What to serve with crab legs: When crab legs tend to be the star of the show, it can be a little intimidating to come up with a side dish or dipping sauce to pair with fresh seafood!
Crab lovers will find a wonderful list of ideas for side dishes, along with the recipes that are recommended to pair well with crab legs!
No matter the type of crab; if they’re snow crab legs, blue crab, Alaskan king crab legs, Dungeness crab legs, crab boil, or just about any crab leg dinner! No matter if they’re snow crab legs, blue crab, Alaskan king crab legs, crab boil, or just about any crab leg dinner!
These sides will also pair well with the crab, no matter how they’re cooked; cooked in boiling water in a large pot, instant pot crab legs, steamed, etc.
So no matter if you’re hosting a fancy dinner party for special occasions or just looking to make a fun treat at home, you’re sure to find the perfect accompaniment for your seafood dinner!
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First, let’s talk about the sauces to serve with crab legs.
Sauces to Serve with Crab Legs
Although crab legs are delicious by themselves, it’s always nice to offer a dipping sauce or sauces to enhance the flavor even more! Here are our favorite sauce suggestions:
- melted butter – it’s a classic pairing with crab legs that can’t be beaten. If desired, you can use clarified butter or just regular melted butter.
- horseradish sauce – with a kick, horseradish can add a spice that’s an unbelievable partner to the seafood!
- cocktail sauce – whether you buy it in the grocery store or mix together your own recipe (ketchup + horseradish) cocktail sauce is fantastic with fried seafood and boiled seafood like crab legs and shrimp!
- creamy avocado sauce – using ingredients like yogurt, lime juice and spices, it creates a creamy, flavorful sauce that’s delicious with crab legs.
- lemon wedges/juice – although this isn’t really a sauce, fresh lemon juice is a wonderful addition to sprinkle on to the crab legs before dipping in to the sauce!
- garlic butter sauce – a mixture of melted regular butter with minced garlic and if desired, a little grated parmesan cheese.
- dijon sour cream sauce – A mix of dijon mustard and sour cream that’s delicious with seafood and steaks.
These sauces are excellent with crab legs, crab cakes, shrimp and just about any type of seafood you can imagine!
Garnishes for Crab Legs
If you’re looking for a way to spruce up a platter of crab legs, there are our favorite easy ways to do so:
- lemon wedges
- fresh parsley
- sliced raw veggies
- lettuce leaves (large romaine, butter lettuce or leaf lettuce)
- mini cobs of corn (also a great side dish)
Side Dish Ideas for Crab Legs
Now that we have the sauces figured out to dip the crab legs in, it’s time to think about the best sides to make along with crab legs!
First, you’ll find a general list of side dishes to serve with crab legs but then we’ve also included a list of specific side dish recipes that you’ll find helpful when planning your menu!
- french fries
- green salad
- biscuits
- cheese garlic bread
- green beans
- potato salad
- ears of corn
- brussels sprouts
- new potatoes
- mashed potatoes
- baked potato
- potato cakes
- cold salad (pasta salad)
- red onions
- relish tray
- hush puppies
- bell peppers (raw, sliced with dips)
Side Dish Recipes for Crab Legs
Not only are these side dishes easy but they pair so well with the seafood, making it a fantastic all-around meal, in minutes!
What to Serve with Crab Legs
What to serve with crab legs: When crab legs tend to be the star of the show, it can be a little intimidating to come up with a side dish or dipping sauce to pair with fresh seafood!
The BEST Side Salad Recipe
This is not your regular side salad recipe! With a trick on how you cut the lettuce and the two herbs you add, it will leave everyone asking how you did it!
Garlic Roasted Broccoli
Although delicious raw with a side of ranch dressing, tossing in olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and then baking in the oven, this side dish is a whole new level of flavor!
Baked Zucchini Fritters with Breadcrumbs
There's nothing better than finding ways to use up a lot of that zucchini in the garden. But even if you're buying it in the store, this is a zucchini side dish you'll want to make often!
Air Fryer Asparagus
Crispy, healthy asparagus is the perfect side dish to accompany the fresh crab legs! Cooking it in the air fryer makes it easy and gives that desired crispiness.
Focaccia Bread
A warm bread with a soft, fluffy interior and perfectly chewy exterior that pairs deliciously with crab legs!
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Especially if you're making crab legs in the Instant Pot, keep that thing going and make a batch of ears of corn in the pot for an easy dinner!
Crunchy Kale Parmesan Salad
A bright and citrusy Crunchy Kale Parmesan Salad with lemon juice, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. This is the perfect healthy salad for a picnic, BBQ, or a side dish and it only takes 4 ingredients!
Cornbread Salad Recipe – Without Beans
Don't knock it until you've tried it! A delicious blend of soft cornbread with crisp tomatoes, green onions and more!
Easy Brown Butter Sage Roasted Carrots Recipe
These roasted carrots are the perfect side dish for any occasion with brown butter and crispy sage.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits-Butter Your Biscuit
These Cheddar Bay biscuits are insanely delicious! Loaded with cheesy, garlicky, buttery goodness.
Creamy Southern Coleslaw
I love the thick, dressing this recipe yields largely because it seems to have the balance of tangy and sweet. It is excellent the first day you make it but look out on day two – you will swear this is the best thing you ever ate.
Baked Old Bay Fries with Quick Aioli
These Old Bay Fries with Quick Aioli are the best golden brown, crispy, seasoned-to-perfection snack or sidekick to your crab legs.
Mini Sweet Cornbread Muffins
These sweet cornbread mini muffins are the perfect pairing for your summer cookouts and dinner parties!
Fried Potato Cakes (Potato Patties)
With only a few ingredients and 4-minutes, you can have potato patties that are crispy and golden brown on the outside, and creamy and fluffy on the inside!
Grilled Spinach
Grilled spinach makes a super easy, quick and healthy side dish that pairs well with delicate proteins.
Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Pistachios - 5 minute Recipe!
This quick and easy couscous recipe is a great side dish for crab legs because it’s full of flavor and ready in under 10 minutes.
Creamy Orzo with Lemon and Peas
This family favorite orzo recipe is satisfying and delicious. It incorporates all wonderful Mediterranean flavors of olive oil, lemon juice, fresh herbs and cheese. Perfect side dish.
Hush Puppies
Hushpuppies are super crunchy on the outside, yet light and fluffy on the inside. This restaurant appetizer can easily be made at home in no time flat.
I so hope you loved this list of side dishes for crab legs! Make sure to check out our other seafood side dish recommendations for easy meal planning later!
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