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Air fryer frozen crab cakes are a delicious appetizer or snack, and they are done in about 10 minutes total time! Making them from frozen, you get all of the flavor and crispness, without the oil from deep frying.
A typical crab cake is a versatile dish! You can serve them as a side dish at a dinner party, or top green salads for a delicious meal. The tender, but crispy texture is delicious when you crumble the crab cakes into a soup, or sandwich.
Table of Contents
WHY I LOVE THIS RECIPE
When you air fry frozen crab cakes, you don’t have to wait for them to thaw. You just need a few minutes, and you can make this frozen food into a party appetizer or perfect snack ready to eat. Only a couple of ingredients are needed to make these frozen crab cakes!
You can find these delicious crab cakes in the freezer aisle or seafood counter at your local supermarket. Because they are already made, they are already made and cook quickly, with no prep time, which is why it makes them one of my favorite recipes to grab on busy weeknights.
Looking for more easy frozen seafood ideas? Try these easy frozen seafood recipes, all made in the air fryer! Air fryer frozen salmon, air fryer frozen shrimp, air fryer frozen popcorn shrimp, or these air fryer frozen fish sticks.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 package of frozen crab cakes- 2-4 frozen crab cakes
- Cooking spray-oil mister or olive oil spray
Optional: Old Bay Seasoning
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Air Fryer-I make this recipe in my Cosori air fryer. Just keep in mind, depending on your air fryer, size and wattages, actual cooking time may need to be adjusted 1-2 minutes extra time.
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
STEP 2
Place the frozen crab cakes in the air fryer basket, without stacking or overlapping.
STEP 3
Air fry crab cakes for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and crispy on the outside and heated through on the inside.
STEP 4
Serve with your favorite sauce such as tartar sauce, hot sauce, a pinch of lemon juice, or cocktail sauce.
EXPERT TIPS
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before putting in the crab cakes to ensure even cooking.
- If you want a crisper exterior, try spraying the top of the frozen crab cakes with oil before cooking them in the air fryer.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice and a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning for extra flavor. Serve with a lemon wedge, or over a butter lettuce salad.
- Check on your crab cakes every 5 minutes or so to make sure they’re not getting overcooked.
Are you new to air fryers? If you are, we have a great article about What is an Air Fryer. It talks about what you can make, how to use it, and more.
Looking for the BEST accessories to use with your air fryer? We’ve put together this list of our favorite Air Fryer Accessories.
VARIATIONS
- Once they are done air frying, you can sprinkle extra seasonings, or you can crumble into a sandwich, or onto a salad bowl.
- Add Dijon mustard, chopped green onions, kosher salt and pepper to the tops of the crab cakes before serving.
STORING AND REHEATING
Storing leftover crab cakes in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, place the crab cakes in air fryer without overlapping them, and air fryer for about 3-5 minutes cook time, until they are warm and crispy. You can also reheat crab cakes in the oven or microwave if desired.
FAQS
The air fryer is such a versatile kitchen appliance, it can make foods strait from the freezer with no need to thaw first. If you do thaw them, cooking time will be shortened by a few minutes.
Yes, you can! I like pre-made crab cakes because they save time. But, if you have lump crab meat or imitation crab meat, eggs, mayonnaise, and breadcrumbs, you can easily make homemade crab cakes. Just follow the instructions for these air fryer crab cakes.
MORE AIR FRYER SEAFOOD RECIPES
I love making these frozen crab cakes! They are perfect when I want a quick seafood snack or side dish. And, they are so easy straight from the freezer!
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Air Fryer Frozen Crab Cakes
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 frozen crab cakes
- olive oil spray
Optional:
- 1/2 teaspoon old bay seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
- Place the frozen crab cakes in the air fryer basket, without stacking or overlapping.
- Air fry crab cakes for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and crispy on the outside and heated through on the inside.
- Serve with your favorite sauce such as tartar sauce, hot sauce, a pinch of lemon juice, or cocktail sauce.
Notes
- Make sure to preheat your air fryer before putting in the crab cakes to ensure even cooking.
- If you want a crisper exterior, try spraying the top of the frozen crab cakes with oil before cooking them in the air fryer.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice and a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning for extra flavor. Serve with a lemon wedge, or over a butter lettuce salad.
- Check on your crab cakes every 5 minutes or so to make sure they’re not getting overcooked.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
