Air Fryer Crab Cakes come together with lump crab meat, mayonnaise, savory seasonings, and panko breadcrumbs for a delicious, lightened-up version of the traditional recipe!
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Traditional crab cakes are a seafood dish made of shredded or lump crabmeat, egg, mayonnaise, and seasonings. The mixture is then shaped into patties and fried in lots of oil. This makes them crispy and delicious, but not exactly healthy. Enter: air fryer crab cakes.
Oh yes, friends! These air fryer crab cakes have that perfect crispy texture and all the delicious flavor of the original. However, we make them in the air fryer, meaning you don’t have to cook them in tons of oil!
Air fryer crab cakes are a great way to enjoy the delectable taste of crab cakes without the added calories from deep frying. Instead, air fryers use hot air to cook foods, giving them that classic fried texture without needing oil or other fats for cooking. This makes air fryer crab cakes a much healthier alternative to traditional crab cakes.
And did I mention that they are incredibly easy to make? Yep, that’s another bonus! Just combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.
Then, shape the mixture into cakes, and place them in the preheated air fryer. Cook for about 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through for even heat distribution.
Pair your finished crab cakes with your favorite dip or condiment. Or, serve them up the East Coast way with a lemon wedge. You can also make them into crab cake sandwiches!
Ingredients For Air Fryer Crab Cakes
To print: see recipe card below
- 1 egg – Here’s the best way to crack an egg!
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning – Old Bay seasoning is essential here. This seasoning is so common in seafood recipes that it’s kind of what makes seafood taste like seafood!
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper – Freshly cracked black pepper will add the most flavor.
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives
- 1 stalk fresh celery – Chop this finely so you don’t get big chunks in the cakes.
- 1 pound lump crab meat – Use high-quality crab meat, not imitation crab! While imitation crab meat will work in a pinch for salads and other raw recipes, it doesn’t work as well when it needs to be cooked.
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- Nonstick cooking spray
Directions for How to Make Air Fryer Crab Cakes
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- Prepare: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make the crab cake mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, and seasonings until well combined. Then, fold in the crab meat and breadcrumbs.
- Form the patties: Divide the mixture into four portions, and form them into patties. Spray both sides with cooking spray, or lightly grease them with olive oil.
- Cook: Place the cakes in the basket of an air fryer. Cook for 14 to 16 minutes or until the cakes are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Enjoy: Serve your crab cakes warm topped with green onions if desired, and add your favorite dipping sauce!
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to enjoy your air fryer crab cakes. Try serving them with a side of tartar sauce or a zesty remoulade dip. Or, add them to salads and sandwiches.
For a heartier meal, try pairing them with your favorite sides. Air fryer French fries seasoned with Old Bay, roasted asparagus, macaroni salad, or coleslaw all make great options!
How to Store + Freeze Air Fryer Crab Cakes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Freeze crab cakes for up to one month. To do so, wrap each patty in plastic wrap, and transfer them to an airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat.
- Reheat your crab cakes on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees for ten minutes or until heated through. Or, warm them in the air fryer for five to seven minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. They’ll taste as good as new!
Quick Tip
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might have to cook your crab cakes in two batches. Don’t overcrowd the basket, or your crab cakes won’t get crispy!
Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- 1 Rubber spatula
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon fresh chives minced
- 1 stalk fresh celery finely chopped
- 1 pound lump crab meat
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat an air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Old Bay, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, celery, chives, salt and pepper until well combined.1 egg, ¼ cup mayonnaise, Juice of ½ lemon, 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 Tablespoon fresh chives, 1 stalk fresh celery
- Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the crab meat and bread crumbs into the mayonnaise mixture. Only mix until combined so as not to break down the crab meat too much.1 pound lump crab meat, ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- Form into 4 equal sized patties. Spray the outside of each with nonstick cooking spray, then arrange them in an even layer in the basket of the air fryer. Cook for 14 to 16 minutes until cooked through and golden brown. Depending on the size of your air fryer, it may be necessary to cook in two batches.Nonstick cooking spray
Nutrition
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