Baked King Crab Legs

Baked king crab legs may sound fancy, but it’s super easy to cook! All you need is crab legs, butter, garlic, and old bay seasoning! Just a few ingredients to make this delicious recipe.

The best part about this recipe is that it’s low-carb, keto-friendly, and can be served as an appetizer or main course. It also cooks in just 17-20 minutes and requires minimal ingredients. More delicious crab recipes you might enjoy are this crab imperial, air fryer crab bites, and crab rangoons.

INGREDIENT NOTES

SEE THE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR INGREDIENT QUANTITIES AND INSTRUCTIONS.

• Crab Legs – Although I used king crab legs, feel free to use snow crab legs. Just keep in mind that snow crab legs are a lot thinner than king crab legs and will cook a lot quicker.
• Old Bay Seasoning – Adds great flavor! If you don’t have it on hand, use the spices of your choice.
• Butter – Use salted butter for best results. If you only have unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
• Garlic – I always say that if a recipe calls for less than 5 ingredients, use fresh garlic! Avoid store-bought minced garlic. If you don’t have fresh garlic on hand, use 1-2 teaspoons of granulated garlic.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SNOW CRAB LEGS AND KING CRAB LEGS?

King crab legs are generally larger and thicker than snow crab legs, with a single leg sometimes weighing as much as a pound or more. Snow crab legs are smaller and thinner, with an average weight of about 4-8 ounces per leg. Also, snow crab legs are usually sold in clusters while king crab legs are sold individually.

King crab legs have a firm, meaty texture, while snow crab legs are more delicate and tender. King crab legs are also much more expensive than snow crab legs, so use whatever your budget allows.

HOW DO I CUT THE CRAB LEGS OPEN?

I recommend using kitchen shears to cut them open.

1. First, rinse the king crab legs under cold running water to remove any debris or dirt.
2. Hold the leg firmly with one hand using a towel and use the kitchen shears to cut lengthwise along the shell on both sides to expose the crab meat. Remove the top shell.

TOP TIPS

• Don’t overbake the crab legs otherwise, they will dry out.
• Brush the crab legs with a generous amount of garlic butter and season them with old bay seasoning for maximum flavor!
• Serve with lemon, melted butter, or remoulade sauce.

STORAGE & REHEATING

Although I highly recommend enjoying these immediately after cooking, feel free to place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat for a few seconds in the microwave but keep in mind that reheating them will tend to overcook them and dry them out.

Tried these baked king crab legs? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on Facebook or Pinterest!