Effortless Paula Deen Crab Cakes Recipe for Seafood Lovers

Paula Deen’s crab cakes represent coastal cuisine at its finest, blending delicate seafood with rich, comforting flavors.

Southern cooking shines through in this classic recipe that transforms simple ingredients into something magical.

Delicate crabmeat mingles with carefully selected seasonings, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Each bite promises a crisp exterior that gives way to a succulent, perfectly seasoned interior.

Seafood lovers will appreciate the balance of fresh ingredients and time-honored cooking techniques.

Home cooks can easily recreate this restaurant-quality dish with just a few straightforward steps.

The result promises to impress dinner guests and satisfy serious food enthusiasts: dive in and savor the deliciousness!

How to Make Paula Deen’s Crab Cakes

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

• Fresh lump crabmeat
• Crushed crackers
• Chopped green onions
• Diced bell pepper
• Mayonnaise
• 1 large egg
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dry mustard
• Fresh lemon juice
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Cayenne pepper
• All-purpose flour for dusting
• Vegetable or peanut oil for frying

Step 2: Create Crab Cake Mixture

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Gently fold together until well blended, being careful not to break up the crabmeat chunks. Mix thoroughly but avoid overmixing to preserve the crab’s texture.

Step 3: Shape Delectable Patties

Using clean hands, form the mixture into 6-8 evenly sized patties. Each patty should be about 3 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. Lightly dust each patty with flour, shaking off excess.

Step 4: Prepare Cooking Surface

Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Ensure the oil reaches approximately 350°F for perfect golden browning.

Step 5: Fry Crab Cakes

Carefully place patties into hot oil. Cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side until deep golden brown. Gently flip and cook an additional 4 minutes on the other side.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer crab cakes to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Serve immediately with tartar sauce, remoulade, or your favorite dipping sauce. Garnish with fresh lemon wedges for extra zest.

Tips for Perfecting Paula Deen’s Crab Cakes

• Select Top-Quality Crab: Handpick fresh, jumbo lump crabmeat from reputable seafood markets to guarantee superior taste and texture.
• Test Seasoning Smartly: Cook a tiny patty first, sample its flavor, and fine-tune salt, pepper, and herbs before shaping entire batch.
• Handle Mixture Delicately: Use light, gentle folding techniques when combining ingredients to preserve crab's delicate structure and prevent tough, dense cakes.
• Control Cooking Temperature: Monitor oil heat carefully, aiming for medium-high warmth that browns exterior while keeping interior moist and tender.
• Refrigerate for Stability: Let formed crab cakes rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to bind and preventing potential crumbling during cooking.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Crab Cakes

• Refrigerate: Seal cooled crab cakes in an airtight container lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking. This method preserves their delicate texture and rich seafood flavor for three magical days in the refrigerator's cool embrace.
• Freeze: Wrap each crab cake individually in plastic wrap, then nestle them in a freezer-safe container protected by an additional layer of aluminum foil. Frozen treasures will maintain their delectable quality for up to three months, ready to rescue your meal planning with minimal effort.
• Reheat: Revive refrigerated or thawed crab cakes in an air fryer, positioning them carefully in a single layer. Blast at 175°C for 4-5 minutes, transforming them back to crispy, golden perfection that rivals their original freshly-cooked state.

Creative Twists on Paula Deen’s Crab Cakes

• Spicy Seafood Sensation: Add diced jalapeños and replace some crabmeat with chopped shrimp for an extra kick of heat and varied seafood texture.
• Mediterranean Magic: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, chopped fresh dill, and use panko breadcrumbs instead of crackers for a Greek-inspired flavor profile.
• Herb Garden Fusion: Mix in fresh chopped parsley, chives, and tarragon to elevate the herbal notes and create a more complex taste experience.
• Smoky Southwest Style: Blend in smoked paprika, replace bell peppers with roasted green chiles, and serve with chipotle mayo for a bold southwestern twist.

Final Thoughts on Paula Deen’s Crab Cakes

Culinary magic unfolds with Paula Deen’s crab cakes, a Southern coastal delicacy that whispers maritime charm.

Delicate crabmeat mingles with zesty seasonings, creating a symphony of coastal flavors dancing on your palate.

Green onions and bell peppers add crisp complexity to each golden-brown bite.

Worcestershire sauce and dry mustard elevate these cakes from simple seafood to gourmet experience.

Hot peanut oil transforms humble ingredients into crispy, memorable morsels that celebrate ocean’s bounty.

