16 Easy Crab Appetizers You’ll Love

Crab is some of the yummiest fish you can eat. It has a meaty texture and a delicious flavor that pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes. 

It is a great component to use when making appetizers, as it is so versatile and easy to cook with. 

This article will be listing 16 of the most delicious crab appetizers you can serve at your next dinner party, or even just make for yourself! They are incredibly easy to prepare and wonderfully tasty! 

1. Crab Macaroni Salad

Pairing delicious crab meat with our favorite comfort pasta food is definitely a good idea. This creamy, crunchy, and delicious dish works perfectly well as a side for many meals, especially barbecues. 

It is perfect for the summer months as it is light and refreshing, but still filling due to the macaroni that is used. You can make this ahead of time and portion it out throughout the week if you’d like to make it into a main meal. 

2. Crab Meat Salad Crackers

This recipe makes for the perfect appetizer if you’re looking for a snack or something to serve your dinner guests while they wait for their main meals. 

It involves fresh crab meat mixed with crunchy veggies and a light dressing. This mixture is scooped onto some salted crackers – for extra flavor, you can use the cheesy salted crackers! 

3. Cream Of Crab Soup

Crab has a delicious flavor, so what better way to make the most of that flavor other than creating a wonderful soup from it?

This recipe uses imitation crab meat, half cream (or whole milk), New England clam chowder, potatoes, and salt and pepper. 

The result is a delicious, warm, comforting bowl of creamy goodness that will definitely warm you up on a cold, winter’s day. 

4. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Crab and mushrooms are a match that you wouldn’t normally think of, but once you try these mushroom crab bites, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to do so. 

These mushrooms are filled with a hefty amount of crab meat, Cajun seasoning, veggies, and a good amount of cheese. 

They are baked to perfection and make an ideal treat to snack on during game day! 

5. Cajun Crab Dip

Say goodbye to regular salsa and hello to this delicious, spicy crab dip! This can be served warm or cold, making it a great option for both the summer and winter months. 

All you need to do is mix your crab mixture with horseradish, Cajun seasoning, cream cheese, and mayo! 

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and crackers, and enjoy! 

6. Crab Salad

This is the perfect appetizer, side dish, or light lunch for those warm months when you just want to gobble on something cool and refreshing. 

It uses an array of ingredients such as celery, green onions, crab meat, horseradish sauce, mayo, mustard, sour cream, and the list goes on. 

However, it is very customizable, and you can add anything you like, such as corn, peas, you name it! 

7. Crab Casserole

This casserole can be baked in one large dish, and then portioned out to make tiny little appetizers for any guests you may be hosting.

It is made with crab meat, cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, soy sauce, lemon juice, and an array of seasonings. 

It is then baked until the cheese bubbles and the top becomes golden brown and crispy. It is packed with flavor, and the combination of crab and cheese is delightful. 

It takes just under an hour to make and will fill your home with some delicious aromas as it’s baking away. 

8. Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls

Egg rolls are some of the best appetizers out there. Add some crab meat to the mix, and you’ll really be in for a treat. 

They aren’t difficult to make, as they are filled with crab, cream cheese, and a few spices that are all neatly wrapped up in an egg roll wrapper. 

They can either be fried until brown and crispy, or they can be placed in the oven and baked for a slightly healthier alternative. 

You can also dip them in whatever sauce you like. If you’re a fan of spice, try some sriracha. Alternatively, some simple soy sauce or teriyaki will taste just as good! 

9. Crab Meat Stuffed Shrimp

Mixing two different kinds of fish together is always a good idea. This crab-stuffed shrimp recipe will really impress any fish lovers you’re having over for dinner. 

It makes for a wonderful party appetizer, and once you make one batch, you’ll definitely need to make more as these will go in a matter of minutes. 

They also make a pretty good side dish for the beloved surf and surf! 

10. Creamy Thai Crab Meat Dip

This dip is ready in just 20 minutes, and is deliciously creamy and filled with wonderful Thai flavors and spices that will have you licking it from the bowl! 

It is made with coconut cream, fish sauce, crab meat, and egg. It is made over the stove to the egg can cook, and the result is a lovely, warm bowl of heaven! 

If you’re a serious fan of crab flavor, you can even use it as a dip for the crab egg rolls we listed earlier. 

11. Irish Crab Cakes

These crab cakes only have 20 calories in each one, making them a very healthy snack or appetizer. 

The crab meat is combined with heavy cream and mayo, along with mustard, dill, lemon zest, and green onion. 

Each dollop of crab mixture is laid on a slice of cucumber. This provides freshness, and extra crunch, and really makes it a low-calorie snack as opposed to using crackers. 

12. Crab Corollas

These creamy little parcels are the perfect appetizer for any occasion. Crispy phyllo dough creates little crunchy pockets for a creamy crab filling. 

The filling is made with crab meat, mayonnaise, chives, cucumber, and lemon. The result is a creamy yet refreshing filling that will really tickle your taste buds. 

13. Imitation Lobster Rolls

Lobster rolls are one of God’s wonderful creations, and it can be super frustrating when you can’t find fresh lobster meat. 

If this has happened to you before, then you should know that crab meat is the next best thing as it still has that meaty consistency and a very similar flavor. 

Simply mix the crab meat with mayo, onion, and spices. Then, grab some hot dog buns and lay this mixture inside along with some lettuce leaves to create a knock-off (but tasty) version of lobster rolls. 

If you’d like to make serve as appetizers, just find yourself some mini hog dog rolls! 

14. Seafood Enchiladas

While these seafood enchiladas use shrimp and scallops, you can easily replace one of them with crab, or add crab as well as the shrimp and scallops. 

Although this is a large dish, you can cut each enchilada into bite-sized pieces, creating your own little enchilada bites that are perfect for an appetizer. 

15. Cheesy Crab Pasta

This cheesy crab pasta in tomato sauce is warm and comforting and can be served in small portions as an appetizer. 

It is the perfect dish to warm you up on a cold winter’s day, and the combination of crab, tomato, and cheese makes for a delicious dish. 

16. Crab Poppers

These little crab poppers are bite-sized and perfect for serving as appetizers on any given occasion. 

They are made by mixing all ingredients together along with panko breadcrumbs, and then baking them in the oven until they are golden brown and crispy. 

A super simple and secret sauce that goes perfectly with them is a mix of mayonnaise and tomato sauce together. The result is a beautiful pink sauce that tastes amazing with all kinds of fish! 

Final Thoughts 

To conclude, crab is a great fish to use when it comes to making appetizers like these. It is very easy to cook and has a delicious flavor that pairs well with a variety of other components. 

All of these recipes are simple to put together, and won’t take much time out of your day. While many use imitation crab meat, it is always best to use the real thing, so head to your local fishmongers and find some fresh crab. 

We hope this article has given you inspiration on what to serve at your next dinner party! 

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