If you’re looking for the best crab cake recipe, you’ve just found a coastal American classic 🧭. Maryland crab cakes are rich, meaty, and packed with flavor — no fillers here! Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or craving something fancy on a weeknight, these crab cakes bring a taste of the Chesapeake Bay right to your table 🌊🦀.
🧂 Why You’ll Love This Maryland Crab Cake Recipe
✅ Loaded with jumbo lump crab meat
✅ Minimal filler for maximum crab flavor
✅ Perfectly crisp outside, moist and tender inside
✅ Ideal for dinner, lunch, or appetizers
🧾 Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 lb jumbo lump crab meat (fresh or high-quality canned)
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice 🍋
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup crushed saltine crackers (or panko)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for frying)
- Optional: lemon wedges and tartar sauce for serving
🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
1.
Gently Mix the Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk the egg, mayo, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, parsley, and Old Bay seasoning. 🥄
Then, gently fold in the crab meat and cracker crumbs — be careful not to break the crab lumps! You want big chunks in every bite 🤤.
2.
Shape and Chill the Patties
Form the mixture into 4–6 crab cakes. Place them on a plate and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes. ❄️ This helps them hold their shape during cooking and intensifies the flavors.
3.
Pan-Fry Until Golden
Heat butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook crab cakes for 3–4 minutes per side or until golden brown and heated through 🔥. Don’t overcrowd the pan — give them space to crisp up!
4.
Serve and Impress
Serve hot with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, or a side salad 🥗. These are also amazing in sandwiches or over a bed of greens!
📌 Pro Tips
- Use real crab meat — not imitation!
- Handle the mixture gently. The less you mix, the better the texture 🙌.
- If the mixture feels too wet, add a little more cracker crumb — but not too much.
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- Maryland crab cakes
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- Authentic coastal American cuisine
💬 Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a seafood lover or trying crab cakes for the first time, this recipe is the real deal 🏆. Bold flavor, restaurant-quality texture, and easy steps make this a guaranteed hit for any meal 🦀.