Louisiana’s coastal spirit leaps from skillet to plate, inviting passionate cooks and seafood enthusiasts to savor, share, connect – click that like button, spread deliciousness through comments, and let this recipe spark your culinary adventure.

Why Paula Deen’s Crab Cakes Are a Seafood Lover’s Dream

• Savor Coastal Comfort: These crab cakes deliver a perfect blend of fresh seafood and homestyle cooking, bringing the taste of the ocean right to your dinner table with Paula Deen's signature Southern charm.
• Effortless Gourmet Experience: Despite looking fancy, this recipe is incredibly simple to prepare, making professional-level seafood accessible for home cooks of all skill levels with just basic kitchen ingredients and straightforward techniques.
• Quick Flavor Explosion: Ready in under an hour, these crab cakes pack a punch of zesty flavors – from the kick of cayenne pepper to the bright notes of lemon juice – creating a multi-dimensional taste experience that will wow your dinner guests.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for everything from elegant dinner parties to casual weeknight meals, these crab cakes can be dressed up with a gourmet sauce or enjoyed simply, appealing to seafood lovers and picky eaters alike.

Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Crab Cakes

• Crabmeat: Fresh, sweet seafood that forms the heart of the crab cake with delicate ocean flavor. Lump or backfin crabmeat works best for best texture.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and helps hold the crab cake shape. Fresh eggs ensure good cohesion.

• Crushed Crackers, Flour: Provide structure and crispy exterior for the crab cakes. Saltine or butter crackers work well for traditional flavor.
• Mayonnaise: Adds moisture and rich, creamy texture to the mixture. High-quality, real mayonnaise recommended.

• Green Onions, Bell Pepper: Fresh vegetables that add color, crunch, and bright flavor to the crab cakes.
• Worcestershire Sauce, Dry Mustard, Lemon Juice, Garlic Powder, Salt, Cayenne Pepper: Seasonings that provide depth, tang, and subtle heat to complement the delicate crab meat.
• Peanut Oil: Neutral oil with high smoke point perfect for achieving golden, crispy exterior of crab cakes.

Paula Deen Crab Cakes Recipe

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4.6 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Savory Paula Deen Crab Cakes embody coastal Southern charm with delicate lump crab meat blended into golden-crisp patties. Packed with zesty seasonings and pan-fried to perfection, these cakes bring the ocean’s freshness directly to your plate, promising a delightful seafood experience.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 lb (454 grams) picked free of shells crabmeat

Vegetable and Aromatic Ingredients:

• 3 green onions (green and white parts), finely chopped
• ½ cup (75 grams) finely chopped bell pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ juiced lemon

Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup (40 grams) crushed buttery crackers
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) mayonnaise
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• dash cayenne pepper
• flour for dusting
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) peanut oil

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Instructions

1. In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly blend lump crabmeat, finely crushed saltine crackers, thinly sliced green onions, diced bell peppers, creamy mayonnaise, beaten egg, tangy Worcestershire sauce, ground dry mustard, freshly squeezed lemon juice, aromatic garlic powder, kosher salt, and a pinch of cayenne pepper until ingredients are evenly distributed.
2. Gently shape the maritime mixture into uniform circular patties, approximately 2.5 inches (6.35 centimeters) in diameter, ensuring compact and cohesive formation.
3. Delicately coat each crab cake with a light dusting of all-purpose flour, creating a thin, even layer that will contribute to a crisp exterior when fried.
4. Warm peanut oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, allowing the temperature to reach approximately 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for optimal frying conditions.
5. Carefully place prepared crab cakes into the heated oil, avoiding overcrowding by cooking in 2 to 3 batches, and fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the bottom develops a rich, golden-brown crust.
6. Gently turn each crab cake using a spatula and continue cooking for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, ensuring both sides achieve a uniform, crispy texture and internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius).
7. Transfer the golden-brown crab cakes onto a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil, allowing them to rest briefly before serving hot with a complementary remoulade or tartar sauce.

Notes

• Fresh crabmeat transforms ordinary cakes into extraordinary bites, delivering rich ocean flavors straight to your plate.
• Chilling the mixture helps bind ingredients and prevents crumbly cakes that fall apart during cooking.
• Gentle mixing preserves delicate crab chunks, ensuring a tender texture that melts in your mouth.
• Taste testing allows you to fine-tune seasonings before committing to the entire batch, preventing potential flavor disappointments.
• Consistent oil temperature guarantees a golden-brown exterior with a perfectly cooked, succulent interior that’ll impress everyone at the table.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 200 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg