Maryland Crab Cake Recipe

crab cake broken open to show large pieces of crab

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: authentic crab cakes, baked crab cakes, broiled crab cakes, crab cake recipe, easy crab cakes, homemade crab cakes, jumbo lump crab cakes, maryland crab cakes, Maryland style crab cakes

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 30

Servings: large cakes

Calories: 283kcal

Author: Chef Jessica Formicola

These Maryland crab cakes are made with jumbo lump crab meat, Old Bay, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and very little filler for an authentic homemade crab cake recipe that lets the crab shine.

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Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound jumbo lump BLUE crab meat , blotted
1 large egg , lightly beaten
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning , plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

Dab the 1 pound jumbo lump BLUE crab meat with paper towels to get out excess moisture. Try not to break apart any of the large crab meat lumps. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, stir together the 1 large egg , 1 cup Panko bread crumbs, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard until it forms a paste.
Add the crab meat, toss lightly using your fingers until just moist, again, trying to not break apart any crab meat lumps. If it isn't sticking, add more panko slowly until it binds. Carefully form 6-8 jumbo crab cakes or 16 crab balls. For crab cakes, it helps to use a standard 4 ounce ice cream scoop.
Chill the formed cakes for 20-30 minutes before cooking.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease. Place the crab cakes on baking sheet.
Preheat the broiler to high heat. Place 4-5 inches from heating element. Broil until lightly brown on top, approximately 7-8 minutes. Instructions for frying and baking are below in the notes.
Remove, transfer to serving plates using a spatula and then garnish with minced parsley (optional) and a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning. Serve with your choice of dipping sauces.
Have you tried our Maryland Crab Cakes? Make sure to come back and tell us how you liked them in the comments or star ratings.

Video

Notes

To Fry: Heat a thin layer of neutral oil in a skillet over medium heat. Gently add the crab cakes and cook for 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and heated through. Flip carefully with a spatula so they don’t fall apart.

To Bake: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the crab cakes on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until heated through and lightly golden. For more color, give them a quick broil for 1–2 minutes at the end.

Nutrition