Although serving whole crabs during a meal with friends or family is visually appealing, but cleanup can be a hassle. Fortunately, there are plenty of delicious recipes that only call for the meat. If you don’t want to deal with piles of cracked shells at the end of the meal, consider one of these tasty alternatives.

3 Crowd-Pleasing Crab Meat Recipes

Ceviche

Created in Peru, this chilled crab dish is now popular throughout the world. Start 16 ounces of crab meat, 1 1/2 cups of chopped cilantro, half of a chopped white onion, two diced tomatoes, a seedless cucumber, three limes, one tablespoon of ketchup, and a half-cup of tomato juice. Break up the crab meat pieces in a large bowl. Next, add juice from two limes as well as the tomatoes, onion, and chopped cucumber. Mix in the ketchup and juice from the third lime, then add salt to taste.

Baked Crab Dip

This simple dish is a popular appetizer for both fancy and casual gatherings. To make it, you’ll need one eight-ounce package of softened cream cheese, one cup of mayonnaise, a half-teaspoon of ground mustard, one pound of lump crab meat, and half-cup of shredded cheddar cheese. While waiting for the oven to heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, ground mustard, and crab meat in a medium bowl. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese starts to bubble. Allow the dish to cool slightly before serving.

Crab Cakes

Depending on the size, crab cakes can serve as a hearty appetizer or standalone meal. To make them, you’ll need one cup of seasoned breadcrumbs, two chopped green onions, a half-cup of chopped bell pepper, one large egg, a half-cup mayonnaise, one tablespoon lemon juice, a half-teaspoon of garlic powder, two containers of crab meat, and one tablespoon of butter. First, combine the breadcrumbs, green onions, red pepper, egg, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and garlic powder in a bowl. Next, fold in the crab meat. Create two-inch balls with the mixture and coat the outside of each with any leftover breadcrumbs. Cook the crab cakes in a skillet with oil set over medium heat on the stove. Cook each crab cake for three minutes per side. 

If you’re looking for fresh, flavorful seafood like crab, shrimp, and fish, then Billy’s Seafood in Bon Secour, AL, is a one-stop shop for high-quality goods. To learn more about the day’s selection, call (251) 949-6288. You can also visit the seafood market online for a complete list of available products, and like them on Facebook for inventory updates.