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Dungeness crab legs on a platter with corn on the cob and lemon garlic butter sauce
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Dungeness Crab Legs

This Dungeness Crab Legs recipe is the key to succulent, tender legs bursting in flavor, perfect for any seafood lover. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or enjoying a quiet meal at home, these will bring a touch of elegance and taste to your table. Paired with melted butter or a tangy dipping sauce, these are a treat you won't want to miss.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword Dungeness crab legs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 584kcal
Author Brandi Crawford

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds Dungeness crab legs
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning Used in the steamed and Instant Pot method.
  • salt to taste Used in the steamed and Instant Pot method.

Instructions

Steamed Crab Legs

  • Fill a large pot with about 2 inches of water. Add salt and Old Bay, and bring to a boil.
  • Once the water is boiling, place a steamer basket or a metal colander into the pot. Ensure that the bottom of the basket or colander does not touch the boiling water.
  • Arrange the crab legs in a single layer inside the steamer basket or colander. If the crab legs are too long to fit, you can break them into smaller sections using kitchen shears or a sharp knife.
  • Cover the pot with a lid and let the crab legs steam for about 5-7 minutes. The cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the crab legs. They are ready when the meat is opaque and easily pulls away from the shell.

Grilled Crab Legs

  • Preheat grill to medium-high, 350 degrees.
  • Place the crab legs on the grill. Grill for 4-5 minutes on each side. Examine the shoulder (this is the large white part of the cluster). It should be pearly white.
  • Cool before you split the crab legs.

Baked Crab Legs

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Place the crab legs on a sheet pan.
  • Cover the pan with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Examine the shoulder (this is the large white part of the cluster). It should be pearly white.
  • Cool before you split the crab legs.

Instant Pot Crab Legs

  • Place the trivet (that comes with the Instant Pot) into the bottom of the pot.
  • Pour in 1 cup of water along with the Old Bay and salt.
  • Add in the crab legs.
  • Place the lid on the pot and seal. Cook for 1 minute on Manual> High Pressure Cooking.
  • When the pot indicates it has finished, quick release the steam.
  • Cool before you split the crab legs.

Air Fryer Crab Legs

  • Wrap the crab legs in foil and place them in the air fryer.
  • Air fry for 5-8 minutes at 370 degrees.
  • Examine the shoulder (this is the large white part of the cluster). It should be pearly white.
  • Cool before you split the crab legs.

Notes

  • Crab should be cooked until the flesh is pearly or white, and opaque. You won’t be able to tell much by the outside color, because when you bought them they were already pre-cooked and orange. Examine the shoulder (this is the large white part of the cluster). It should be pearly white.
  • Adjust the spices to suit your tastes.
  • If you don't have a steaming basket, you can boil the crab legs by filling a large pot with enough water to cover the crab legs and bringing the water to a boil. Boil for 4-6 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5pounds | Calories: 584kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 120g | Fat: 6g