This is how to cook crab legs, prepped and ready to eat in under 10 minutes. They’re perfect for date night-in or an easy celebratory dinner.
My love for crab runs deep. I have several crab recipes here on the blog, like my Dungeness crab, chilled corn and crab soup, and crab and shrimp seafood cobb salad. Ah, but King crab legs! They’re the cream of the crop, the top of the heap, and so easy to cook at home. One of the biggest questions is if it’s better to boil or bake crab legs? Since crab from the grocery store freezer is already flash-cooked, the problem with cooking it at home is just that—you’re cooking it twice! So instead of steaming, boiling, or baking it again to rubbery smithereens, we follow Food Network’s Alton Brown’s method to simply give it a warm-up. We cook crab legs tightly wrapped with a sprig of dill in damp paper towels and then plastic wrap. Then, it’s into the good old microwave to heat them just through. The result is tender, sweet crab meat ready for dipping in melted butter or cocktail sauce—perfect for a cozy date night-in or celebratory dinner with crab in hand.
In This Post
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This King crab legs recipe couldn’t be simpler. It’s made with just 4 ingredients and cooks in no time.
- Steaming King crab legs and serving it simply with melted butter and freshly squeezed lemon is the BEST way to let this sweet, tender, buttery crab meat shine.
- Steamed King crab legs make for an impressive dinner (with little effort), so it’s the perfect thing to cook for a special occasion meal.
What You Need to Cook Crab Legs at Home
When I say this is the easiest King crab legs recipe, I mean it. You only need 4 simple ingredients.
- King crab legs—When buying King crab legs, buy the freshest you can find or those that are flash-frozen. They should have a clean, salty smell, and not smell fishy. If you’re buying frozen crab legs, be sure there are no frost or ice crystals in the packaging (ice crystals indicate the crab legs were defrosted and refrozen, which means you aren’t getting the freshest or best-quality crab).
- Fresh dill—Dill sprigs steam with the crab legs to impart a subtle herbal flavor
- Butter—Melted butter is optional, but dipping your steamed King crab legs in melted butter is highly recommended (better yet if it’s a fancy European butter with a higher fat content, because fat=flavor)
- Lemons—Also optional, but highly recommended since that touch of brightness and acidity pairs so nicely with seafood and with crabs in particular
Find the complete recipe with measurements below
How to Shop for the Best Crab Legs
- Look for thick crab legs (bigger legs mean more meat, which also means you’re getting more for your money).
- The crab legs should be a healthy bright red-orange color, with shiny shells.
- The meat on the crab legs should be white not pallid or yellowed, with a mild, salty, fresh aroma, but not pungent.
How to Cook Crab Legs
- Cut the crab legs into two sections. Cut the crab legs in half at a joint. Wrap 3-4 sections in damp paper towels with 2 sprigs of fresh dill then wrap tightly in plastic wrap to make tight parcels.
- Microwave the crab. Place wrapped crab in the microwave 1 package at a time and cook for 2 minutes.
- Unwrap the crab. Remove and carefully unwrap, they’ll be steamy so be careful of the full-facial steam.
- Plate and serve. I like serving King crab legs simply, with melted butter, lemon wedges, and plenty of napkins. It’s truly the best way for this King crab to shine.
FAQ and Recipe Tips
- How long does it take to steam King crab? Because we’re making steamed crab legs slightly unconventionally, the cooking time is reduced dramatically. King crab legs steam in the microwave in just 2 minutes! It couldn’t be faster.
- Is it better to cook crab legs frozen or thawed? Yes, make sure your crab has thawed before cooking it.
- Be sure to cut the crab legs in half at joints so they fit comfortably in your microwave. You don’t want the legs touching the walls of the microwave as they cook. Plus, it makes them easier to wrap.
- Kitchen shears are your friend. Since the King crab legs have been steamed and thus the shells are softened, I use kitchen shears to open the crab legs rather than a crab cracker. Makes life so much easier!
- When it comes to serving, keep it simple. The lemon juice and melted butter and optional when enjoying your steamed crab legs, but highly recommended. If you have another favorite dipping sauce for crab legs, I’m all ears.
