I’ve been sharing air fryer recipes since the early days in 2016, and I don’t play about seafood. Crab cakes should taste like crab, not breadcrumbs. This method gives you a crisp exterior and a juicy inside without drying them out. These air fryer crab cakes are for folks who want real crab flavor, a perfect crisp edge, and seasoned so every bite hits.
This post was originally published in 2017. It has since been updated.
Pair these with my Remoulade Sauce or Chipotle Mayo Recipe.
Air Fryer Crab Cakes Ingredients
- Crab Meat: I prefer to use jumbo lump crab meat. You can use any real crab meat. Crab meat can be found in the refrigerated aisle of the grocery store. Sometimes you will have to ask the butcher for it. I do not recommend imitation crab or canned crab.
- Olive Oil
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Breadcrumbs
- Bell Peppers
- Egg
- Flour
- Mayo
- Lemon Juice
How to Make Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prep the mix and build the binder: Combine bell peppers, crab meat, egg, mayo, lemon juice, and Old Bay Seasoning to a bowl. Stir gently to combine.
- Add dry ingredients: Sprinkle in breadcrumbs, mix just until the mixture holds together. Don’t overmix or the crab cakes will be dense instead of tender.
- Form the crab cakes: Shape the mixture into patties about ½ to ¾ inch thick. If the mixture feels too wet, add a bit more breadcrumbs. If it’s too dry, a small spoon of mayo helps. Sprinkle flour on top.
- Prep for air frying: Brush or spray both sides lightly with olive oil. This helps them get golden and crisp.
- Air fry: Air fry the crab cakes until golden brown and heated through.
- Serve: Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and serve hot.
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Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Ingredients
- cooking oil I used olive
- 8 ounces lump crab meat
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup diced red bell peppers
- ¼ cup diced bell green peppers
- 1 egg Beaten.
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon flour
Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
- Mix all of the ingredients together, with the exception of the flour.
- Form the mixture into 4 patties. Apply a dash of flour to each of the patties.
- Place the crab cakes in the Air Fryer. Spray the crab cakes with cooking oil.
- Cook for 10 minutes on 370 degrees.
- Cool before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
Jumbo lump or lump crab meat is best for flavor and texture. It gives you those nice chunks of crab. Claw meat works too but is softer. I don’t recommend imitation or canned if you want real crab cake flavor.
Seafood cooks fast. They will take around 10 minutes.
I recommend 370 degrees.
A lot of lump crab meat comes in a can and is great to use. Read the label to be sure it's real crab meat.
You can try chilling the patties for 20 minutes prior to air frying if you have trouble. If the crab cakes are too dry, use a little more egg. If they are too moist, add more breadcrumbs.
Usually too many breadcrumbs or overcooking. Crab cakes should be moist and tender inside, not crumbly.
A light spray or brush of oil helps them get golden and crisp. Don’t skip it.
Yes. Form the patties and keep them covered in the fridge up to a day ahead. Cook when ready.
Yes. Freeze them uncooked or cooked. Thaw in the fridge before air frying for best texture.
You can freeze these up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer at 370 degrees for 6-8 minutes until warm.
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Lizzie says
This looks like such an easy recipe! We love fish cakes and seafood in this house.
Emily says
These sliders sound so delicious, I need to try them asap!
Sues says
I love crab cakes so much and am now in serious need of an air fryer 🙂
Tina says
I have heard of an air fryer, what a great idea. I need to get one. These crab cakes look amazing!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
Yummy! I love crab cakes and being from New England, I can almost always get a good crab cake. I can't wait to try your recipe! It looks so delicious and easy!
Ginny says
Love how the air fryer crisps up things. Great job on a classic and turning it into something new.
Helene says
Crab cake sliders, that sounds amazing! I have never had anything like it. Maybe I should get an air fryer at some point.
Serena says
This sounds so good! I've been wanting to try an air fryer. Maybe it's time 🙂
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
My husband loves crab cake sandwiches! This would be such a perfect dinner for him!
Bintu says
These look so delicious and healthy! How fab that they only take a short time to make!
Dannii says
Great game day food right there. It's amazing what can be done in the air fryer.
Patrice says
Delicious. I air fryer does not include 375 so went to 380 with 3 patties for 14 minutes. Came out nicely browned.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Diane DiPrete says
CAN YOU SUBSTITUTE CANNED SALMON? THANK YOU
staysnatched says
You can.
Sweets says
Great recipe.
