Creamy Crab Salad
Perfect for lunch or a light flavorful dinner, this Creamy Crab Salad recipe is an absolute must-try. It is easy to make and loaded with flavor. You can serve this crab salad as a dip with crackers or piled high on a toasted bun. Either way, you are in for the ultimate sandwich recipe. It’s bright, refreshing and flavorful.
I like to enjoy my crab salad in a variety of ways. I’ve included some of those variations below. However, this crab salad is so versatile it’s one of those recipes that’s nice to have on hand. Mix it together for impromptu gatherings, picnics or cookouts. I can guarantee everyone will love this dish!
If you love easy sandwich recipes, try my Torn Sandwich Salad or my Caprese Grilled Cheese.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Versatile. You can enjoy this recipe in a variety of ways. From sandwiches and salad to enjoying as a dip with crackers.
- Satisfying. This recipe is made from simple yet satisfying ingredients.
- Affordable. With real crab meat being so expensive, this imitation crab is a great and affordable alternative.
Recipe Ingredients
- Crab Meat – you’ll need imitation crab meat for this recipe. Flake style is best.
- Vegetables – This recipe calls for minced jalapeno, diced shallots, and diced celery.
- Dressing – Combine mayonnaise, light sour cream, lemon juice (fresh squeezed), dill, kosher salt and cracked black pepper. For a hint of spice try adding a few dashes of Tabasco hot sauce.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Use flake style crab. For this creamy crab salad recipe, I used imitation crab. I like using the imitation crab because it is easy to work with and loaded with flavor. My local grocer offers flake style and leg style imitation crab. I suggest using the flake style, but if you can’t get your hands on it, simply slice the leg style into evenly sized pieces.
- Toast your roll. Enjoy this crab salad as a dip with crackers or piled high on a toasted bun. If you do decide to make a sandwich, I highly recommend you butter the roll and toast it on a hot skillet. The toasted buttered bun mixed with the crab salad reminds me of a Maine lobster roll. It’s absolutely delicious.
- Reinvent the leftovers. Leftovers can be rolled into a wrap, served on lettuce cups or enjoyed with a salad. There are so many ways you can enjoy this crab salad.
How to Make
Prepare the Dressing
- In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, light sour cream, lemon juice, kosher salt, cracked black pepper, and freshly chopped dill. Mix well.
Combine the Crab Salad
- Add the flake style crab meat, minced jalapeno, diced shallots and diced celery to the dressing. Toss until everything is well coated in the dressing.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy as a dip or tucked into a sandwich.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The dressing may get a touch watery as time goes on. Freezing is not an option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most imitation crab meat is made from surimi. Surimi is a paste of finely shredded white fish that’s combined with other ingredients to create a crab-like product. It has the texture of crab meat and is often times flaky.
It originated in Japan and is commonly enjoyed in a variety of ways.
Yes! This is a great recipe for meal prep. You can enjoy it in a variety of ways throughout the week.
Other Crab Recipes to Consider Trying
Creamy Crab Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. imitation crab meat, flake style
- 2 tablespoons jalapeno, minced
- ¼ cup shallot, diced small
- ½ cup celery, diced small
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup light sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- .5 ounces dill, freshly chopped
- kosher salt, to taste
- cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Dressing
- In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, light sour cream, lemon juice, kosher salt, cracked black pepper, and freshly chopped dill. Mix well.
Prepare the Crab Salad
- Add the flake style crab meat, minced jalapeno, diced shallots and diced celery to the dressing. Toss until everything is well coated in the dressing.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy as a dip or tucked into a sandwich.
5 Comments on “Creamy Crab Salad”
Great recipe- can’t wait to try!
This was so good! Light but full of flavor.
Light and easy to make! Love this recipe!
Yum! I love the idea of a crab salad. I noticed you say to use imitation crab meat, but do you think you could also use fresh crab meat? I like to buy crab legs in bulk (https://qualityseafooddelivery.com/crab/snow/buy-in-bulk/), so I often have some in the freezer, and I try to find new ways to use it.
Should work perfectly! let me know!