Frozen Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer

Jump to Recipe ▼
4.34 from 3 votes
Total Time 8 minutes
Servings 4 servings

This post may contain affiliate links, read my disclaimer.

You won’t believe how easy it is to make frozen crab cakes in the air fryer! My recipe is perfect for the popular Aldi crab cakes and ready in 15 minutes.

crab cakes on a plate
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Need a crowd-pleasing appetizer or an easy meal you can whip up fast? Just throw some frozen crab cakes in the air fryer, get out the tartar sauce or remoulade, and be ready to go in 15 minutes flat!

I love using this method to make the popular Aldi brand of frozen crab cakes. My whole family is hooked! But you can also use any brand you like.

Even homemade frozen crab cakes if you have them!

Crab cakes are perfect for snacking, entertaining guests, or a light meal any time of day. And when it’s this easy to make them, you might find yourself enjoying air fryer crab cakes all the time!

Air Fryer I recommend: Large, easy to clean, square basket, burner on top and bottom. Click to see it.

How to Make Frozen 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: Place the frozen crab cakes in a single layer in the basket. Lightly spray the crab cakes with oil.

frozen crab cakes in air fryer

STEP TWO: Air fry at 380 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until heated through.

STEP THREE: Serve hot with lemon wedges and tartar sauce or remoulade.

cooked crab cakes in air fryers

What to Serve with Air Fryer Frozen Crab Cakes

crab cakes with a fork scooping a bite

How Long to Cook Frozen Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen crab cakes in the air fryer will only take about 8-10 minutes. Once they’re golden on the outside and hot all the way through, they’re ready to serve!

If you’re making mini crab cakes, keep in mind that those will cook faster. I recommend cooking mini frozen crab cakes in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes and checking on them until they’re golden and hot in the center.

Best Storebought Brands of Frozen Crab Cakes

I can’t get enough of the Aldi brand of frozen crab cakes. You can use Maryland style, which is just crab and seasonings, or Boardwalk style with bell peppers, onions, and green onions. Both are delicious!

This recipe will work for any other brands of frozen crab cakes as well. Feel free to grab whatever you find at your local store, because I can pretty much guarantee it’s going to be tasty.

crab cakes on a plate

Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Frozen Crab Cakes

  • Don’t thaw the crab cakes for this recipe. You want to cook them from frozen for the most accurate cooking time.
  • Lightly spray the basket to prevent the frozen crab cakes from sticking to the air fryer.
  • Don’t overcrowd the basket. Some touching is okay, but you want the hot air to circulate around each frozen crab cake.
  • Spray the tops of the crab cakes to help them crisp up as they cook and get that gorgeous, golden exterior.
  • Check on the crab cakes after 8 minutes to see if they’re ready. You don’t want to overcook the cakes and dry them out, but you want them to be hot all the way through.

More Delicious Crab Recipes

stack of crab cakes

More Air Fryer Seafood Recipes

Love air frying? Join my newsletter! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or join my free Facebook Air Frying Community.

4.34 from 3 votes

Frozen Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer

Love Aldi’s crab cakes? Wait until you try making their frozen crab cakes in the air fryer! They’re hot, golden, and cooked to perfection in less than 15 minutes.
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients 

  • 4 frozen crab cakes
  • Cooking oil

Instructions 

  • Place frozen crab cakes in a single layer in the air fryer basket or rack. Lightly Spray the crab cakes with oil.
  • Air fry at 380 for 8-10 minutes, or until heated through.
  • Serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce or remoulade.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 1286mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Samantha cutting a pepper in a kitchen

Hi, I'm Samantha!

Welcome to Everyday Family Cooking. I’m Samantha, a stay-at-home-mom of 2. I’m here to make cooking easier for your whole family and help you find new recipes to put in your regular rotation!

You May Also Like:

4.34 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. Kathy says:

    New to air frying. Followed the directions for Aldi frozen crab cakes. Fried for 8-10 minutes and they weren’t crispy. Put them under the broiler on my toaster oven and still were not crispy. I did spray with cooking spray before hand.
    They still tasted good but I was missing the crunch. What can I do so this won’t happen again.
    Thank you,
    Kathy

    1. Erica says:

      Next time, I would recommend making sure the crab cakes are evenly placed with separation between each one in the air fryer. I’m not sure if you may of overcrowded them but that can effect the crispiness. If that is not the issue, I would say to add to the crispiness of the crab cake you could always broil them for 1-2 minutes. Keep a close eye on them though as they will get crispy quickly this way. Happy air frying!