Baked Crab Legs in Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe
This Baked Crab Legs in Garlic Butter Sauce recipe delivers tender, flavorful king crab legs bathed in a rich, garlicky butter sauce with a touch of Creole seasoning and fresh lemon juice. Perfect for a quick and elegant seafood meal, the crab legs are baked until warmed through and served with a vibrant herb garnish and lemon wedges for that extra zest.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Seafood
- 1 pound (450g) king crab legs
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1-2 teaspoons (4g-8g) Creole seasoning
- ½ tablespoon (7.5ml) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (3g) chopped chives or parsley
To Serve
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Thaw Crab Legs: Thaw the crab legs in the refrigerator overnight or for faster results, place them under cold running water for a few minutes until fully thawed.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the crab legs.
- Prepare Crab Legs: Using kitchen shears or scissors, cut the crab leg shells in half lengthwise so the flesh is exposed and more accessible for eating.
- Arrange Crab Legs: Place the split crab legs in an oven-safe pan or on a baking sheet, spreading them out evenly.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, and Creole seasoning. Microwave the mixture for about one minute to meld the flavors. Remove from microwave and stir in the lemon juice.
- Brush Sauce on Crab Legs: Generously brush the garlic butter mixture all over the crab legs, reserving some sauce for serving alongside.
- Bake Crab Legs: Place the crab legs in the hot oven for approximately 5 minutes or until heated through and fragrant.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle chopped chives or parsley over the crab legs, and serve immediately with the remaining garlic butter sauce and lemon wedges.
Notes
- For quick thawing, avoid using warm or hot water as it can affect crab texture.
- Kitchen shears are safer and easier than knives for cutting crab shells.
- Adjust Creole seasoning amount according to your spice preference.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the crab legs at optimal warmth and flavor.
- Lemon wedges brighten the flavor and complement the garlic butter sauce perfectly.
