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square image of snow crab legs on a platter with lemon wedges and bowl of clarified butter
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Snow Crab Legs Recipe

Learn how to cook snow crab legs by boiling, steaming, or baking for an easy seafood dinner with butter, lemon, and Old Bay.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 162kcal
Author Julie Kotzbach

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

For Boiling

  • Fill a large pot half full with water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning and return to boiling.
    salt being added to a pot with hot water and Old Bar seasoning
  • While the water comes to a boil, place 1/4 cup unsalted butter in a small saucepan to melt over medium-low heat. Once the butter starts to foam, after about 1 minute, remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes while the crab cooks. Use a spoon to remove the milk solids floating on top of the butter. Pour clarified butter into a small bowl.
    milk solids being spooned out of a pot of butter to clarify it
  • Add 1 pound snow crab legs to the pot of boiling water, then reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes until fragrant.
    snow crab legs in a pot of hot seasoned water
  • Remove crab from the pot and serve immediately. I sprinkle a little more Old Bay over the crab and serve it with lemon wedges and melted butter.
    boiled snow crab leg cluster being lifted from a pot of seasoned water by tongs

For Steaming

  • Add a few inches of water to a large pot and bring it to a simmer.
  • Place the crab legs in a steamer basket over the water. Cover and steam for about 6 minutes, or until hot.
  • Serve with melted butter and lemon wedges.

For Baking

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Arrange the crab legs on a high-sided baking sheet in a single layer. Add hot water to the pan until it comes about 1/8 inch up the side, then cover tightly with foil.
  • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until heated through.
  • Alternate baking method: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Wrap 4 crab leg clusters in heavy-duty foil and bake for 15 minutes if thawed or 25 minutes if frozen.

Notes

  • Most snow crab legs sold in stores are already cooked and frozen. 
  • Thaw crab legs overnight in the refrigerator for the quickest, most even reheating.
  • Nutrition will vary depending on how much butter you serve with the crab.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5 pound | Calories: 162 kcal | Carbohydrates: 3 g | Protein: 21 g | Fat: 2 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 153 mg | Sodium: 3684 mg | Potassium: 28 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 0.2 g | Vitamin A: 105 IU | Vitamin C: 0.5 mg | Calcium: 42 mg | Iron: 1 mg