Best 4 Steamed Crab Legs Recipes

Cracking open crabs can be messy, but the deliciousness of steamed crab legs is worth the effort! Steamed crab legs retain their natural flavor and sweetness, making them a seafood delicacy that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you're looking for a simple and flavorful way to prepare crab legs, steaming is the way to go. With just a few simple ingredients and a pot, you can have perfectly steamed crab legs in no time.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

INSTANT POT® SIMPLE STEAMED CRAB LEGS

Instant Pot® Simple Steamed Crab Legs image

There is no need to go to a high-end restaurant for crab legs when you can easily do them at home in your Instant Pot®. From the freezer to the table in 20 minutes. Save your money. It honestly doesn't get any easier than this.

Provided by Soup Loving Nicole

Categories Main Dish Recipes Seafood Main Dish Recipes Crab

Time 25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 4

Ingredients

1 ½ cups water
2 pounds frozen king crab legs
juice of one lemon
⅓ cup butter, melted

Steps:

Place a trivet in the multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and add water. Place crab legs on top of the trivet; you may need to let them thaw for a few minutes so they will fit.
Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 3 minutes. Allow 10 minutes for pressure to build.
Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Using tongs, transfer crab legs to a serving dish. Squeeze lemon juice on top and serve with melted butter.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 199.4 calories, Carbohydrate 1.2 g, Cholesterol 83.4 mg, Fat 16 g, Protein 12.7 g, SaturatedFat 9.8 g, Sodium 324.3 mg, Sugar 0.2 g

STEAMED SNOW CRAB LEGS`

Steamed Snow Crab Legs` image

The family loves this steamed snow crab legs recipe. And if you do not have a steamer, use a two piece pasta pot with the strainer portion as a steamer insert works well to steam crab legs.

Provided by Marie Lesane

Categories Seafood Appetizers

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 3

Ingredients

2 lb snow crab legs
4 c water
3 Tbsp old bay seasoning

Steps:

1. In a large pot with strainer or drainer insert, bring 3-4 cups of water to a boil. (Water amount may vary, but just keep below the level of the strainer or drainer portion of the pot.)
2. Rinse ice from frozen crab legs, and place in the strainer or drainer inserted in the pot. Sprinkle the old bay seasoning on the crab legs and cover.
3. Steam crab legs for 4 to 6 minutes or until heated through.
4. Serve crab legs with butter for dipping.

STEAMED LEMON GRASS CRAB LEGS

Steamed Lemon Grass Crab Legs image

Tasty steamed crab legs with Asian kick! Serve with fresh spinach salad or favorite side. Use drawn butter for dipping, or try lemon juice, salt, pepper and sugar for tangy sauce. Enjoy!

Provided by Soup Nazi

Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Thai

Time 30m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic clove, pressed
1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger root, crushed
1 stalk lemon grass, crushed
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
salt and pepper to taste
2 pounds frozen cooked Alaskan king crab legs, thawed

Steps:

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the crushed garlic, ginger, and lemon grass; cook and stir until brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce, oyster sauce, salt and pepper until blended. Add crab legs, cover, and cook over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until heated through, about 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 585.7 calories, Carbohydrate 5.3 g, Cholesterol 240.6 mg, Fat 20.7 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 89.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.8 g, Sodium 6017.6 mg, Sugar 0.6 g

STEAMED CRAB LEGS WITH FOUR SAUCES RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steamed Crab Legs with Four Sauces Recipe - (4.5/5) image

Provided by ruthg

Number Of Ingredients 55

Ingredients

1 1 1 lemon sliced, plus halves for serving
to salt to taste
3 3 3 lb. precooked king or snow crab, clusters or legs
.
BRANDY MAYONNAISE
1 3/4 1 3/4 CUPS
INGREDIENTS
1 1 1 cup mayonnaise
3 3 3 tbsp. brandy
3 3 3 tbsp. ketchup
2 2 2 tbsp. sour cream
2 2 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Zest and juice of 1 lemon
to salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine ingredients in a bowl; stir until smooth.
.
CLARIFIED BUTTER WITH GARLIC AND CHIVES
1 ABOUT 1 CUP
.
INGREDIENTS
2 2 2 cloves crushed garlic
2 2 2 small fresh red Thai chiles, sliced in half
16 16 16 tbsp. unsalted butter
INSTRUCTIONS
.
TARTAR SAUCE
1 1/2 1 1/2 CUPS
.
INGREDIENTS
1 1 1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 1/3 1/3 cup capers, drained and finely chopped
1 1 1 small shallot, finely chopped
1 1 1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley
10 10 10 cornichons, finely chopped
1 Zest and juice of 1 lemon
to salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Stir ingredients in a bowl until combined.
.
DIABLO SAUCE
2 ABOUT 2 CUPS
INGREDIENTS
2 2 2 tbsp. olive oil
2 2 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
6 6 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 1 1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 1/2 1/2 a small yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 1 1 tbsp. dark red chile powder
2 2 2 tsp. packed brown sugar
1 1 1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 1 can 1 (16-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
to salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 1 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS

Steps:

Bring sliced lemon, salt, and 3 cups water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a pasta strainer of steamer insert. Add crab clusters of legs; cook, covered until meat is heated through, about 8 minutes. If crab is frozen it may take a little longer, 10-12 minutes. Uncover; transfer crab to a cutting board or paper-lined surface. Serve with dipping sauces.

Tips:

Choose the Right Crabs: Select live crabs that are heavy for their size and have bright, active eyes.
Properly Clean the Crabs: Before cooking, thoroughly clean the crabs by rinsing them under cold running water and scrubbing off any dirt or debris.
Prepare the Steamer: Fill a large pot with 2-3 inches of water and bring it to a boil. Place a steamer basket or colander inside the pot, ensuring it is elevated above the water level.
Steam the Crabs: Place the crabs in the steamer basket and cover the pot. Steam the crabs for 5-7 minutes per pound, or until they turn bright red.
Test for Doneness: To check if the crabs are properly cooked, insert a fork or skewer into the thickest part of the crab's body. If the meat is opaque and flakes easily, the crab is done.
Cooling and Serving: Once the crabs are cooked, remove them from the steamer and let them cool slightly before serving. Serve with melted butter, lemon wedges, and your favorite dipping sauce.

Conclusion:

Steaming crab legs is a delightful and easy way to enjoy this delicious seafood. With the right technique and a few simple tips, you can create a memorable meal that will satisfy your taste buds and impress your guests. Whether you choose to steam whole crabs or just the legs, the result will be a succulent and flavorful dish that is sure to leave you wanting more. So next time you're craving crab, give steamed crab legs a try - you won't be disappointed!