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This Baltimore crab cakes recipe is all about the crab meat as it’s loaded with jumbo lump crab meat and can be made in under 15 minutes.
In case you didn’t know, my wife and I currently live in Maryland. It seems like the main thing Maryland is known for is crab. I’ll admit, that was pretty much the only thing I associated with the state before I moved here… well that and their crazy flag!
As I was thinking of recipes to share on the blog, I realized one meal I had never made was crab cakes. I’ve had plenty out and around the Baltimore area, but just never made any at home. So today was long overdue in sharing these Baltimore crab cakes.
I will preface by saying I’ve been told by local Marylanders that this recipe is not a “traditional” Maryland crab cake, which you broil. Mine is pan-fried but you are welcome to broil yours for about 10 minutes. But at the end of the day it’s fresh Maryland crab and made in Maryland!
This recipe is actually a combination of Lauren’s mom and my dad’s own recipes. We’ve had both and liked them so we thought we’d take the best of each. I prefer a little less mayonnaise than most crab cakes and like some heat, so a little more Old Bay seasoning.
The great thing about these Baltimore crab cakes is they can be prepared in about 10 minutes. Now the not so great thing is if you want the legit good crab cakes, you have to get jumbo lump crab meat which can be a bit pricy. Luckily for us, we have a well-known seafood market, Gibby’s, within walking distance of our house. What I love about this crab cakes recipe is that you really can customize it to your preference.
What Ingredients are in this Baltimore Crab Cakes Recipe?
- Plain breadcrumbs
- Egg
- Mayonnaise
- Produce – sweet onion, celery, parsley
- Yellow mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Old Bay seasoning
- Black pepper
- Hot sauce
- Crabmeat
- Unsalted butter
How to Make Baltimore Crab Cakes
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In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients except the crabmeat and butter.
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Once mixed, gently fold in the crabmeat.
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Shape into 8 crab cakes. Put in refrigerator and let chill for one hour.
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Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook crab cakes for 3-5 minutes until light brown on the bottom.
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Flip and cook another 3 minutes.
Do I Have to Use Jumbo Lump Crabmeat?
To put it bluntly, yes. If you want a legit crab cake, you need to use jumbo lump crabmeat. All the other ingredients are there to complement the crab.
Tips for Tasty Baltimore Crab Cakes
- Use a good quality jump lump crabmeat as it is all about the crab.
- Stir all the ingredients except the crab first as you want to mix the crab as little as possible.
- Chill the crabs cakes for an hour so they don’t break apart.
- Use an ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup so you get consistently sized crab cakes.
Other Seafood Recipes
- Caribbean Shrimp Tacos
- Blackened Cod
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
- Chimichurri Salmon
- Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp
If you’ve tried these Baltimore Crab Cakes or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I’m up to.
Baltimore Crab Cakes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sweet onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp celery, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp hot sauce
- 1 lb jumbo lump crabmeat
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients except the crabmeat and butter. Once mixed, gently fold in the crabmeat and shape into 8 crab cakes. Put in refrigerator and let chill for one hour.
- Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook crab cakes for 3-5 minutes until light brown on the bottom and then flip and cook another 3 minutes.
- Serve immediately or throw in oven at 200°F to keep warm and serve when ready.
Notes
- Use a good quality jump lump crabmeat as it is all about the crab.
- Stir all the ingredients except the crab first as you want to mix the crab as little as possible.
- Chill the crabs cakes for an hour so they don't break apart.
- Use an ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup so you get consistently sized crab cakes.
Not much better than crab cakes!