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.

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 You'll Need For Air Fryer Crab Cakes :

Here's what you need:

• 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

How to Make Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer :

1. 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 panko.
2. Form Crab Cakes - Shape the crab cake mixture into 4 patties.
3. 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.
4. Chill - Place the coated crab cakes on a plate and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
5. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for crab cakes in the air fryer?

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.

Can you air fry store bought crab cakes?

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. You can cook frozen crab cakes in the air fryer but they will take a few minutes longer.

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 Suggestions

I love serving them with extra lemon wedges for spiriting and tartar sauce for dipping.

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.

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.

Other Air Fryer Recipes:

• Air Fryer Green Beans - Just toss the green beans with oil and spices then air fry.
• Air Fryer Salmon - Takes only minutes to cook, is flavorful, healthy, and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Mix up a simple salmon seasoning to rub on the salmon filets then pop in the air fryer.
• Baked Potato in the Air Fryer - Super crispy skin, but tender and soft on the inside.
• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets - Made by breading chicken breast pieces with Panko and Parmesan cheese.

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! E-mail link 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.

Print

Recipe