5 Flavorful Snow Crab Legs Recipes: Garlic Butter, Lemon, Cajun & More

Snow crab legs are one of those dishes that instantly bring a cozy vibe to the dinner table. When you want something flavorful but don’t want to spend hours cooking, they’re the perfect choice. Their spicy outside and succulent flesh inside enhance the taste buds with each bite. Add a bit of hot sauce, and it’s even better.

Snow crab legs are a culinary delicacy that has emphasised their versatility and popularity since the old days. Snow crabs come from places like the USA, Japan, and Canada. Snow crab is appreciated as a delicate flavour in many popular recipes such as “Sushi,” “Chawan Mushi,” “Namasu,” and even many buffet items. 

Speaking of comfort, my mom has a special snow crab recipe she makes for family gatherings. I remember the first time I tried it—it’s simple but full of flavor, and every time she makes it, it takes me back to those warm, homey nights. Her secret? A little love, garlic butter, and parsley that bring the dish together. It’s my favorite, and I’m excited to share it with you.

Understanding Snow Crab Legs: Sourcing, Selection, and Storage

Before jumping into the recipe,here are some key tips for selecting, storing, and preparing snow crab legs 

• How To Choose Fresh Or Frozen Snow Crab Legs: It’s recommended to choose snow crab by keeping these leads in mind, such as fresh snow crab should not be impaired, there are no major cracks and of course no discolouration anyway. Fresh snow crab has a springy touch, firm texture, bright shell colour and a clean, natural smell. 

If there is any discolouration, soft or mushy meat or damaged products, avoid them.

However, frozen snow crabs should have a bright, shiny red colour, feel heavy for their size, and before buying, check the freezer burn (ice-crystal) and the packaging should not anyhow be damaged and cracked. Always buy from a reputable source.

• Understanding Sizes And Grades: Larger pieces generally offer more meat and should feel heavy for their size. Snow crab legs are graded by size, such as 5/8 oz or 8+ oz, so buy according to your needs.

• Storage Tips To Maintain Freshness: A trick should be remembered when storing crab legs: keep them moist, not wet and not cool. Store fresh crabmeat in the refrigerator and use it within two days of purchase, or freeze it. Likewise, until you’re ready to reheat frozen crab, keep it frozen. Check the date on the can to check the expiry date.

Preparation Basics

• To thaw frozen crab legs safely, put the legs in the refrigerator for at least 8-10 hours. 
• Once thawed, rinse the legs with cold water. You can use a brush to scrub the shells.
• For a better experience, gather all essential crab tools, like a Crab Mallet/Cracker, Seafood Picks, Forks, a Crab Bib, and a crab Knife.

5 Easy Snow Crab Legs Recipes to Try at Home

1. Garlic Butter Snow Crab Legs

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of snow crab
• 1 tbsp of seafood seasoning 
• 1 tbsp of minced garlic
• 1 tbsp of red hot chili pepper 
• 8 tbsp of butter
• 1 tspn of salt
• 1 quart of water 
• 1 tbsp of minced parsley

Instructions:

• Add 1 tsp of salt in boiling water and lay the crab legs. Cover with the lids and cook them for around 10-15 minutes.
• Add butter in a fried pan and after melting, add all the ingredients like the minced garlic, hot chilli pepper and seafood seasonings. Stir well.
• Once reaches boiling point, turn off the oven and let it sit for 2 minutes.
• Add the chopped parsley and stir.
• Now, remove the crab legs from the pan and add them to a plate, and just pour the garlic butter sauce on your crab legs plate, and your final dish is complete to serve.

2. Lemon Butter Snow Crab Legs

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of snow crab
• 1 tbsp of seafood seasoning
• 1 tbsp of minced garlic
• 1 Lemon juice
• 5 oz butter
• 1/2 tbsp dried parsley

Instruction:

• Add 1 tsp of salt in boiling water and lay the crab legs. Cover with the lids and cook them for around 10-15 minutes.
• Melt the butter in a pan and add the minced garlic into the butter. Stirr well.
• Now add the whole lemon juice and 1/2 tbsp dried parsley into the mixture and stir until quite dense.
• Add the butter sauce to your crabs and bake for 5 minutes.
• Garnish with parsley and serve.

3. Spicy Cajun Snow Crab Legs

Ingredients:

• 2 lb snow crab legs
• 6 oz unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp bay season
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp lemon pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried parsley

Instruction:

• First, boil your crab legs in hot water with bay seasonings for around 5-10 minutes. Add 2 slices of lemon to prevent the fishy smell (it’s a trick).
• Now, in a pan, melt the unsalted butter and add the minced garlic to it. Stir well until it is fragrant.
• Now it’s time to add all the seasonings that I mentioned before and mix them gently.
• Lower your temperature, add any type of hot sauce, add a little bit of lemon juice, and finally dilute with chicken broth. Stir gently for around 5-7 minutes.
• Finally, add the sauce to your ready crab legs and garnish with parsley.

