Description
Delicious baked crab legs smothered in a rich, garlicky butter sauce, enhanced with paprika, Old Bay seasoning, and a touch of cayenne for a flavorful kick. Perfectly baked and broiled for a golden, slightly crispy finish, this recipe is an easy yet elegant seafood dish that serves 4 and is ideal for special occasions or a luxurious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Crab Legs
- 2 lbs crab legs (king crab or snow crab)
Butter Sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Serving
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). If you are using frozen crab legs, make sure to thaw them completely before proceeding. Cut along the shells carefully to expose some of the meat for easy eating.
- Prepare the butter sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic, paprika, Old Bay seasoning, cayenne pepper if using, and salt and black pepper to taste. Let the mixture simmer gently for about 2 minutes to blend the flavors, then remove from heat. Stir in fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley to finish the sauce.
- Coat the crab legs: Arrange the crab legs on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Brush the legs generously with the prepared butter sauce, making sure to save some of the sauce for serving alongside the finished crab.
- Bake the crab legs: Cover the baking sheet loosely with foil to allow steam to circulate and bake the crab legs for 15 minutes, ensuring they heat through without drying out.
- Broil for additional flavor: Remove the foil covering and switch the oven to broil on high. Broil the crab legs for 2 to 3 minutes until the butter sauce becomes golden and slightly crispy, adding a delicious texture and enhancing the flavor.
- Serve and enjoy: Transfer the baked crab legs to a serving platter, drizzle with the reserved butter sauce, and garnish with lemon wedges. Serve immediately, ideally with crusty bread or steamed rice to soak up the extra buttery sauce.
Notes
- You can use either king crab or snow crab legs depending on availability and preference.
- Thaw frozen crab legs overnight in the refrigerator for best results, or place them under cold running water if short on time.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper quantity or omit it entirely if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Use fresh garlic and parsley for the best flavor in your butter sauce.
- Serving with crusty bread helps to enjoy the flavorful butter sauce fully.
- Leftover crab legs can be refrigerated and enjoyed within 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
