Crab Cakes Recipe

Overhead view of two homemade crab cakes on a plate with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce.

5 from 3 votes

These easy Crab Cakes are made with canned crab, mayo, breadcrumbs, Dijon, and Old Bay for a budget-friendly take on a classic favorite.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Total Cost: $7.42 recipe / $1.86 serving

Servings: crab cakes

Calories: 292kcal

Author: Melissa Nolan

Equipment

Medium Sauté Pan
Mixing bowl

Ingredients

2 6 oz. canned crab, drained* $5.88
¼ cup yellow onion, small dice (43g) $0.25
¼ cup celery, small dice (43g) $0.19
2 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbsp) $0.12
¼ cup mayonnaise $0.23
2 tsp lemon juice $0.04
2 tsp soy sauce $0.04
2 tsp Dijon mustard $0.04
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning** $0.22
½ cup plain breadcrumbs $0.33
2 Tbsp vegetable oil $0.08

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, add the drained crab, diced onion, diced celery, minced garlic, mayonnaise, lemon juice, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and Old Bay seasoning. Fold to combine well.
Add the breadcrumbs and gently fold to combine.
Place 1/4 of the mixture into your hands to form a ball. Then gently flatten it into a patty shape, pressing firmly so it holds together. Place them aside and continue until you form 4 patties.***
Heat a medium sized sauté pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of oil.
Once the oil is hot, place the crab cakes in the pan one at a time.**** Fry them undisturbed for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*I used the cheapest canned crab, and the flavor was amazing. If you want a more authentic crab texture and don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, you can purchase the next expensive cans up. You’ll still be saving money versus the refrigerator stuff, and this is shelf-stable!

**I added Old Bay Seasoning, but if you want additional flavor, feel free to add some! If you like spicy, add some cayenne or red pepper flakes! You can also use a different seasoning blend altogether if you like.

***Be sure to really pack the crab cakes together. If they’re falling apart in your hands, they’ll fall apart in the pan. Add more breadcrumbs if needed.

****Make sure the oil is nice and hot before adding the patties, or they’ll end up sticking badly. Also, don’t disturb them or flip them for about 4 minutes; it might cause them to fall apart. Be patient!

Nutrition

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