Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these delicious Air Fryer Crab Cakes are a breeze to make in the air fryer. With the perfect balance of flavors and a golden brown finish, they’re sure to become a favorite for seafood lovers. Let’s dive into how to make these irresistible crab cakes that are perfect for any occasion.
Contents
Why You’ll Love Crab Cakes
- These crab cakes are Rich In Protein And Healthy, and a great dish to make for the entire family.
- This recipe is super easy, and is perfect to whip up when I’m craving for some Maryland style crab cakes.
- It is super versatile! I can enjoy crab in a number of different ways including serving with Crab Dip or Air Fryer Carrot Fries.
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need two sets of ingredients to make these Air Fryer crab cakes.
Remoulade Sauce
- Creole Seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning: Adds a kick of spice and depth of flavor to the remoulade sauce, giving it that authentic Southern taste.
- Paprika: Lends a smoky flavor and vibrant color to the sauce, enhancing its overall appeal.
- Minced Garlic and Ginger: Add a pungent, spicy-sweet flavor that complements the creaminess of the sauce and the sweetness of the crab.
- Mustard: Contributes a tangy and slightly spicy element to the sauce, balancing out its creaminess.
- Hot Sauce (Franks, Tabasco, or any other brand): Gives the remoulade an extra zing, making it even more flavorful and exciting.
- Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream: Provide the creamy, tangy base for the remoulade, complementing the spicy and savory elements perfectly.
Crab Cakes
- Egg: Acts as a binder for the crab cakes, helping all the ingredients stick together during the air frying process.
- Mayonnaise and Mustard: Give the crab cakes their moistness and tangy flavor, enhancing the sweetness of the crab meat.
- Hot Sauce: Adds a touch of heat to the crab cakes, creating a nice contrast with the other flavors.
- Seafood Seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning: Enhances the natural flavors of the crab, adding a savory note to the dish.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice provides a fresh, citrusy counterpoint to the rich crab meat, brightening up the overall flavor profile.
- Crab Meat or Imitation Crab: Is the star of the dish, offering a sweet, delicate flavor and tender texture that’s highlighted by the other ingredients.
- Saltine Cracker Crumbs: Help to bind the crab cakes and also add a bit of crunch, providing a nice textural contrast.
- Diced Green Onions: Provide a hint of freshness and a slight bite, complementing the richness of the crab cakes.
- Lemons for Lemon Wedges: Allows individuals to add an extra splash of citrusy brightness to their
How To Make Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Once you have all your ingredients ready, here’s what you’ll need to do to make these crab cakes.
Step One: Add all the ingredients for the remoulade in a bowl, and mix well until incorporated. Place in the fridge to chill while you prepare the crab cakes.
Step Two: In another large mixing bowl, crack and whisk the egg. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, seasoning, and lemon juice. Gently fold the mixture until incorporated to create the binder sauce
Step Three: In a large bowl, add the cracker crumbs and crab meat. Toss until mixed. Add the binder sauce and mix by hand. This process will create a bound crab mixture.
Step Four: Refrigerate the crab mixture for 1 hour to allow the cracker crumbs to soak up the binder sauce. This will make for an easy forming.
Step Five: Using a 1/4 cup, scoop and shape the mixture into a ball. You can leave them round for moisture or compress them for crispiness. Preheat the Air Fryer and place the crab cakes in the basket.
Step Six: Cook the crab cakes for 7-8 minutes or until they are deep golden brown. Make sure you flip the cakes midway through the cooking process so that they cook evenly. Serve the Air Fryer crab cakes with tartar sauce and lemon wedges on the side.
Top Tips For Making Perfect Crab Cakes
Before you jump in and give this easy recipe a shot, here are some tips and tricks you might want to take note of.
- Remember that different Air Fryers cook differently, and to get the perfectly cooked crab cakes, you’ll need to check the crab cakes once in between the cooking process.
- Make sure you lay parchment paper inside the Air Fryer basket or lightly spray it with some cooking spray before you placing the crab cakes in there. The cooking spray will ensure that the crab cakes don’t end up sticking to the basket.
- If you don’t have the saltine cracker crumbs that the recipe calls for, you can use panko breadcrumbs or classic bread crumbs instead!
- To lend some extra flavor to the crab cake mix, I like to add a dash of Worcestershire Sauce too.
- To bring extra freshness and tanginess to the crab cakes, you can also add a bit of lemon zest.
- To get an extra crunchy texture on the outside, you can also coat the crab cakes in more panko breadcrumbs before transferring to the Air Fryer basket.
- I sometimes add finely diced bell pepper into my crab cake mixture to make them more nutritious and healthy. I love using red bell pepper, but any color pepper will work.
- If you don’t have an Air Fryer, you can also bake these crab cakes! Simply start off with some cooking spray on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
How To Store Leftover Crab Cakes
- Refrigeration: Store leftover crab cakes in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Freezing: To freeze crab cakes, place them in a single layer in a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. Mark the date and use within 2-3 months for the best quality.
- Reheating: For a crunchy outer layer when reheating crab cakes, place them in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for approximately 15-20 minutes.
What To Serve With This Recipe?
- Sweet Potato Fries: Crispy, seasoned sweet potato fries for a delightful mix of textures.
- Zesty Coleslaw: Shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a oily dressing for a crisp contrast to the succulent crab cakes.
- Avocado Salsa: Diced avocados, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro tossed in lime juice, creating a refreshing salsa.
Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Creole Seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning
Remoulade Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon Mustard
- 1-2 teaspoons Hot Sauce
- 1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
Crab Cakes
- 1 Egg
- 1/3 Cup Mayonaise
- 1 Tablespoon Mustard
- 1-2 Teaspoons Hot Sauce
- 2 Teaspoons Seafood Seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 Lemon Juiced
- 1 Pound Crab Meat or Imitation Crab
- 1 Cup Saltine Cracker Crumbs
- 1/8 Cup Green Onion Diced
- 1 Lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the Remoulade Sauce: Add all the ingredients for the remoulade in a bowl, and mix well until incorporated. Place in the fridge to chill while you prepare the crab cakes.
- Create the Binder Sauce: In another large mixing bowl, crack and whisk the egg. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, seasoning, and lemon juice. Gently fold the mixture until incorporated to create the binder sauce
- Prepare the Crab Cake Mixture: In a large bowl, add the cracker crumbs and crab meat. Toss until mixed. Add the binder sauce and mix by hand. This process will create a bound crab mixture
- Refrigerate the Crab Cake Mixture: Refrigerate the crab mixture for 1 hour to allow the cracker crumbs to soak up the binder sauce. This will make for an easy forming.
- Shape the Crab Cakes: With a 1/4-quarter cup, scoop out the mixture and form it into a ball. You can compress the cakes or leave them in a ball. I prefer the cakes to be round as they stay moist more than the compressed cakes. The compressed cakes are crispier throughout.
- Give the Crab Cakes an Extra Coating: To get an extra crunchy texture on the outside, you can also coat the crab cakes in some more panko breadcrumbs or regular bread crumbs before you transfer them to the Air Fryer basket. (OPTIONAL)
- Preheat the Air Fryer and place the crab cakes in the Air Fryer basket. Cook the crab cakes for 7-8 minutes or until they are deep golden brown. Make sure you flip the cakes midway through the cooking process so that they cook evenly.
- Serve the Air Fryer crab cakes with some tartar sauce and lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you enjoy trying this crab cake recipe in the Air Fryer, and want some more Air Fryer recipes, here are a few good ones to check out.
