Oven-Baked Crab Legs with Butter Sauce
Oven-Baked Crab Legs with Butter Sauce is a luxurious yet easy seafood dish featuring sweet, tender crab legs baked with a rich, garlicky lemon-butter sauce. Perfect for special occasions or an indulgent weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 3 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
- 2 pounds crab legs (king or snow crab, thawed if frozen)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning (or 1/2 tsp paprika + pinch of cayenne)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
- Arrange crab legs on the baking sheet in a single layer. Crack them slightly with kitchen shears to allow the butter to penetrate.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in garlic, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Brush or pour the butter sauce generously over the crab legs.
- Cover the baking sheet with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes until heated through.
- For extra color, uncover and broil for 2–3 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot with lemon wedges and extra butter sauce on the side.
Notes
- Thaw crab legs completely before baking for even cooking.
- Add red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the butter for extra spice.
- Snow crab legs may need slightly less baking time than king crab.
- Wrap leftovers in foil with a bit of butter to reheat in the oven.
- Serve with garlic bread, corn on the cob, or roasted potatoes for a full meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 pound crab legs with butter
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
