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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!
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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!
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
Snow Crab Vs. King Crab
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.
How Many Calories per Serving?
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.
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please share your photo in the Comments section and consider giving it a 5-star rating. I can’t wait to see your creations! Additionally, feel free to explore my other recipes, such as Dungeness Crab, Crawfish Boil, and Shrimp Boil next. Happy cooking!
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 oven to 400°F (207°C).
- Cut the king crab legs into shorter segments using a pair of scissors. Cut the crab leg segments lengthwise to expose the crab meat. Alternatively, you can also cut the top part of the shell to expose the crab meat.
- Arrange the king crab legs in a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil to avoid drying out the crab.
- In the meantime, make the Sriracha Lemon Butter by whipping the softened butter with a whisk. Add the Sriracha, lemon juice and sugar, whisk to combine well. Set aside.
- As soon as the crab is out of the oven, spoon the butter over the crab meat. Dust with more smoked paprika and garnish with chopped parsley and/or chives. Serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How in the world did you get the lemon juice to mix in harmony with the room temp butter??
Use a whisk, as indicated in the recipe.
Are these cooked frozen???
No, do not cook frozen or the texture of the king crab will not be good.
I made this recipe for dinner and served it over garlic, buttered linguine, garlic bread and a side salad! My family and I were living our best life. Thanks so much for the recipe! It’s truly a treat!
Hi Kelsi, wow, I want your dinner. It sounds like the best life, you’re right. Yum. Buttered linguine sounds like a dream, with garlic bread!! Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
JUST FOUND YOUR WEB SITE AND THESE KING CRAB LEGS LOOK AMAZING AND I AM SALVATING ALREADY. WE’RE BIG SEAFOOD EATERS, BUT LIVE IN A SMALLER COMMUNITY, SO OFF TO LAS VEGAS TO THE SUPERMARKET FOR FRESH SEAFOOD. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS RECEIPE, AND CAN’T WAIT FOR MORE TO COME. WE WILL LET YOU IN ON OUR MEAL AS SOON AS WE CAN, ALONG WITH A RATING.
Hi Sioux, thanks so much for your comment, I love it. Please try this recipe. I also have another crab legs recipe here: https://rasamalaysia.com/garlic-lemon-butter-crab-legs/
Do you let the king crabs thaw before putting in oven??
Yes!
Can you use any type of crablegs?
You can use snow crab legs.
I noticed your Garlic Lemon Butter crab only bakes for 5 minutes. Why is there such a difference in baking times 20 min @ 400 vs 5 min @ 375?
Hi Bobi, for this baked king crab recipe, I am baking longer to get the crab shell toasted and hence with amazing aroma. For Garlic Lemon Butter Crab, it was meant to just heat up the crab. You can bake for 5 minutes if you don’t want the aroma of the crab shells.
What do you use to slice open the crab leg once you have it cut in small lengths?
Scissors.
Looks delicious. Can these be served on a cold tray? Also do you have to defrost before baking?
Thanks
Hi Shelley, I won’t serve them on cold tray because they are great when hot off the oven. If the crab legs are frozen then yes you have to defrost.
I’m a little confused as to whether the crab is pre-cooked or not. Are you baking cooked or raw crab?
The crab legs in the United States are all pre-cooked.
How can you defrost before cooking if you I do not have time do it overnight in fridge? P
the photos are actually very tempting and look so delicious. I’m actually staring at the photos and not the recipe :)
Hi Khairil, yes please do try the recipes, they are very very good.
Yum. This sounds delicious. I’ve been looking for something a bit different for a Christmas lunch appetiser. Looks like I’ve found it. And of course I’ll need to trial it first hahahaha.
Hi Lynn, sounds good, always good to have a trial, especially if it involves king crab. ;)