Air Fryer Crab Cakes

My flavorful air fryer crab cakes are loaded with crab meat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, and seasoning. I think these are the juiciest, most delicious crab cakes I’ve ever had!

My Easy Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer

I didn’t know if it was possible to get restaurant-quality crab cakes at home until I tried making air fryer crab cakes! 

I was grocery shopping one day when I spotted some lump crab meat behind the seafood counter that looked so good, I just had to take some home. I knew I wanted to enjoy it in a simple recipe that would really let the crab shine, so I decided to try crab cakes in the air fryer.

I kept the ingredients very simple, formed the patties carefully, and put them in the air fryer to see what would happen. I gave two to my husband Ben, and before I could even sit down with mine, he’d already inhaled the first one! He said it was the “juiciest crab cake” he’d ever had, and as soon as I tried a bite, I had to agree!

I honestly can’t remember the last time I made crab cakes in anything but the air fryer. They just make it much easier to cook up!

And, if you love a good air fryer fish recipe, try my recipes for air fryer mahi mahi, air fryer shrimp, air fry catfish, air fryer tilapia, air fryer cod, and air fryer tuna steak.

Air Fry Crab Cakes Ingredients

• Lump crab meat – Make sure to choose high quality lump crab meat
• Red bell pepper – I love how this adds some texture and extra flavor
• Green onions – These have a milder onion flavor that won’t overwhelm the crab
• Mayonnaise – This helps bind the crab cakes and keep them moist
• Breadcrumbs – These also act as a binder and give the cakes some texture and flavor compared to just using flour
• Old bay seasoning – This is a classic seasoning for crab and my favorite to use
• Lemon juice – Adds a little acidity really enhances the flavor of the lump crab

How to Cook Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl, add the lump crab meat, pepper, green onions, mayonnaise, bread crumbs, Old Bay Seasoning, and lemon juice and mix until just combined into a crab cake mixture.

STEP THREE: Take the crab meat and form four evenly-sized crab patties. It’s important to be gentle when handling the crab cakes. Lump crab meat has a lot of juices inside and you want to keep as much in as possible.

STEP FOUR: Place a piece of parchment round or a silicone liner down inside the hot air fryer then carefully place each crab cake in the air fryer in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray.

STEP FIVE: Air fry the crab cakes for 8-10 minutes until the crust turns golden brown.

Tips For the Best Air Fryer Crab Cake

• Use a high quality crab meat. This is my real secret to getting restaurant-quality crab cakes at home! It can be a bit more expensive, but I think it makes all the difference.
• Old Bay Seasoning is the traditional seasoning used in many crab cakes and really makes this recipe what it is. I do not recommend substituting or omitting this ingredient.
• Use parchment paper rounds or a silicone liner! This is one of the few recipes where I recommend using parchment or silicone liners because the crab meat is very moist, which can cause the crab patties to stick to the basket. Do not use cooking spray unless it’s just oil inside a bottle like my EVO oil sprayer.
• Be super gentle when mixing the ingredients. Crab meat is very fragile and can break apart easily, so I stir very gently to keep the crab meat in as whole of pieces as I can.
• Do not flip the crab cakes. They can fall apart when handled only halfway cooked.
• I usually don’t need to add kosher salt to the recipe as the Old Bay seasoning and lump crab meat already contain some. If you like salty food, add a small pinch of salt.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes Variations and Substitutions

• For spicy crab cakes, I like to add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
• Use panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers instead of Italian breadcrumbs. I love seeing how the different options give each crab cake batch a subtle twist.
• Swap chopped jalapeños for the bell pepper. This is another option I like for adding some heat to the crab cakes.
• Use cajun seasoning instead of Old Bay seasoning if necessary. I think Old Bay is the absolute best seasoning for this recipe, but emergencies happen! I add a little Worcestershire sauce in when I do this for a little more flavor.
• Use Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise for a lighter twist. The Greek yogurt adds a bit more tang, which I enjoy! I’ve also switched some mayo out for a little dijon mustard with success.
• Top the crab cakes with a little parsley for a pretty presentation. I use these and some leftover green onions.

What to Serve with Air Fry Crab Cakes

Air fried crab cakes make a great appetizer or even dinner on their own, but I also love serving them with air fryer asparagus, air fryer carrots, sliced potatoes in the air fryer, or air fryer sweet potato cubes for a well-rounded meal!

For a traditional presentation, I’ll load up air fryer crab cakes on a brioche bun with tartar sauce and a little coleslaw.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes FAQs

How long to cook crab cakes in the air fryer

At 400 degrees F, I cook crab cakes in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes. This gets them perfectly golden-brown on the outside and warmed all the way through!

Can I make air fryer crab cakes ahead of time?

Crab cakes are great to prep in advance! I usually mix all the ingredients, form the mixture into patties, then cover or put them in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. Once I’m ready to make my crab cakes, I follow the rest of the recipe like usual to air fry them to golden-brown perfection.

What temperature to cook crab cakes in the air fryer

I find air frying crab cakes at 400 degrees is the best way to cook crab cakes using raw lump crab meat so the outside gets that nice crust on it.

How to cook frozen crab cakes in the air fryer

Frozen crab cakes are pre-cooked, so they only need about 7-8 minutes in the air fryer at 400 degrees F to warm them all the way through. If I’m making mini frozen crab cakes, I’ll check on them around the 5-minute mark.

What are the best frozen crab cakes to air fry?

My favorite frozen crab cakes to get from the store are Phillips Maryland Style Crab Cakes! But I also enjoy Handy crab cakes, Dockside Classics, SeaPak, Publix Brand crab cakes, and Trader Joe’s frozen crab cakes.

How do I reheat crab cakes in the air fryer?

To reheat crab cakes in the air fryer, I start by preheating to 350 degrees F. Once the air fryer is hot, I put the leftover crab cakes in the basket and heat for about 3 minutes until they’re warmed all the way through.

How do I prevent the crab cake mixture from sticking to my hands?

My recipe is specifically designed to make moist crab cakes while not using too much moisture that they stick to my hands. I find using no eggs in the recipe complements the crab meat to get that perfect texture. If the patties are still too moist, I add a little oil to my hands to help, but I haven’t had to do that with this recipe.

My air fry crab cakes aren’t getting golden brown. What did I do wrong?

One of the most important steps to achieving golden-brown crab cakes in the air fryer is to let the air fryer preheat. I also always make sure each crab cake has space in the air fryer for the hot air to circulate properly and crisp them up on all sides.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air fryer chicken breast
• Air fry hot dogs
• Meatloaf in the air fryer
• Air fryer chicken tenders
• Air fryer roast beef

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