King Crab Legs Recipe (Cooked 4 Ways)

This super easy King Crab Legs recipe shows you how to prepare crab legs steamed, baked, grilled, or pressure cooked. Alaskan king crab legs are the perfect seafood dinner for special occasions and holidays.

Why we love these methods

Crab legs can be expensive, so you want to know how to prepare them the right way and serve them with style for your special occasion.

• These crab legs can be steamed, grilled, baked, or pressure cooked. I'm showing you how to cook crab legs all 4 ways.
• Minimal prep (about 5 minutes) and quick cook times for each method.
• The simple garlic-infused butter and lemon squeeze adds an elegant touch to your crab leg dunking experience.

Key ingredients

• Alaskan King Crab Legs and Claws - get these from the seafood counter or the freezer section of your grocery store. They're usually precooked.
• Unsalted Butter (or ghee) - used to create a flavorful dunking sauce (also there's plenty of salt in the crab, so I recommend unsalted).
• Garlic - Minced garlic is added to the butter for amazing flavor.
• Lemon - I always like to serve lemon with seafood dishes, the brightness complements the flavor.
• Parsley - A bit of green parsley adds visual interest and a fresh flavor.

Buying crab: frozen king crab legs vs fresh

Alaskan king crab legs are sold in the seafood section either frozen or thawed, and are usually precooked. They're not typically sold fresh (raw) unless you're at a specialty seafood market. When you buy frozen king crab legs, you can keep them frozen until you're ready to thaw, reheat, and serve them. If you buy them thawed, you'll want to enjoy (or freeze) them before the sell-by date.

How to season crab legs

King crab is delicious on its own, especially when squeezed with fresh lemon and dipped in my garlic butter sauce. If you want to add a classic seafood seasoning, you can sprinkle Old Bay or Cajun seasoning into the cooking water (for steaming or pressure cooking). Or you can season the oil you'll brush on the crab legs (for grilling or baking). Alternatively, you can season the garlic butter before warming it.

How to cook king crab legs

I'm sharing four methods: Instant Pot crab legs, steamed crab legs, grilled crab legs, and baked crab legs. The best way to cook crab depends on what works best for you. These methods are equally simple and effective, so it comes down to what's most convenient.

Instant Pot crab legs

Pressure cooked crab legs is a hands-free way to steam crab and requires no babysitting. Since they're usually precooked, we're simply reheating them in the Instant Pot, but we need to be careful to not overcook them in the pressure cooker. I like to start small and add minutes, if needed. It's much easier to add minutes than to face the regret of overcooked seafood.

Instructions: Place a trivet on the bottom of the Instant Pot, stack crab legs on the trivet and add 1 cup of water. Pressure cook for 0 minutes on LOW (3 minutes for frozen) and allow a 5 minute natural pressure release.

How to steam crab legs

Here's an easy and quick way to steam crab legs on the stove top.

Instructions: Place a trivet on the bottom of a large soup pot, stack crab legs on the trivet and add one cup of water. Turn the stove burner on to medium-high heat and steam for about 5 minutes, or until warmed through. It may take less time, so don't overcook them. Transfer crab to a serving platter and serve with garlic butter and lemon wedges.

Baked crab legs

Here's another hands-free way to prepare king crab legs for your special occasion, especially during cooler months!

Instructions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place crab legs on a baking sheet and brush with OLIVE OIL. Set on a baking sheet (optional) next to garlic butter in a mini skillet. Place baking sheet in preheated oven and bake 20 minutes, or until crab leg meat is thoroughly heated.

How to grill crab legs

Grilled king crab legs allows you to cook crab outside of the house, which is great when you're entertaining outdoors during warmer months.

Instructions: Preheat the grill to medium high. Brush or spritz crab with olive oil, place on the grill and turn off the center burner. Place the butter and garlic in a grill-safe pan right on the grill. Close the lid and grill until warmed through (5-8 minutes). Transfer everything to a serving platter and watch it disappear!

How to make garlic butter

You can't serve king crab legs without a delicious butter dunking sauce. To make it, simply combine butter and garlic in a microwave safe bowl (or grill-safe pan) and microwave (or grill) until melted. This garlic butter is also delicious with Broiled Salmon or Grilled Salmon too.

How to serve

Serve crab warm with the melted garlic butter, garnished with lemon wedges, and fresh parsley. You don't need crab cracking tools for Alaskan king crab, just a pair of kitchen shears to cut through the softer, lighter side of the shell. The luscious, jumbo pieces of crab come right out, ready to be dunked and devoured.

How many crab legs per person?

1 lb. of king crab legs becomes about ½ lb. of crab meat after the shells are removed. Plan on ½ to 1 lb. of whole (unshelled) crab per person if serving with sides and salad.

Recommended tools

• chef’s knife and cutting board (for garlic, lemon and parsley)
• measuring cup
• 6 quart Instant Pot or 4-quart sauce pot or outdoor grill
• tongs
• cast iron butter skillet
• serving platter

Recommended sides

• Homemade French Bread
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• THE BEST Dill Potato Salad
• Broccoli Bacon Salad
• Garlicky Oven Roasted Mushrooms
• Macaroni Salad
• Loaded Baked Potato Salad
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
• Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
• Tortellini Pasta Salad

More seafood recipes you'll love

• Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass
• Broiled Salmon
• Grilled Salmon
• Instant Pot Shrimp with Lemon Cream Sauce
• Smoked Salmon Dip