Why You’ll Love This Grilled Cheese
Move over, plain grilled cheese, this crab sandwich is anything but ordinary. Filling it with fresh meat and a touch of seasoning and zing from lemon zest takes it over the top. If you live in New England, you should be able to find fresh crab meat at your local fish market – we are using Jonah crab from Maine today. But don’t worry if you can’t get your hands on fresh – refrigerated canned crab meat from the grocery store seafood department works ok too.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh cooked crab meat (pick it over for shells)
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- Old Bay seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Chives
- Lemon zest
- Hearty whole grain bread
- Salted butter
- Sharp cheddar cheese (we love the Cabot sharp cheddar slices)
- Lemon wedges
Step-by-Step Instructions
(Full instructions in the recipe card below.)
- In a mixing bowl, combine crab meat, mayonnaise, Dijon, Old Bay, garlic powder, pepper, chives, and lemon zest. Mix until well blended.
2. Spread butter evenly on one side of each bread slice.
3. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Place two slices of bread, buttered side down, in the pan. Spoon crab mixture evenly on top.
4. Add two slices of cheddar, then top with the remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
5. Cook 3–4 minutes per side, until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted. Reduce heat if bread begins to brown too quickly.
6. Remove from skillet, let cool briefly, then slice in half. Serve with lemon wedges, fresh veggie sticks, or apple slices.
Optional Add-Ins
- Add a slice of tomato, lettuce, or avocado for extra flavor.
- Swap cheddar for Swiss or provolone for a twist.
- Try sourdough instead of whole grain.
Tips for the Best Crab Grilled Cheese
- Use fresh crab meat when possible for the best sweetest and freshest flavor.
- Don’t skip the lemon zest – it brightens the sandwich beautifully.
- Cook low and slow so the bread crisps while the cheese melts – you don’t want the bread to burn, which can happen quickly if the heat is too high.
What to Serve with Crab Grilled Cheese
This rich and satisfying sandwich pairs well with:
- Kale and white bean salad.
- A side of fresh veggies – carrots, cucumber or celery sticks.
- Crisp apple slices.
- A light salad with a citrus vinaigrette.
More Great Crab Recipes – Don’t Miss These:
Crab Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cooked fresh crab meat we used Jonah crab, picked over for shell fragments
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/8-1/4 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp sliced chives
- 1 lemon zest of slice into wedges for serving after zesting
- 4 slices hearty whole grain bread
- 2 tbsp salted butter softened
- 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine crab meat, mayonnaise, mustard, Old Bay, garlic powder, black pepper, chives and lemon zest. Stir well until everything is mixed together.
- Spread butter on one side of each bread slice.
- Heat a skillet over medium low heat. Place two bread slices, buttered side down, in the skillet. Spoon crab mixture evenly onto each slice of bread. Top each sandwich with two slices of cheddar, followed by the remaining slices of bread, buttered side up.
- Cook sandwiches for about 3–4 minutes per side, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. If your bread is starting to burn, reduce the heat.
- Remove from heat. Let the sandwiches cool for a minute, then slice in half. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
- We love serving some fresh veggies, like celery, carrot and cucumber sticks or fresh fruit, like apple slices, along with this grilled cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
This Crabby Grilled Cheese with cheddar is quick enough for a weeknight and special enough for a weekend lunch. Whether you make it with fresh Jonah crab or canned crab meat, you’ll have a melty, crispy, flavor-packed sandwich ready in just 15 minutes.
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