green onions to give it a little extra sweet flavor.

Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (2)

I remember more vacations than I can count on theOuter Banksof North Carolina where we’d head out for a morning of crabbing.

It took a lot of patience catching enough crabs for dinner.

We were kids and loved sitting around watching who had a crab on their line.

It was a slow and painful process reeling in each bite on the line.

Of course, nowadays we just head to the fish market or local grocery store.

This is the best crab cake recipe to make not just in the summer, but year-round.

What kind of crab meat should I use?

The best meat to use is jumbo lump crab meat.

If you are near the eastern shore, the best selection of fresh blue crab meat comes straight from the Chesapeake Bay.

There is nothing like sinking your teeth into Maryland crab cakes served with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or tartar sauce.

Stay away from canned crab.

The type of crab meat you use for this easy crab cake recipe makes a difference.

The seafood department at most local groceries carries fresh crab meat.

Choose between fresh lump crabmeat or backfin crabmeat.

How should I serve classic Old Bay crab cakes?

These lump crab cakes are perfect for a family dinner or for an appetizer party platter.

Just make the patties bite sized and serve with a side ofrémoulade.

Sometimes, I will serve a crab cake sandwich on a roll with a spicychipotle mayonnaiseand fresh greens.

This recipe is really versatile because you can serve it with just about any summer vegetable!

Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (3)

How can I keep the crab cakes from falling apart?

Mix the crab meat in a large bowl with the red peppers and onions.

Mix bread crumbs, egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and the remaining dry ingredients together.

Shape into patties.

Adding the baking powder to the recipe helps the patties stay formed while cooking.

It also keeps them light and flaky.

A tip – a half an hour in the fridge covered with plastic wrap before cooking keeps them from breaking apart in the pan when flipping.

Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (4)

Need more summer recipe ideas? Serve up these tasty recipes!

  • Creamy Crab Bisque
  • Old Bay Crabcake Sandwich with a Chipotle Mayo
  • Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad
  • Summer Sweet Corn Salad

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Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (5)

Classic Crab Cakes (Old Bay Seasoning)

Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (6)Ali Randall

The secret to these classic crab cakes is that the succulent crab meat is mixed with just the right amount of crunchy Panko breadcrumbs.

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Chill Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs Parmesan and herb flavored
  • 1/2 red pepper roasted and diced
  • 4 green onions diced
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 pound lump crab meat
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Mix together all the ingredients well, using your hands if necessary. Shape into eight patties. Be sure to refrigerate the crab cakes for about 30 minutes before cooking. It helps to keep them together while cooking.

  • Using a cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and add the crab cakes to the pan when hot. Fry them flipping once until golden brown on each side, for a total of about 5 to 6 minutes.

  • Serve with lemon wedges or co*cktail sauce.

Keyword Old Bay Crab Cakes

Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (7)

If you make a recipe, be sure to snap a photo and hashtag it #homeandplate. I’d love to see what you cook!

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Classic Crab Cakes Recipe (Old Bay Seasoning) - Home & Plate (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Old Bay crab cake mix? ›

BREAD CRUMBS (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, DEXTROSE, SALT, AND YEAST), WHOLE EGG SOLIDS, SALT, SPICES (INCLUDING RED PEPPER AND PARSLEY), AND PAPRIKA.

What is a substitute for Old Bay seasoning in crab cakes? ›

Celery Salt and Paprika

When substituting, mix 1/4 teaspoon of celery salt with 1/4 teaspoon of paprika. Use this for every 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning. For a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a shake or two of black pepper.

What kind of crab meat is best for crab cakes? ›

Canned jumbo lump crab meat is perfect for a recipe like this and can be found almost anywhere.If you can't find jumbo (or don't want to splurge on it), use lump crabmeat—it's mostly a blend of broken jumbo pieces.

What makes crab cakes fall apart? ›

While egg is a popular choice, it alone is not enough to make crab cakes retain their shape. A starch binder is also required. The key here is maintaining the proper balance, as too little binder means your crab cakes will fall apart, but too much will give your crab cakes an unfortunate texture.

