Boiled Crab Legs

This boiled crab legs recipe is rich and decadent, yet simple to make at home! Dipped in garlic butter, the sweet and tender crab meat is perfect for entertaining. Your family and friends will love this easy seafood recipe.

Boiled crab legs are one of the most delicious varieties of seafood, and an indulgent meal when you’re out to eat. But did you know you can make them at home and it’s really easy? Don’t be intimidated by cooking your own seafood. In this post I’m going to show you how easy it is to make your own boiled crab legs.

Learning how to season crab legs is really a matter of preference. Since we’re boiling them, and they’re in a shell, you’re only going to be able to infuse so much flavor into the meat. This recipe calls for a can of beer and Old Bay for the main seasonings, but you could boil them in plain water and enjoy them just the same because crab meat is so tasty. Sauce for crab legs can include cocktail or tartar sauce, but nothing beats butter. For this recipe I’ve added garlic salt and lemon to the butter for the most flavorful dipping experience.

Also, my super professional hand model for this post is my dad, who came to cook with me on Father’s Day and helped develop this recipe. It was fun having a cooking partner and getting the chance to show him the ins and outs of photographing a recipe!

Best Crab Legs

King crab legs are used for this recipe, which are ideal because they’re nice and long, with plenty of meat inside. The meat from king crab legs is also very sweet and tender. They’re simple to prepare, and some brands (like the ones pictured in this post), come pre-scored so that you can pry them open and get all the meat out easily. Although pricey, you can try to buy them when they’re on sale and keep them in the freezer for special occasions.

Crab Legs Recipe

This easy recipe requires just a handful of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

For Crab Legs:

• 3 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 12 oz can light beer
• 2 lbs frozen crab legs (thawed or partially thawed) (this is what I used)
• 6-8 corn cob halves (optional)

For Flavored Butter:

• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 pinch salt

How to Cook Crab Legs

Think this is going to be complicated? Think again! Here’s how to boil crab legs:

Crab Legs:

1. Fill a large stock pot about half full with water (leaving plenty of room for the crab legs) and bring to a boil.
2. Add Old Bay seasoning, salt, vegetable oil, and beer.
3. Add crab legs and return to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.
4. Remove crab legs and set aside.
5. Optional: Add frozen corn cobs to same pot and bring to a boil. Remove and serve everything warm.
6. Remove meat from crab legs by prying open if already cut, or by breaking at joint, removing tendon, then breaking at longest part of leg and slowly pulling out meat. Dip in flavored butter.

Flavored Butter:

1. Melt butter and add garlic salt, lemon juice, and salt.

What to Eat with Crab Legs

For this recipe we boiled corn in the same pot as the crab legs, which makes for a simple side and is a little bit like a seafood boil.

There’s nothing quite like a big, warm, welcoming platter of crab legs. Consider pairing it with:

Tangy Southern Coleslaw

Banana Pudding

Fried Okra

Pig Pickin’ Cake

Pineapple Casserole

Boiling crab legs is an easy way to have an impressive seafood dinner at home that your family and guests will rave about! I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!

Boiled Crab Legs

Kristen King

This boiled crab legs recipe is rich and decadent, yet simple to make at home! Dipped in garlic butter, sweet and tender crab meat is perfect for entertaining.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 217 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 3 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 12 oz can light beer
• 2 lbs frozen crab legs, thawed or partially thawed
• 6-8 corn cob halves (optional)

For Flavored Butter

• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

 

• Fill a large stock pot about half full with water (leaving plenty of room for the crab legs) and bring to a boil.
• Add Old Bay seasoning, salt, vegetable oil, and beer.
• Add crab legs and return to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.
• Remove crab legs and set aside.
• Optional: Add frozen corn cobs in same pot and bring to a boil. Remove. Serve everything warm.
• Remove meat from crab legs by prying open if already cut, or by breaking at joint, removing tendon, then breaking at longest part of leg and slowly pulling out meat. Dip in flavored butter.

For Flavored Butter

• Melt butter and add garlic salt, lemon juice, and salt

Keyword appetizer recipe, crab, king crab, seafood