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Easy Baked Snow Crab Legs with Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe

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4.1 from 14 reviews

This Easy Baked Snow Crab Legs recipe features succulent crab legs baked to perfection with a rich garlic butter sauce infused with lemon zest, Cajun seasoning, and fresh parsley. A quick and flavorful seafood dish ideal for a special dinner or entertaining guests.

  • Total Time: 20-25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Garlic Butter Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (salt-free preferred)
  • 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Zest of 1 medium lemon
  • Juice of 1 medium lemon

Crab

  • 2 pounds snow crab legs

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the crab legs evenly.
  2. Make Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter with olive oil. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to let it brown. Stir in the minced parsley, kosher salt, black pepper, and Cajun seasoning until well combined.
  3. Add Lemon: Stir in the lemon zest first, then add the fresh lemon juice. Remove the saucepan from the heat to preserve the bright citrus flavor.
  4. Prepare Crab Legs: Arrange the snow crab legs in a 9x13-inch casserole or baking dish in a single layer. Pour the prepared garlic butter sauce evenly over the crab legs, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
  5. Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes if the crab legs are fresh or thawed, or 20-25 minutes if they are frozen and not thawed, until the crab is heated through and reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
  6. Baste and Serve: Carefully remove the foil after baking. Baste the crab legs one more time with the butter sauce that has collected at the bottom of the dish. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and the remaining garlic butter sauce on the side for dipping.
  7. How to Open Crab Legs: To extract the crab meat, break the crab leg at the joint with your hands. Insert a fork with the pointed end down into the opening and gently pull the meat out. If the meat is stubborn, wiggle or rotate the fork slightly. Dip the meat into the garlic butter sauce and enjoy!

Notes

  • For best results, thaw frozen crab legs overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
  • If Cajun seasoning contains salt or you use salted butter, adjust the kosher salt accordingly.
  • Do not overcook the garlic in the butter sauce to avoid bitterness; just cook until fragrant.
  • You can serve this dish with crusty bread or steamed vegetables to complement the flavors.
  • Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest taste.
  • Author: Amelia
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American Seafood

Find it online: https://recipesvibe.com/easy-baked-snow-crab-legs-with-garlic-butter-sauce-recipe/