4. Snow Crab Legs In Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 lb snow crab legs, thawed if frozen
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instruction:

• Complete the thaw process before making this recipe.
• Heat the butter in a large pan over medium heat until melted. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until it smells good.
• Add the heavy cream to the pan and let it simmer. Lower the heat, then stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Keep stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth..
• Gently place the crab leg sections into the Alfredo sauce. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the crab is thoroughly heated. You should not overcook the recipe. 
• Transfer the crab legs and Alfredo sauce to a serving platter. Garnish with chopped parsley.

5. Snow Crab Leg Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 lb snow crab, finely chopped
• 1 tsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp chives (finely chopped)  
• ½ tsp truffle oil  
• 1/2 tsp parsley (finely chopped)
• Lemon juice
• Salt

Instruction:

• Combine crab, mayonnaise, chives, truffle oil, and parsley in a medium bowl.
• Season with lemon juice and salt to taste.
• Garnish with the parsley if you want. Serve it as a salad, in a roll, or with toast points.

Best Sides and Pairings for Snow Crab Legs

Classic Side Dishes:

• Melted butter and lemon wedges
• Steamed or roasted asparagus
• Corn on the cob
• Baked or mashed potatoes
• Rice pilaf
• Garlic bread
• Roasted vegetables

More robust Options:

• Creamy pasta dishes (like Alfredo)
• Garlic bread or crusty rolls
• A light, fresh salad

Seafood Alternatives:

• Shrimp cocktail
• Scallops
• Oysters
• Lobster Pot Pie
• Warm lobster rolls

Safety and Storage Tips

Here are some storage and safety tips for your Snow crab legs recipe:

• Ensure the crab legs are heated through to a temperature of 145°F (63°C)
• Refrigerate excess crab legs within two hours of cooking
• Store cooked crab legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• For longer storage, freeze cooked crab meat, but be aware that the texture may change slightly
• Shellfish allergies are common. Always inform guests that the meal contains crab.

4 Best Ways to Cook Snow Crab Legs: Steaming, Grilling, Boiling, and Baking

Methods 1: Steaming

The steaming method is one of the best ways you can apply to make the outstanding snow crab recipe. However, in many cases, steaming is highly recommended over boiling, which sometimes seems to toughen or make the meat rubbery. Because of its helping nature of preserving the crab’s natural freshness and delicate texture. Steaming prevents overcooking and losing moisture. 

Moreover, steaming also offers less cooking time and requires minimal effort and equipment.

Methods 2: Grilling

Yes, grilling snow crab legs can be a very good cooking method! It adds a wonderful smoky flavor that compliments the crab’s natural sweetness. It is also one of the greatest choices for a summer menu. Grilling helps retain the crab’s nutrients without adding extra fats. 

Methods 3: Boiling

Boiling snow crab is the most popular way to make recipes; it is a go-to cooking technique. In a boiling method, the crab meat stays moist and full of flavour. The texture is also becoming pleasant in this way of cooking. It’s a quick and easy way to make crab legs. Add the seasonings to the boiling water to get an aromatic flavour.

Method 4: Baking

Yes, one excellent method for cooking snow crab legs is to bake them. It’s an easy, dependable way to preserve fluids and flavours, making it a tasty and less messy substitute for boiling.

Baking crabs makes them easy to crack, and they are easily seasoned with garlic, butter and others for delicious combinations. 

Top 10 Snow Crab Supplier Firms

Getting the best snow crab legs from trusted sources is the finest way to make your dinner more special. Let’s see where you can get your desired products from:

1. High Liner Foods
2. American Seafoods
3. Thai Union Group
4. Nissui
5. Nautilus Seafood
6. Sizzlefish
7. Young’s Seafood
8. Chicken Of The Sea
9. Pacific Seafood
10. Trident Seafoods

Online Store:

1. Global Seafoods
2. Maine Lobster Now
3. Maine Lobster Now
4. Crabplace.com
5. Alaska Gold Seafood
6. Cameron’s Seafood
7. Alaskan King Crab Co
8. iLoveCrabs
9. iLoveCrabs

Offline Store:

1. Costco
2. Local Seafood Markets

FAQs

Q1. How long do you cook snow crab legs?

Ans: If the crabs are thawed before, the recipe is done for around 5-10 minutes in boiling, baking and steaming methods. And, for frozen crabs, it will take around 15-20 minutes.

Q2. Can you bake frozen snow crab legs?

Ans: Of course! You can make crab legs using a baking method. This helps to get a rich and savoury flavour.

Q3. What seasoning is good for snow crab legs?

Ans: Salt, pepper, chives, fresh dill, lemon juice, and lemon rinds can be paired to make snow crab legs. 

Q4. Is It Better To Boil Or Bake Snow Crab Legs?

This is your determination to make your crab recipe in a billing or baking way! I only suggest some difference between these two preparations in flavour and texture.

• Texure: If you want moist, tender meat and a quicker cooking process, boiling might be the best choice. If you like a less messy method with a slightly firmer texture and the ability to easily add seasonings like garlic butter, baking could be your go-to.

• Flavour: If you prefer to enhance the natural flavour, boiling is your one-stop choice. And if your preference is to get a richer and more savoury flavour, you can go with the baking method.