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Crab Cakes with Imitation Crab Meat

Looking for the perfect crab cake recipe to serve your family? Look no further! These crab cakes made with imitation crab are absolutely delicious! They’re inexpensive and easy to make. If you’re looking for another yummy recipe, these crab tostadas are another great way to use imitation crab meat.

imitation crab crab cakes on a paper towel lined plate.

Crab cakes are a dish enjoyed by many. They were created in the Chesapeake Bay region of the United States.

If you’re looking for a delicious seafood dish, give crab cakes a try!

What are imitation crab cakes made of?

While there are many different recipes for crab cakes, the basic ingredients are usually the same. This list of ingredients will help you get started on making your very own crab cakes.

  • imitation crab (flake style)
  • celery (finely chopped)
  • minced onion
  • garlic powder
  • dried chives
  • old bay seasoning
  • black pepper
  • mayonnaise
  • egg
  • bread crumbs
  • olive oil

Don’t be afraid to experiment! Try adding different herbs or spices to the crab cake mixture to give them your own personal touch.

How do you get crab cakes to stick together?

Getting crab cakes to stick together is all about finding the right balance of crab meat to filler and binder. The perfect crab cake should have just enough filler to hold everything together while the egg and mayonnaise will act as a binder as well as keep the inside moist.

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How to make them

Shred the imitation crab and put it in a bowl.

shredded imitation crab in a glass bowl.

Next add the celery, minced onion, garlic powder, dried chives, Old Bay seasoning, black pepper, mayonnaise and egg.

a mixing bowl with imitation crab meat and seasonings.

Mix together the ingredients with your hands.

mixture for crab cakes.

Next slowly add in the bread crumbs while continuing to mix with your hand.

Your mixture should look something like the photo below.

crab cake ingredients in a bowl.

Form the mixture into crab cakes.

uncooked tortillas de jail on a cutting board.

What is the ideal method for cooking them?

I believe the best way to cook crab cakes is to pan-fry them. This method gives the crab cakes a crispy exterior while keeping the inside nice and moist.

Here is how to pan-fry them:

  • Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add a layer of olive oil to the skillet.
  • Once the oil is hot add 3-4 crab cakes to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.
  • Transfer them to a paper towel lined plate and repeat the above steps with the rest of the crab cakes adding more oil to the skillet as needed.
Pan-frying crab cakes.

This is what the crab cakes should look like on each side after cooking.

cooking crab cakes.

I like to place my crab cakes on a paper towel lined plate after cooking to absorb any excess oil.

imitation crab cakes on a paper towel lined plate.

The perfect imitation crab cakes

Imitation crab cakes are an easy and yummy recipe the whole family will enjoy!

They’re perfect for lunch or dinner. Serve them as is or with your favorite dipping sauce.

I hope you give this recipe a try and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments below and don’t forget to leave it a rating.

Thanks for visiting, see you soon!

tortitas de jaiba
tortitas de jaiba
3.65 from 14 votes
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Crab Cakes with Imitation Crab

Crab cakes with imitation crab are a delicious, easy and inexpensive meal the whole family will love!

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword crab cakes with imitation crab, imitation crab cakes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 545 kcal
Author Carissa

Ingredients

  • 1 lb imitation crab meat flake style
  • 1 celery stick finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 tsp minced onion
  • 3/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried chives
  • 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 2 tbs olive oil

Instructions

  1. Shred the imitation crab and put it in a bowl.

  2. Next add the celery, minced onion, garlic powder, dried chives, Old Bay seasoning, black pepper, mayonnaise and egg.

  3. Mix together the ingredients with your hands.

  4. Next slowly add in the bread crumbs while continuing to mix with your hand.

  5. Form the mixture into 8 equal crab cakes.

  6. Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.

  7. Add the olive oil to the skillet.

  8. Once the oil is hot add 3-4 crab cakes to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.

  9. Transfer them to a paper towel lined plate and repeat the above steps with the rest of the crab cakes adding more oil to the skillet as needed.

  10. Serve the crab cakes as is or with dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Crab Cakes with Imitation Crab
Amount Per Serving
Calories 545 Calories from Fat 360
% Daily Value*
Fat 40g62%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 20g
Monounsaturated Fat 13g
Cholesterol 71mg24%
Sodium 1022mg44%
Potassium 149mg4%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 1368IU27%
Vitamin C 14mg17%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Recipe Rating




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Andrew

Thursday 8th of December 2022

I made these today with imitation crab meat. I needed a gluten free version. I used gluten free breadcrumbs and added 1 tbs gluten free flour and an extra egg. I made them up this morning and put the formed patties on a tray in the fridge. I fried them up when it was dinner time. They were delicious. I served them with tartar sauce, and store bought coleslaw and potato salad. Best meal I've had in a while.

Carissa

Thursday 8th of December 2022

I’m so glad you enjoyed them. The way you served them sounds absolutely delicious!

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