What's in premium crab cakes? ›

INGREDIENTS: CRAB MEAT, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, EGG AND EGG YOLK, WATER, SUGAR, VINEGAR, SALT, MUSTARD POWDER, ACETIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM), BREAD CRUMBS (UNBLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SALT, YEAST), EGGS, MUSTARD (DISTILLED VINEGAR, WATER, NO.

What is the difference between Maryland crab cakes and regular crab cakes? ›

The Differences In Maryland Crab Cakes

For starters, they typically use more meat and less other filling compared to regular crab cakes. Of course, every recipe is different, but Maryland's versions really allow the crab meat to shine and only use enough fillers to hold the cakes together.

What do restaurants use instead of Old Bay seasoning? ›

Cajun seasoning – this seasoning is a good substitute for Old Bay. It's generally a blend of spicy peppers, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and black pepper. You can add a little celery salt for a closer version of the real thing.

What makes Old Bay seasoning so good? ›

It is the key ingredient that brings dishes to life with an extra kick of unique, bold flavor anchored in salt, celery seed, paprika and mustard. OLD BAY Seasoning's blend of 18 herbs and spices not only provides distinct flavor, it also adds excitement and zest to every moment. There truly is no substitute.

What is inside Old Bay seasoning? ›

According to the product label, some of the ingredients in Old Bay seasoning are celery salt, spices (including red pepper and black pepper) and paprika. Other potential spices may include bay leaf, cinnamon, mustard powder, nutmeg, clove and cardamom.

Is it better to bake or fry crab cakes? ›

I prefer baking because you don't add additional calories via the cooking oil. Baking crab cakes with little filler is also easier and they are less likely to fall apart.

What oil is best for crab cakes? ›

Aside from the price, one of the main reasons to fry your crab cakes in a vegetable oil like canola oil is that it has a neutral flavor that won't change the taste of the cakes. This will allow the flavor of the crabmeat (plus any spices and veggies) to really shine through without extra or unwanted notes from the oil.

How to tell when crab cakes are cooked? ›

Around 3 to 5 minutes per side in a frying pan. A little trick that I like is to cook them in butter not oil. You want to feel the middle of the crabcake by pressing down with your thumb. After a few times making them you will recognize the amount of springiness in the center that tells you that they are done.

Why do you have to refrigerate crab cakes before cooking? ›

Refrigerate Your Crab Cakes

Simply stick your crab cakes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. The time they spend there will allow the crab cakes to solidify their shape. It also helps to bring out their flavors more, so there's more benefits to be reaped here!

Are crab cakes supposed to be soft or crunchy? ›

Baking the crab cakes will result in a slightly softer texture. The butter used to grease the baking dish and brush the crab cakes add a nice little sweetness. Overall, it's the “crabbier” crab cake. Sautéing, depending on the heat of the oil, creates a crunchy outside with a soft inside.

What does Old Bay seasoning contain? ›

What Spices Are In Old Bay Seasoning? According to the product label, some of the ingredients in Old Bay seasoning are celery salt, spices (including red pepper and black pepper) and paprika. Other potential spices may include bay leaf, cinnamon, mustard powder, nutmeg, clove and cardamom.

What is crab cake filler made of? ›

Crab cake filling: I go light on the filler, using juuuust enough to bind the crab cakes together. You'll need an egg, mayonnaise, chopped fresh herbs (I like parsley, dill, and tarragon!), Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest, Kosher salt, and black pepper.

What are the ingredients in artificial crab flavor? ›

Red colorants: Carmine — which is extracted from tiny bugs called cochineals — is widely used to color imitation crab red. Paprika, beet juice extract, and lycopene from tomatoes may also be used. Glutamates: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and a similar compound, disodium inosinate, may serve as flavor enhancers.

What are the ingredients in frozen crab cakes? ›

CRAB MEAT, SAUCE (FULLY REFINED SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, EGG YOLK, VINEGAR, SUGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, MUSTARD, SALT), BREAD CRUMBS (UNBLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SALT, YEAST), EGGS, SCALLIONS, SEASONING (CELERY SALT [SALT, CELERY SEED], SPICES [INCLUDING RED PEPPER AND BLACK PEPPER], PAPRIKA), PARSLEY.

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