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These air fryer crab bites are made with lump crab meat and very little filling! They cook in under 10 minutes and are perfect for holiday parties or a busy weeknight!
If you love crab cakes, then you’re going to love these crab bites. The only difference is that these are smaller, cook a lot quicker, and are way easier to prepare.
Ingredient Notes
- Crab – I highly recommend using canned lump crab meat found in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store or fish market. Avoid imitation crab meat.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – It adds crunch and helps the crab bites hold it’s shape. If you only have regular breadcrumbs, make sure they’re not seasoned otherwise the crab bites can turn out too salty.
- Lemon – I like to add a pinch of lemon zest and the juice of 1/2 a lemon but you can use the entire lemon if you wish.
- Mustard – Although I prefer Dijon mustard for this recipe, any mustard will work.
- Mayo – I highly recommend using full-fat Hellman’s mayo.
- Old Bay Seasoning – A must! It adds lots of flavor.
Top Tips For The Perfect Crab Bites
- Make sure to grease the air fryer basket with nonstick spray otherwise the crab bites will stick.
- Serve with tartar sauce or remoulade sauce.
- Refrigerate the crab meat mixture for at least 20 minutes, this will help them set. If after 20 minutes, you’re still having trouble forming the crab bites, add more panko breadcrumbs.
- The second the crab bites come out of the air fryer, squeeze a little bit of lemon juice over them.
- If you can only find jumbo crab meat, break up the meat a little bit otherwise the crab bites won’t hold together.
Can I Bake These Instead?
Yes, of course. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees f. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the crab bites on the baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. You can also fry them in a skillet with oil for 2-3 minutes on each side.
How Many Crab Bites Does This Recipe Make?
This recipe makes about 16 small crab bites.
Storage
Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To reheat, simply pop them in the air fryer at 400 degrees F. for 2-3 minutes.
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Air Fryer Crab Bites
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb lump crab meat
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ⅛ teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley , finely chopped
- serve with remoulade sauce , optional
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients except for the crab and panko breadcrumbs to a large bowl and mix until well combined.
- Gently fold in the crab and breadcrumbs being careful not to break up the crab meat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray and shape the crab bites into golf-sized balls. I like to use a mini ice cream scoop.
- Place the crab bites in the air fryer basket and cook for 8 minutes at 400 degrees F. Don't overcrowd the air fryer, work in batches if you have to. Use a spatula to gently remove the cooked crab bites out of the air fryer.
- Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to grease the air fryer basket with nonstick spray otherwise the crab bites will stick.
- Refrigerate the crab meat mixture for at least 20 minutes, this will help them set. If after 20 minutes, you’re still having trouble forming the crab bites, add more panko breadcrumbs.
- The second the crab bites come out of the air fryer, squeeze a little bit of lemon juice over them.
- If you can only find jumbo crab meat, break up the meat a little bit otherwise the crab bites won’t hold together.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