What to Serve With Steamed King Crab
- The BEST Creamy Coleslaw
- Easy Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Easy Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- The Best Buttery Parsley Potatoes
- Key Lime Pie
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
The Best Way to Cook Crab Legs
Ingredients
- 6 Alaskan king crab legs , thawed
- 4 sprigs fresh dill , for serving
- butter , melted, for serving
- lemon , cut into wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Cut the crab legs at the oints to fit into your microwave. Wrap 3 legs in damp paper towels with 2 sprigs of fresh dill and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
- Place the wrapped legs in the microwave 1 package at a time and cook for 2 minutes.
- Remove and carefully unwrap, they’ll be steamy so be careful of the full-facial steam.
- Serve and enjoy with melted butter and plenty of napkins.
Notes
- Since the legs have been steamed and thus the shells are softened, I use kitchen shears to open the crab legs rather than a crab cracker.
- recipe: Alton Brown
Nutrition
More Crab Recipes You’ll Love
- Dungeness Crab
- Hot Crab Dip
- Chilled Corn and Crab Soup
- Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados
- Crab Spaghetti with Lemon Gremolata
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Jackie Neveu
We’ve used AB’s methods for years, and it never fails. I don’t even bother to thaw them. Two long legs per packet, 2 minutes on high, and leave them wrapped until ready to eat. It keeps them nice and hot. Yum! Making them tonight for our anniversary.
Lesa Cote
Thank you for the wonderful food blog. As business ethics assignment help expert, i am really happy to discover this blog.
Lindsey
Made this last night, without the Dill. Thank you for posting, and you are right, by far the best way, and easiest way, to make Crab ! Turned out so well !
Miguel
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Leila
Those crab legs are beautiful! I just “pinned” them.
Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet
Everything looks fantastic!! Happy Valentine’s Day Heidi!
Lisa
I couldn’t stop looking at the photo of those gorgeous legs on TS. I could eat a dozen easily! Love your quickie nuke for them – I’ll have to use that method next time I pick some up :)
It’s seriously the easiest and quickest way to enjoy legs!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
I had no idea that you could just pop them, frozen ones, in the microwave. Really good to know! Your photos have made my crab craving go into overload. Great roundup and recipes.
Maria
The prettiest crab legs I have ever seen:) A dinner in is always better than a dinner out-especially on Valentine’s Day!
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme
You got me in the mood for these delicious crab legs! When we lived in Virginia we used to pick crab legs up often and make them at home. We haven’t had them in awhile but I am thinking these just might be what we have on Valentine’s Day now, so yummy!
haniela
What a delicious looking round up, and thank you so much for the mention. I seriously can’t pick the favorite. Thank you.
Sarah B.
Heidi- so sweet of you to give some lemon fire love. What a fun post!! I am dying for a little crab over here, looks so delish and bright!! Love to you!
Daydreamer Desserts
Love the round-up, thanks for the mention! Drooling over those crab legs…
Cookin' Canuck
Gorgeous photos! I totally agree that crab legs shouldn’t be relegated to restaurant-only meals. When I was a kid, my parents and I would drive down the coast from Vancouver to the Cannon Beach area in Oregon. One of my favorite rituals was visiting the local fishmonger, picking up whole Dungeness crabs for my dad and me (scallops for my crustacean-allergic mum), take them back to our condo and steam up the crabs for a feast, complete with drawn butter and bibs. I have to treat my kids to that sometime!
Yvette ~ Muy Bueno
YUM! I have been craving crab legs and this truly made my tummy growl!
Joanne
My family really wanted to eat several sea foods, Simply most crab. Delicious!
Tamara @jemofthesouth.com
Those crablegs looke delicious! The photo is amazing. That mocktail looks pretty yummy too. :-)
Cassie
I looooove simplicity. And I don’t have valentine’s day dinner planned. This sounds pretty much perfect. And the photos are GORGEOUS!
Bev Weidner
GOOOOD grief. Look at those legs. Absolutely gorgeous. We’re doing lobster and I’m already having 30 plus heart attacks. I might change my mind and get some LAIGS!
Denise
Gorgeous! I’m a big, big lover of crab legs. They may be my favorite food. Because I live in Holland, I only have them once in a while (when I’m in the US, I always have them way more often!). There’s something about that satisfaction after you cracked one open…
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Those are the prettiest crab legs! I have never cooked crab. Crazy but true. I wouldnt know where to begin but the microwave is one place I would have never thought…but love. I love my nuke box.
And those potatoes. TOO Cute!