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Baked King Crab - King crab is everyone's favorite crustacean and this king crab recipe is baked with Sriracha lemon butter. The crab legs are so juicy, sweet, and perfect for the holidays and special occasions!
King Crab
I love Alaska king crab, especially the meaty, sweet and juicy king crab legs.
With the holiday season coming up, it’s perfect time to head to your nearest Costco and load up pounds of red king crab for Thanksgiving recipes or Christmas holiday parties.
I have the best king crab recipe for you, baked with Sriracha lemon butter. It’s so crazy delicious and mouthwatering you want it every day!
How To Cook King Crab
It’s super easy to make crab legs at home. Most of them are sold as crab legs; they are all pre-cooked and frozen.
All you need is a simple recipe that enhances the natural flavors of the crab. Most people will boil or steam them, and served with melted butter.
To me, boiling or steaming is not the best way to cook king crab because it dilutes the natural, sweet and briny flavors of the crab.
Baking in the oven at high heat brings out mouthwatering aroma of the crab. It also roast the crab meat, remove the extra water content in the frozen crab.
A simple Sriracha lemon butter brings out the natural briny and sweet flavors of the crab meat, while enhancing the flavors. You can also add them to seafood boil. There are just endless possibilities!
How To Make Baked King Crab
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (207°C). Cut the king crab legs into shorter segments using scissors. Then, cut the segments lengthwise to expose the crab meat. Alternatively, you can cut the top part of the shell to reveal the crab meat. Arrange the king crab legs on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent the crab from drying out.
Step 2. Meanwhile, prepare the Sriracha Lemon Butter by whipping the softened butter with a whisk. Add the Sriracha, lemon juice, and sugar, and whisk until well combined. Set aside.
Step 3. As soon as the crab is out of the oven, spoon the butter over the crab meat. Sprinkle with additional smoked paprika and garnish with chopped parsley or chives. Serve immediately.
Cooking Tips For Alaskan King Crab
- Frozen crabs are always salty so avoid using salt while cooking, boiling, steaming or baking the crab legs.
- Cut or chop the king crab legs into shorter pieces. This makes them easier to eat. The shorter segments are also great for dinner parties.
- For the best oven baked flavors, use a pair of scissors to cut open the top part of the shell as pictured above. This will expose the crab meat for oven roasting. It also allows the butter to sip inside the crab legs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both crabs are popular crustacean with sweet and delightful leg meat but there are distinct differences between the two species.
Snow crab is much smaller compared to king crab. Snow crab legs have a smooth and softer shell while the latter has a thicker and spiky shell.
You don’t really need a cracking tool to crack open the shells of snow crab as you can snap them open using your hands. Snow crab is also cheaper and less expensive.
Image Credit: Flying43 / Getty Images
This recipe is only 388 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
Serve this dish with steak for a homemade surf and turf. For a healthy meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Other Recipes You Might Like
Baked King Crab Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (1kg) king crab legs
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature and softened
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 3 dashes smoked paprika , and more for dusting
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley , and/or chives
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (207°C). Cut the king crab legs into shorter segments using scissors. Then, cut the segments lengthwise to expose the crab meat. Alternatively, you can cut the top part of the shell to reveal the crab meat. Arrange the king crab legs on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent the crab from drying out.
- Meanwhile, prepare the Sriracha Lemon Butter by whipping the softened butter with a whisk. Add the Sriracha, lemon juice, and sugar, and whisk until well combined. Set aside.
- As soon as the crab is out of the oven, spoon the butter over the crab meat. Sprinkle with additional smoked paprika and garnish with chopped parsley or chives. Serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Looks so good! Going to make it.
Hi Teresa, thanks for trying my recipe!
I actually respect a Chef that posts comments on their recipes. And actually responds to them!❤️❤️❤️ I have not made this recipe yet, but it is in my immediate future! Thank you for sharing
Thank you for your comment, Tonya. I try to reply to comments as best as I can, although sometimes a bit late as I do receive a lot of comments. Please do try this recipe. Happy cooking!
Just to be clear, are you heating the crab legs while frozen or are you thawing them first?
Hi JoAnn. Please thaw the crab legs first. You won’t be able to cut them open while they are still frozen.
Can you add some minced garlic?
Hi Catharine, yes, feel free to add garlic to the butter sauce.
Am I still able to use the shells in this recipe for a stock? Or no because they’re already roasted?
Hi John, yes, you can use the roasted crab shells to make shellfish stock. You can add shrimp/prawn shells too, along with other aromatics.
i remember about 15yrs at costco, these were $10 a lbs, to up to $80 a lb online.
I lay down a layer of jumbo shrimp and lemon slices then the king crab on top. Delish!
Awesome! :)
I noticed when reading the introduction to this recipe it stated that all king crab is precooked. I’m receiving fresh king crab tomorrow from a fish market. Is it going to be cooked when I get it? I was under the impression I would be cooking it. I’m confused.
If you have it raw, then cook it.
King crab is cooked and flash frozen immediately when it’s caught (usually on the boat). You only have to warm it.
Used non stick foil even over baked a couple minutes, turned out great had just butter and lemon for dipping but meat came out so good barely used it , (red king crab is what I cooked)