If you’re craving a luxurious yet easy seafood dinner, these Baked Crab Legs in Butter Sauce will hit the spot! Juicy, tender crab meat baked in a rich garlic butter sauce—it’s restaurant-quality flavor made right in your kitchen. Perfect for date nights, family gatherings, or when you simply want to treat yourself to something special.
🦀 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Simple and elegant: Minimal ingredients, maximum flavor.
No mess boiling: Baking locks in the crab’s natural sweetness.
Flavor-packed butter sauce: A mouthwatering mix of garlic, lemon, and herbs.
Perfect for any crab variety: Use snow crab, king crab, or Dungeness.
🍋 Ingredients
2 lbs crab legs (king crab, snow crab, or your favorite)
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (or Cajun seasoning)
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Lemon wedges, for serving
🔥 Instructions
- Preheat your oven:
Set the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. - Prepare the butter sauce:
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant (don’t brown it). Stir in lemon juice, zest, paprika, Old Bay, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat. - Arrange the crab legs:
Place the crab legs on the baking sheet. Use kitchen shears to cut slits along the shells for easier eating later. - Coat with sauce:
Brush or drizzle the butter sauce generously over the crab legs. Reserve a bit of sauce for dipping after baking. - Bake:
Bake for 15–18 minutes, basting halfway through with more butter sauce. - Garnish & serve:
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges and the remaining butter sauce for dipping.
🍽️ Serving Tips
Serve your baked crab legs with:
Garlic butter mashed potatoes
Steamed asparagus or broccoli
Corn on the cob
A fresh garden salad
And don’t forget a chilled glass of white wine or sparkling lemonade to complement the buttery richness.
💡 Pro Tips
For frozen crab legs: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or run under cold water before baking.
Want spicy? Add a pinch of cayenne or a few dashes of hot sauce to your butter mix.
Extra garlicky version: Roast whole garlic cloves in the oven and mash them into the butter before brushing.
❤️ Why Baking is Better
Baking keeps the crab legs moist while allowing the butter sauce to soak into every crevice of the shell. You’ll get a perfect balance of smoky, garlicky, and lemony goodness without the hassle of boiling water or losing flavor.
📖 Final Thoughts
Baked Crab Legs in Butter Sauce are the definition of effortless elegance. With just a handful of ingredients and 20 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a seafood dish worthy of a fine-dining restaurant.
Whether you’re cooking for a special occasion or just indulging in something fancy at home, this recipe guarantees satisfaction in every buttery bite.
