How To Cook Crab Legs

A hand cracking a cooked snow crab leg, revealing the perfectly white, tender meat inside.

How To Cook Crab Legs

A comprehensive guide on how to cook crab legs perfectly using five different methods: baking, grilling, pressure cooking, steaming, or boiling, complete with a versatile seasoning mix and optional loaded butter.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crab legs, seafood, how to, baked, grilled, steamed

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 25

Servings: servings

Calories: 460kcal

Author: Caoimhe Byrne

Equipment

Small bowl
Whisk
13"-by-9" pan (for baking)
Aluminum foil
Grill (for grilling)
Instant Pot or pressure cooker
Steamer pot
Large stockpot (for boiling)
Small saucepan (for butter)

Ingredients

Group: Crab

2 lb. snow crab leg clusters (about 4)

Group: Seasoning Mix

2 Tbsp. kosher salt
1 Tbsp. smoked paprika
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. dried thyme
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. granulated sugar
¾ tsp. cayenne

Group: For Cooking (Choose One Method)

¾ cup butter, melted (For Baking/Grilling)
2 cups water (For Pressure Cooking/Steaming)
3 qt. water (For Boiling)
¼ cup distilled white vinegar
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp. mustard seeds
2 tsp. allspice berries

Group: Loaded Butter (Optional)

½ cup butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. Seasoning Mix (from above)

Instructions

Clean and rinse crab legs. In a small bowl, whisk salt, paprika, oregano, thyme, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, and cayenne.
Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, combine ¾ cup melted butter, ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cloves chopped garlic, 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp. mustard seeds, 2 tsp. allspice, and ¼ cup of the Seasoning Mix. Layer crab legs in a 13"-by-9" pan. Generously brush with butter mixture, concentrating on clusters of meat.

Tightly cover pan with foil and bake until heated through and steaming, about 15 minutes. If crab legs are frozen, bake about 10 minutes more.
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. In a small bowl, combine ¾ cup melted butter, ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cloves chopped garlic, 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp. mustard seeds, 2 tsp. allspice, and ¼ cup of the Seasoning Mix. Layer crab legs on a large sheet of foil. Generously brush with butter mixture, concentrating on clusters of meat. Pinch long sides of foil together to create a tight seal. Fold each side in, sealing any remaining gaps. Pay close attention to tips of legs to ensure that they don't poke through foil and cause leakage.

Close lid on grill and grill foil packets until legs are heated through and steaming and shells are a bright orange-y red color, about 10 minutes. If crab legs are frozen, grill about 5 minutes more.
In inner pot of an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, combine 2 cups water, ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cloves chopped garlic, 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp. mustard seeds, 2 tsp. allspice, and ¼ cup of the Seasoning Mix. Place trivet in inner pot and layer in crab legs. Ensure steam vent is set to seal and cook on manual high pressure for 4 minutes. Quick-release steam.
In bottom of a steamer pot, combine 2 cups water, ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cloves chopped garlic, 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp. mustard seeds, 2 tsp. allspice, and ¼ cup of the Seasoning Mix. Bring to a boil, then place a steamer basket or insert into pot. Layer in crab legs, cover, and cook until heated through and steaming, about 5 minutes.
In a large stockpot over high heat, bring 3 qt. water, ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cloves chopped garlic, 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp. mustard seeds, 2 tsp. allspice, and ¼ cup of the Seasoning Mix to a boil. Layer in crab legs and simmer until heated through and steaming, about 5 minutes.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt ½ cup butter and cook until it starts to foam. Continue to cook, undisturbed, until milk solids rise to the surface, 1 to 2 minutes. Skim white foamy milk solids off top of butter and discard. Serve as is or add 1 clove garlic, 2 Tbsp. parsley, 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon of the Seasoning Mix to make loaded butter.

Notes

This is a guide with multiple cooking methods. Choose one method (Bake, Grill, Pressure Cook, Steam, or Boil) to cook your crab legs. The 'Loaded Butter' is an optional dipping sauce.

Nutrition