Air Fryer Crab Cakes.
Little bites of crab cakes air fried until crispy and golden on the outside and sweet and tender on the inside. These air fryer crab cakes require just a handful of ingredients (mainly crab!) and cook up quickly in the air fryer. A great appetizer for sharing with guests, this recipe makes about 24 mini crab cakes, serving about 8 people.
When you want to make restaurant caliber crab cakes at home, look no further.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CRAB CAKE?
There are a few keys to a good crab cake:
- They must be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- They must be packed with visible and good quality lump crab meat. (Note: always pick over your crab meat to be sure there are no shells or cartilage.) With crab cakes, it’s ALL about that sweet crab.
- They should always be served with a good sauce, whether that’s a great tartar sauce, a remoulade sauce, an Old Bay sauce, a lemony yogurt sauce, etc. We’ve even served summer crab cakes with a basil pesto and they were fabulous. You’ve gotta dip those cakes! An exception would be when crab cakes are served over a salad – in which case, you’d want a nice citrusy vinaigrette on that salad.
- Always serve your crab cakes with lemon wedges. Citrus is a perfect complement to the rich crab cake – it adds acid and zing, plus a ton of freshness.
- The filler (aka breadcrumbs or vegetables) shouldn’t overwhelm the delicate crab.
- A good crab cake is always a hot crab cake. Serve them hot out of the air fryer, oven, fryer or skillet.
INGREDIENTS:
These air fryer crab cakes require just a handful of ingredients:
- Lump crab meat
- Seasoned panko crumbs. Don’t use regular bread crumbs as they won’t crisp up as nicely – panko is key. We have also used unseasoned panko instead and added Old Bay seasoning – find that recipe here.
- Tartar sauce – you’ll use this for dipping, but also to add moisture to the crab cakes to keep them tender and flavorful. We used store-bought tartar sauce as a time-saver, but feel free to make your own.
- Egg – for binding.
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Chives and parsley (optional, for garnish)
- Lemon wedges
**Find the full ingredient list and amounts in the recipe card below.**
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE AIR FRYER CRAB CAKES:
Here’s how to make these tasty crab cakes:
- Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees.
- Add crab, panko crumbs, tartar sauce, beaten egg or egg substitute, garlic powder, and freshly ground black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Using a tablespoon, scoop the crab cake mixture into your hand, roll into a ball, squishing gently as you roll. Place each bite onto a large piece of parchment paper or large plate.
- Spray or wipe your air fryer with cooking oil. Add the crab cakes to the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t touching each other. You’ll likely need to do this in two batches. Spray the tops of your crab cakes with cooking oil after you’ve placed them in the basket.
- Cook crab cakes for 6-8 minutes until golden brown, timing will vary depending on your air fryer and the size of your mini. crab cakes.
- Place bites onto a serving platter. Sprinkle with parsley and chives. Serve with lemon wedges and additional tartar sauce for dipping.
RECIPE FAQS:
What if you don’t have an air fryer – can you bake these crab cakes?
Yes! You can bake these in the oven and they will turn out just as good. Try these oven baked mini crab cakes.
Do you need to flip these crab cakes in the air fryer?
No, you don’t need to flip these crab cakes halfway through cooking. Just place them in the pre-heated air fryer (you must preheat it so that they start crisping right away) and check on them after six minutes. Total cooking time will be between 6 and 8 minutes.
Can you freeze these crab cakes?
Yes! Freeze them prior to air frying. Once you’ve rolled all of the crab mixture into bites, place the crab bites on a sheet pan in the freezer for an hour. Once frozen, place them into a freezer bag. The day before you want to cook them, thaw them in the fridge overnight. I don’t recommend cooking them from frozen.
What kind of crab do you use for the crab cakes?
These crab cakes use lump crab meat, which consists of smaller pieces of jumbo lump crab and smaller pieces of body meat, making it perfect for crab cakes. Lump crab meat is mostly white and has a delicate flavor. Find crab meat in the seafood department of your grocery store sold in refrigerated cans or clear sealed containers – it’s ready to use as it’s already been cleaned, cooked and pasteurized. Lump crab meat is not cheap (right now I found it for around $40/lb), but it’s worth it and the cost is far less than jumbo lump crab. You can also order it online from places like North Coast Seafoods and Fulton Fish Market.
Is crab good for you?
Crab is very good for you. It’s rich in protein, omega 3 fats, B vitamins, iron, selenium and zinc.
Are these air fried crab cakes healthy?
Yes! These crab cakes are packed with protein, omega 3 fats, vitamins and minerals. And, since they are air fried, there’s little oil involved (other than oiling the air fryer and spraying the crab cakes lightly).
WHAT TO SERVE AIR FRIED CRAB CAKES WITH:
We love serving crab cakes along with other seaside appetizers like:
- oysters on the half shell
- shrimp cocktail
- lobster bites
- tuna tartare avocado bowls
- corn on the cob
- vegetable crudite
Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 16 ounces lump crab meat picked over for any shell fragments
- 1 cup seasoned panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup tartar sauce plus more for dipping
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
For garnish
- Sea salt
- Chopped parsley
- Sliced chives
For serving
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
- Tartar sauce
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees.
- Add crab, panko crumbs, tartar sauce, beaten egg or egg substitute, garlic powder, and freshly ground black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Using a tablespoon or small ice cream scooper, scoop the crab cake mixture into your hand, roll into a ball, squishing together gently as you roll. Place each bite onto a large piece of parchment paper or large plate.
- Spray or wipe your air fryer with high heat cooking oil, like sunflower or canola. Add the crab cakes to the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t touching each other. You’ll likely need to do this in two batches. Spray the tops of your crab cakes with cooking oil after you’ve placed them in the basket.
- Cook crab cakes for 6-8 minutes until golden brown, timing will vary depending on your air fryer and the size of your cakes. Check them at 6 minutes.
- Remove from air fryer and place bites onto a serving platter. Sprinkle with sea salt, parsley and chives. Serve with lemon wedges and additional tartar sauce for dipping.
Notes
Nutrition
PIN these air fryer crab cakes for later:
Moto
January 6, 2024 7:09 pmThis was super easy, and I liked that it didn’t have old bay seasoning, mustard, or a ton of other vegetables, so the crab meat flavor shined through. I had found cooked, whole crab on sale, and cracked and pulled out the meat on my own. I think this made about 16 crab cakes for a family of 4 and we finished it all. We used sweet chili sauce as a side dip. Other dips may have been good as well such as simple butter, or Old Bay Seasoning for those that may miss that seasoning.