These Crab Balls are a crowd-pleaser that disappears at parties faster than you can say “Old Bay!” They have the perfect mix of creaminess and crabby flavor, and they’re 100% guaranteed to impress guests.
What Goes Into It
The secret to crab balls that taste like they came straight from Maryland is all in the seasonings. These will have everyone feeling like they’re at a crab house on the Eastern Shore. A full list of ingredients with measurements is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Mayonnaise – This condiment keeps the mixture moist and creamy. Use full-fat mayo for the richest results — or make your own mayo if you have a few extra minutes.
- Worcestershire Sauce – This sauce adds savory flavor and a punch of umami.
- Dijon Mustard – Dijon gives the crab balls just a touch of tanginess. It also helps bind everything together.
- Old Bay Seasoning – Crab without Old Bay is basically a crime! In all seriousness, though, this is the key to achieving that authentic Maryland-style flavor.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – Citrus is always a perfect pairing with seafood. It brightens everything up and adds a little zing.
- Seasoned Bread Crumbs – These help the balls hold their shape and add a little texture. Remember, these are crab balls, not crab cakes, so they’ll be a bit more bready.
- Large Egg – Use an egg to bind everything together and add a little moisture.
- Lump Blue Crab Meat or a Blend – Using real lump crab gives these balls that sweet, delicate flavor and juicy texture. If you want to save a little money, you can also use a blend. Whatever you do, be gentle when handling it so the lumps don’t fall apart.
- Unsalted Butter – Brushing them with melted butter at the end gives them an added touch of rich flavor.
This is How We Do It
Making these crab balls is super simple — they come together fast and bake up beautifully!
- Mix the base. Add the wet ingredients and the breadcrumbs to a medium-sized bowl and mix together until the mixture reaches a pasty consistency. Add more mayo as necessary.
- Fold in the crab. Add the crab meat and carefully fold it into the mixture.
- Scoop the mixture. Portion the crab mix into evenly sized balls with a cookie scoop and arrange them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake and broil. Bake them until they’re set and then give them a quick broil to get a golden brown, slightly crisped top.
- Baste with butter. Brush the warm crab balls with melted butter right after baking.
- Serve with sauce. Whether it’s tartar, remoulade, cocktail sauce, or spicy aioli, a good dipping sauce makes these even better.
5S Philosophy 👩🏻🍳
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- Salt – The Old Bay and Worcestershire both add all of the saltiness you need!
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- Seasoning – Old Bay is doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to seasoning — it gives the crab balls their signature flavor. Dijon and Worcestershire add a little extra kick.
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- Sauces – These are perfect for dunking in sauces. In addition to the above options, you can also try crab cake sauce, Bang Bang sauce, or lemon caper sauce.
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- Swaps – If you don’t have fresh lemon juice, bottled will work instead. You can also substitute whole grain mustard for the Dijon for a different texture. And JO Seasoning is an easy swap for Old Bay.
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- Senses – The texture is crisp on the outside, tender in the middle, and they’re packed with juicy, sweet crab flavor. Plus, the smell will transform your kitchen into a coastal crab shack, in the best way.
What Completes the Meal
These crab balls work perfectly as an appetizer, but you can serve them as a main dish, too. Try sides like creamy coleslaw, crispy fries, or hushpuppies.
For a light meal, you can also serve these over some greens. Make a simple salad or jazz things up with a wedge salad.
And if you want to make them part of a whole seafood spread, you can do that, too. Add some shrimp cocktail, lobster rolls, and a big pot of steamed mussels to round things out.
Storage and Freezing
You can mix and shape the crab balls up to a day in advance. Just cover the tray and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.
How to Store
Leftover crab balls will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the oven or an air fryer so they crisp up again. Avoid the microwave, if possible — it won’t be the same!
Can I Freeze Crab Balls?
Freeze uncooked crab balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can bake them from frozen — just add a few extra minutes to the cook time.
What You Need to Know
Make sure to use enough binding ingredients like egg and mayo, and gently fold the crab in so the mix stays together. If it’s too dry, add a little more mayo. The breadcrumbs should help them stay together, too.
Yes! The air fryer gives them a crispy exterior without having to heat up the oven. Just avoid overcrowding the basket — you may have to cook them in batches.
Lump blue crab is the best. It’s sweet and tender, and it holds up perfectly in the balls. You can also mix in claw meat to save a little money, though.
More Appetizers and Snacks
If you’re looking for ways to round out a spread for your next party, you’re in luck! We have all the recipes you need for starters that are bound to wow your guests.
Crab Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 pounds lump blue crab meat or a blend
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs, and 1 large egg. Stir until a paste forms. If it is more like dough, add more mayonnaise until it is a paste.
- Gently, fold in the 2 pounds lump blue crab meat or a blend, being gentle to not break apart the biggest pieces.
- Using a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out the balls to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then put on broil for 1 minute to get nicely browned tops.
- Remove and baste with melted 2 tablespoons unsalted butter.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