My air fryer only had 380, so I did that flipped half way threw (I’m new to AF) and then cooked total 12 mins.
Thank u!
staysnatched says
Awesome! So glad it worked out!
Mayah says
Made these these this morning. So easy and quick. And delicious!!! Definitely will make again (and again)!
staysnatched says
I love quick and easy!
gretchen says
I have to admit -- I was a little hesitant to put these in the air fryer, but it worked so perfectly! I'll be trying these with salmon over the weekend. Thank you for the recipe and great idea!
staysnatched says
So many skeptics that see it all works out!
Allison says
I made these for dinner tonight and they were SO good. Could not believe how easy they were to make. Will definitely be making again.
staysnatched says
Air frying makes them easy!
Lauren says
My husband and I loved these!! Super easy to make and really delicious!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Laura Parrish says
WOW! Quick, easy and IMPRESSIVE meal! The whole family loved them. Thanks for another killer recipe to add into rotation.
staysnatched says
Yay! Such an easy and delicious recipe!
@blkgirlwellness says
These crab cakes turned out amazing. I didn’t have eggs so I used chia seeds and a bit of water as a substitute and it worked great.
staysnatched says
I'm glad that worked for you!
K. Phillips says
Fantastic! There's 5 in my household so I cooked them in a cast iron skillet on the stove top.The recipe is solid! It reminded me of the days when I could order apps at the bar of my favorite restaurant. With a recipe this easy, I can enjoy them whenever the mood strikes.
staysnatched says
Yes! Great crab cakes right at home!
Keli says
The fact that these are beyond easy to make is an absolute blessing! I’m not a cook but my son was so intrigued he wanted to help! They’re AMAZING! Like amazingly wonderful in all the right ways. I’m from the north east and currently residing in the South and cannot find a good crab cake to save my life! Now I can make my own! A little piece of home.
staysnatched says
Yes! So much better at home.
Julie Guenther says
I was so happy to see you posted a recipe for crab cakes in the air fryer! Sadly, we do not eat whole wheat bread crumbs (we eat no grain products at all) - so I wonder if you think pork rind dust/flour would be good as a substitute. I really don't want to ruin a batch of lump crab meat. Thanks!
staysnatched says
I've never tried that so I can't tell you definitively. It will probably work, but yes you will have to test it and risk it maybe not turning out how you like.
Heather says
Nice lil protein packets from Ms Brandi. If you can make tuna salad, you can level up and make this.
staysnatched says
That's true! They are easy, right?!
Veronica C. says
These crab cakes were so delicious! I never would have thought that making them was such an easy process. Thank you for giving me the confidence to try something new in the kitchen!!! I will be using the leftover cakes for crab eggs benedict for brunch tomorrow morning.
staysnatched says
Yay for easy crab cakes!
Ashley says
These are SO good! I made these for dinner over a salad and also made mini crab cakes for an app and everyone was raving about them and asking for the recipe. I ended up buying them Brandi’s air fryer cookbook so they could get all the amazing recipes.
staysnatched says
thank you for sharing the recipe!
Lara says
Super easy and flavorful! This was one of my first air fryer recipes I tried, and it definitely did not disappoint. I love that Brandi offers easy to follow recipes with videos! Low carb and healthy! My family was impressed.
staysnatched says
I'm glad the family was impressed!
Amanda G. says
I’ve always been hesitant to make crab cakes for my fiancé and I. I have a running joke with him that because his stepdad makes such great crab cakes, anything I made wouldn’t even hold a candle to them! But tonight I made these, and they were excellent! Turned out perfect and even the fiancé loved them too 😜.
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you both loved them!
Ashley says
Question, do you drain the crab meat? I am assuming yes since the photo of the ingredients in the bowl does not look wet. Thanks! Can't wait to try them!
staysnatched says
Mine doesn't come with any liquid to drain. If yours does, I would.
Ashley says
@staysnatched, Thank you!
Kathy Camp says
There Awesome !!!!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed them.
Diana says
Amazing and super easy recipe. My kids ate every last drop and were asking for more. Brandi hit it out of the ball park yet again!
staysnatched says
Yay! Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Allison says
Made these for a thanksgiving appetizer and they were a hit! So easy to make too.
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Rochelle B says
This is the only recipe I’m going to use for crab cakes from now on. This was so flavorful with not a lot of filler. The recipe was super easy to follow. My husband is super picky about crab cakes but loved these.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I love hearing that!