Crab Balls are a delicious, one bite seafood appetizer that everyone is sure to love. Our crab balls are baked, not fried, and they couldn’t be easier to make. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and your friends and family are sure to be impressed!
Why We Love These Crab Balls
This crab ball recipe is a crowd-pleaser for many reasons. First, it’s incredibly easy to make, requiring just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time. Second, they are a beautiful, seafood appetizer that looks stunning on your table.
And finally, we chose to bake these crab balls instead of frying them, and they are equally delicious. A generous coating of melted butter is brushed on top before baking and they come out perfect every time.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound crab meat (not lump)
- 1/2 cup finely diced bell peppers
- 1/2 cup finely diced onions
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 3/4 cup cracker crumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- Fresh black pepper to taste
How To Make Crab Balls
- Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and fold together gently with a spatula until they are combined. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Form the mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Brush the crab balls with melted butter and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Tips For Best Results:
- Make sure to pick through the crab meat before using. There are often small pieces of shells left behind that you’ll want to remove before making the crab balls.
- Use claw meat or “special” crab meat instead of lump crab meat. There’s no need to spend the extra money on lump crab meat for these seafood appetizers, and actually the smaller texture of claw meat or special crab meat is preferred for allowing the crab balls to hold their shape.
- Chill the crab meat mixture at least 30 minutes to allow the cracker crumbs to absorb any excess liquid in the filling. This step also allows the flavors to blend together for a better tasting crab ball. 30 minutes is fine, but a couple of hours is even better if you have the time.
- Taste the seasoning before adding the egg to make sure the spices are to your liking. Adjust with more salt, pepper or Old Bay seasoning if needed.
Conclusion
If you’re a seafood lover or just looking for a new and exciting appetizer to add to your menu, this crab ball recipe is a must-try. With its delicious flavor, beautiful presentation, and easy preparation, it’s a dish that is sure to become a favorite among your friends and family.
Looking For More Crab Recipes?
- Perfect Crab Cakes
- Crab Puffs
- Tex-Mex Crab Dip
- Crab Salad Appetizers (low carb recipe)
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Hot Crab Dip
Crab Balls
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
These Crab Balls are a delicious, one-bite appetizer that’s sure to be a party favorite! Our crab balls are baked, not fried, and they couldn’t be easier to make!
Ingredients
- 1 pound crab meat – claw meat or “special”, not lump. See post for more detail
- 1/2 cup finely diced peppers
- 1/2 cup finely diced onions
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 3/4 cup cracker crumbs (e.g., Ritz, Townhouse or any light, buttery cracker)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- Fresh black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients (except the melted butter) to a large bowl and fold together with a spatula until combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Form the mixture into ball about the size of a golf ball and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Brush the tops of the crab balls with melted butter and then bake for 15 minutes.
- Serve with desired dipping sauce, such as remoulade, tarter sauce or an aioli.
Recipe Notes
Store: Store leftover crab balls in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Reheat crab balls in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Freeze: Allow the crab balls to cool down completely. Place into a freezer bag and lay flat in your freeze until frozen through. Bake the crab balls from frozen at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: mantitlement, recipes with crab meat, crab recipes, crab balls, seafood recipes, easy appetizers