Air Fryer Crab Cakes are an easy appetizer that cook in less than 15 minutes. They are crunchy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside, and super flavorful. Homemade crab cakes are easy to mix up or you can air fry store bought crab cakes.
Making crab cakes in the air fryer (whether homemade or store-bought) gives them the best crisp texture on the outside. They're a great option as an appetizer or as an entree with sides like Air Fryer Green Beans, Roasted Asparagus, or Crispy Roasted Baby Potatoes.
Jump to:
⭐Why I love It:
- Crunchy Outside - Rolling them in extra Panko Breadcrumbs gives them a crunchy crust.
- Cooks in 15 Minutes - The air fryer cooks crab cakes so quickly!
- Flavorful - From the crab meat, the lemon (zest and juice), and the old bay seasoning these crab cakes are loaded with flavor.
🥘Ingredients
Pick up some lump crab meat from the grocery store then use simple, staple ingredients to make homemade crab cakes.
- Lump Crab Meat - You can buy this in a container in the seafood section at most grocery stores.
- Mayonnaise
- Egg
- Fresh Parsley
- Green Onions
- Spices - Old Bay seasoning, kosher salt
- Lemon - the juice and zest
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dijon Mustard
- Panko Breadcrumbs - You'll put this both in the crab cake mixture and use extra to roll the sides in for extra crunch.
- Cooking Spray
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
📖Variations
- Cook in the Oven - If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake these in the oven at 375 degrees F for about 25 minutes.
- Cajun Seasoning - Try adding some cajun seasoning to the mixture for slightly spicy crab cakes.
- Mini - Instead of four larger crab cakes, you can make them smaller. Just adjust the cook time down by a few minutes.
- Store-Bought Refrigerated or Frozen Crab Cakes - You can also use these steps to cook store-bought, pre-made crab cakes. Just add them to the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees F until warmed through and golden. You can cook frozen crab cakes in the air fryer but they will take a few minutes longer. A good rule of thumb is to use half of the amount of time recommended for the oven as a starting point.
🔪Step by Step instructions
It's easy to mix up homemade crab cakes or you can buy at the store - cook either in the air fryer for tender on the inside, crisp on the outside results.
Photo 1 - Mix together the crab cake mixture, except for the lump crab meat and breadcrumbs, until combined.
Photo 2 - Then fold in the crab meat and Panko Breadcrumbs.
Photo 3 - The mixture should be well moistened, but not too wet where it doesn't hold a shape.
Photo 4 - Shape the crab cake mixture into 4 patties. Add the extra Panko Breadcrumbs to a plate and press each patty into the Panko - you want to coat all the sides.
Photo 5 - Chill the crab cakes in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and add the chilled cakes.
Photo 6 - Lightly spray the tops with more cooking spray. Air fry at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
💭Recipe Tips
- Use High Quality Crab - It's best to use fresh, refrigerated crabmeat. You can buy lump crabmeat in a container in the seafood section. I don't recommend using imitation crab.
- Fold in Crab Gently - Be gentle when folding in the crab meat and when forming into patties so the pieces of crab don't break apart.
- Don't Skip the Chill Time - Chilling the patties helps keep them from falling apart.
- Serving - I love serving them with extra lemon wedges for spiriting and tartar sauce for dipping.
🍽Storage and Reheating
- Storage - Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating - Leftovers can be eaten cold or you can reheat it for just a few minutes in the air fryer.
👩🍳Recipe FAQs
The cook time will vary slightly based on how thick the patties are, but these crab cakes cook in 15 minutes or less in the air fryer.
You can air fry store bought crab cakes! Just add them to the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees F until warmed through and golden. A good rule of thumb is to use half of the amount of time recommended for the oven as a starting point. You can cook frozen crab cakes in the air fryer but they will take a few minutes longer.
If you are reheating leftover crab cakes, you can air fry them at 350°F for 4-6 minutes, until warmed through.
🍤Related Air Fryer Recipes...
Like this recipe? Sign up for my e-mail list so you get a weekly e-mail with new recipes from the week as well as occasional ‘bonus’ content not found on the blog! AND receive a copy of my FREE MINI EBOOK! E-mail list sign up!
Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.
PrintRecipe
Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Air Fryer Crab Cakes are an easy appetizer that cook in less than 15 minutes. They are crunchy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside, and super flavorful. Homemade crab cakes are easy to mix up or you can air fry store bought crab cakes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 crab cakes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup lump crab meat
- ½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs, plus extra 1 cup for breading
Instructions
- Mix Crab Cakes - Mix together the crab cake mixture, except for the lump crab meat and breadcrumbs, until combined. Then fold in the crab meat and ½ cup of panko.
- Form Crab Cakes - Shape the crab cake mixture into 4 patties. They should be about 1 inch thick.
- Roll in Panko Breadcrumbs - Add the extra Panko Breadcrumbs to a plate and press each patty into the Panko - you want to coat all the sides.
- Chill - Place the coated crab cakes on a plate and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Air Fry - Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and add the chilled cakes. Lightly spray the tops of the crab cakes with more cooking spray. Air fry at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
Store-Bought Crab Cakes - You can also use these steps to cook store-bought, pre-made crab cakes. Just add them to the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees F until warmed through and golden. You can cook frozen crab cakes in the air fryer but they will take a few minutes longer. A good rule of thumb is to use half of the amount of time recommended for the oven as a starting point.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crab cake
- Calories: 198
- Sugar: 1.4 g
- Sodium: 464.3 mg
- Fat: 12.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.8 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 9.6 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Melissa says
So I had store-bought crab cakes, and the cooking instructions worked really well! I did 375°F for 12 minutes, turning halfway. Thanks so much!
Kathleen says
Glad that it worked well for you!