Easy Air Fryer Crab Cakes with Crab Cake Sauce Recipe

Air fryer crab cakes made with panko, shallot, mayonnaise, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. It also includes a remoulade crab cake sauce recipe to dip in!

Air fryer crab cakes are a popular seafood dish made from crab meat and various ingredients like breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and seasoning. These ingredients help bind the crab meat together into a patty and add flavor to the crab.

Most crab cake recipes are made with jumbo lump crab meat, which is large, meaty pieces from the body of the crab. Lump crab meat can come from various species of crabs, but the most commonly used is blue crab meat.

Here in the Midwest fresh lump crab meat can sometimes get quite costly or is not found very often at certain times of the year. In place of that, I frequently use canned crab claw meat. Sometimes that can be difficult to find as well and the only option is imitation crab. Imitation crab is made of processed white fish but can have a similar texture to crab. My husband never seems to mind the difference!

Ingredients

Crab Cakes

• Lump Crab Meat (If you are in the Midwest like me and have difficulty finding fresh lump crab meat at times, I’ve also used canned crab meat.)
• Panko Breadcrumbs
• Egg
• Shallot
• Mayonnaise
• Lemon Juice
• Dijon Mustard
• Salt
• Cayenne Pepper

Remoulade Sauce

• Mayonnaise
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Dijon Mustard
• Lemon Juice
• Paprika
• Minced Garlic
• Hot Sauce
• Smoked Paprika
• Cayenne Pepper

How to Make Air Fryer Crab Cakes

• In a medium bowl, mix together crab, panko bread crumbs, egg, shallot, mayonnaise, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and cayenne pepper.

• Divide the crab mixture into 2 or 4 equal balls, depending on how many you’d like or how big you want them to be. Form each ball into a ¾″-1″ patty.

• Spray air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Add the patties in a single layer. If your basket is not big enough you may need to cook in batches.
• Air fry crab cakes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 6-8 minutes for four small patties or 8-10 minutes for two big patties, flipping halfway.

How to Make Remoulade Sauce

• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Garnish with sprinkles of paprika and chopped chives. Serve as a dipping sauce for crab cakes.

What to Serve with Crab Cakes

Air fryer crab cakes are often served as an appetizer, but can also be a main course. They’re delicious when paired with sauces!

Here are some popular seafood sauces:

1. Tartar Sauce: A classic condiment made with mayonnaise, pickles, capers, lemon juice, and herbs like dill or parsley. It complements fried seafood, such as fish and shrimp.
2. Remoulade Sauce: A tangy and slightly spicy sauce typically made with mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, capers, herbs, and seasonings like paprika or cayenne pepper. It is commonly served with crab cakes and fried seafood.
3. Cocktail Sauce: A zesty sauce made with ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and sometimes hot sauce. It is often paired with chilled shrimp or other shellfish.
4. Lemon Butter Sauce: A simple yet flavorful sauce made by melting butter and combining it with lemon juice, garlic, and herbs like parsley or thyme. It works well with grilled or baked fish.
5. Garlic Butter Sauce: A rich and aromatic sauce made by melting butter with minced garlic, herbs like parsley or basil, and sometimes a squeeze of lemon juice. It is excellent for dipping seafood like lobster or crab.
6. Beurre Blanc: A French-style butter sauce made by reducing white wine, vinegar, and shallots, then whisking in butter until smooth and velvety. It pairs well with delicate white fish or scallops.
7. Garlic Aioli: A creamy sauce made with garlic, mayonnaise, olive oil, and lemon juice. It can be seasoned with herbs, spices, or even roasted red peppers. Aioli is versatile and goes well with various seafood dishes.
8. Chimichurri: A vibrant and herby sauce from Argentina, typically made with fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, shallot, olive oil, and spices. It adds a fresh and tangy flavor to grilled seafood like shrimp or fish.

How Long Do Crab Cakes Last

If you have freshly made crab cakes, they should be refrigerated and consumed within 1-2 days for best quality.

To store homemade crab cakes, place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Store them in the refrigerator.

If you have not made the crab cakes and only have the crab cake mixture, place it in an airtight container and cook it within 24 hours.

How to Reheat a Crab Cake in the Air Fryer

Reheating in the air fryer is easy, doesn’t require heating a whole oven, and gets crisper than the microwave.

To reheat leftover crab cakes in the air fryer follow these directions:

• Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
• Place the crab cakes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
• Cook at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-8 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time, until they are heated through and crispy again.

To reheat a frozen crab cake in air fryer follow these directions:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for a few minutes.
2. Remove the frozen crab cake from its packaging and place it in the air fryer basket. It’s not necessary to thaw the crab cake before reheating.
3. Lightly spray the crab cake with cooking oil to help it crisp up.
4. Cook the crab cake in the air fryer for about 10-12 minutes, flipping it halfway through the cooking time.
5. Check for doneness by ensuring that the crab cake is heated through and the exterior is crispy and golden brown.

Recommended Recipes

• Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Crusted Salmon
• Air Fryer Hooter’s Buffalo Shrimp
• Air Fryer Salmon Filets
• Lobster Rolls
• Shrimp in Garlic Wine Sauce