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Home » Instant Pot

Easy Instant Pot Crab Legs

Published: Aug 25, 2021 · Modified: Dec 15, 2021 by staysnatched · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

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This Easy Instant Pot Crab Legs recipe will show you how to steam fresh or frozen snow crab or king crab in your pressure cooker. Season this seafood with lemon, Old Bay, or my favorite Cajun rub.

Instant Pot crab legs on a white plate with lemon

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.

You can whip up your own crab boil right in the Instant Pot. Trust me, it's easy!

fresh crab legs, spices, water, lemon, and trivet on a flat surface

Table of Contents

  • Why Use the Instant Pot
  • What Type of Crab Legs to Use: The Difference Between Snow Crab and King Crab Legs
  • How to Buy and Shop
  • How to Thaw
  • How to Cook Crab Legs in an Instant Pot
  • Cook Time/How Long to Cook
  • Frozen Crab Legs
  • How to Reheat
  • Pair With These Recipes
  • More Seafood Recipes
  • More Crab Recipes
  • Easy Instant Pot Crab Legs
    • Want to save this recipe for later?
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
      • Optional Lemon Garlic Butter
    • Instructions 
      • Optional Garlic Butter
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition
    • Nutrition Data

Why Use the Instant Pot

It's fast. You will have this entire process completed in under 15 minutes. That works great if you are planning to serve this dish for the holidays or for a gathering.

The crab legs are so much easier to crack. This is my favorite way to make crab legs that are extremely easy to crack. The pressure from the pot, along with the steams works wonders. When you remove the crab, you can see how much easier the legs are to navigate and how the inside meat has become tender.

What Type of Crab Legs to Use: The Difference Between Snow Crab and King Crab Legs

I’m using snow crab in this recipe, but you can also use king crab. Snow crab legs are sold in clusters and typically by the pound. They are much easier to handle and crack, in comparison to king crab legs, because they have a smooth shell. There are usually at least 4 legs in each cluster. Their flavor is mild and sweet.

King crab legs have a very prickly shell. They are large in size and are typically sold individually (by the leg) in pounds. The meat is a little more delicate and sweeter. They are a lot more expensive than snow crab. (I usually get these for New Year’s!).

King crab legs will fit in my 6 quart Instant Pot. Sometimes you may have to break them in half.

crab legs in an Instant Pot with fresh lemon

How to Buy and Shop

Most crab will come precooked and often frozen. Sometimes, if it’s sold thawed, then it has been thawed from frozen. After the crabs are caught they are cooked on the boat and then flash-frozen right on the spot. If the crab legs are orange or red in color when you bought them, then they have already been cooked. This process is reheating them.

How to Thaw

The best way to thaw is to put them in the refrigerator overnight (at least 8 hours). You can also put them in a bowl and run cool water over them to thaw quickly.

Thawed crab will last in the fridge for 1-2 days.

Instant Pot crab legs on a white plate with lemon

How to Cook Crab Legs in an Instant Pot

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. Place the trivet into the bottom of the pot.
  2. Pour in water along with the Old Bay Seasoning and Cajun Seasoning.
  3. Add in the crab legs and lemon.
  4. Place the lid on the pot and seal.
  5. Pressure Cook.
Instant Pot crab legs on a white plate with lemon

Cook Time/How Long to Cook

These only need to cook for 1 minute. It will take the pot about 5 minutes to come to pressure.

Frozen Crab Legs

You can cook these from frozen if you wish. Use the same cook time, the pot will take longer to come to pressure. I typically thaw them because in my experience, using frozen creates excess water within the crab.

How to Reheat

I don’t reheat them. I love to serve these with warm butter and that provides the temperature adjustment I need. If you know you want to eat more of them later, crack them first. The longer they sit, the harder they are to crack and the meat gets trapped inside.

If you must reheat, saute them in a pan with oil or butter until warm.

Pair With These Recipes

Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Southern Coleslaw
Green Goddess Cobb Salad
Zucchini Au Gratin
Air Fryer French Fries

Creamy Ranch Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki

More Seafood Recipes

Air Fryer Fish Sandwich
Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto
Instant Pot Shrimp and Grits
Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Air Fryer Catfish
Air Fryer Salmon

Air Fryer Crab Cakes
Air Fryer Lobster Tails
Slow Cooker Crockpot Gumbo

person holding crab leg meat dipped in butter

More Crab Recipes

Crab Stuffed Salmon
Crab Rangoon Dip
Hot Baked Crab Dip
Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
Baked Crab Legs
Air Fryer Crab Legs
Seafood Stuffed Pasta Shells

Instant Pot crab legs on a white plate with lemon

Easy Instant Pot Crab Legs

Brandi Crawford
This Easy Instant Pot Crab Legs recipe will show you how to steam fresh or frozen snow crab or king crab in your pressure cooker. Season this seafood with lemon, Old Bay, or my favorite Cajun rub.
5 from 10 votes
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Rate this recipeLeave a review!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 minute min
IP to come to pressure 5 minutes mins
Total Time 11 minutes mins
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 320 kcal

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Instant Pot Trivet
  • Crab Cracker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 ½-2 pounds crab legs
  • ½ fresh lemon Any size will work.
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning Optional

Optional Lemon Garlic Butter

  • 2 tablespoons butter Melted
  • 3 garlic cloves Minced
  • ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • ½ fresh lemon I use the lemon after it's pressure cooked with the crab.

Instructions
 

  • Place the trivet (that comes with the Instant Pot) into the bottom of the pot.
  • Pour in 1 cup of water along with the spices.
  • Add in the crab legs and the lemon.
  • Place the lid on the pot and seal. Cook for 1 minute on Manual> High Pressure Cooking.
  • When the pot indicates it has finished, quick release the steam.
  • Serve the crab legs immediately.

Optional Garlic Butter

  • Combine the ingredients in a bowl and stir.

Video

Notes

  • You can use snow crab legs or king crab legs. I use the same cook time for king crab legs. They take a little longer to come to pressure.
  • Adjust the spices and seasoning to suit your taste. Omit the Cajun seasoning if you want.
  • If your crab legs don’t have much flavor, you didn’t purchase quality crab or the crab is expired/has gone bad. Even without seasoning, the crab legs should have a sweet taste (if they haven’t gone bad).
  • To crack a crab leg, I hold the leg horizontally, with the back of the leg facing me. Then press down on either the middle of the leg or about ¼ of the way up from the bottom of the leg. I can always tell if the crab is fully cooked (reheated) and fresh because of how easily it cracks.
  • If when I crack the leg, it doesn’t return a nice chunk of meat, and the meat is stuck on the inside, it’s usually because it wasn’t cracked soon enough after cooking. The longer they sit, the harder they are to crack and easily remove the meat.
  • Nutrition facts exclude optional garlic butter. Calculate the nutrition using your nutrition calculator of choice.
  • I tested these in the air fryer and in the oven. Making them in the Instant Pot is probably my favorite. The shells are the easiest crack likely due to the pressure cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1poundCalories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 74gFat: 1g
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Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

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Comments

  1. Kat says

    August 25, 2021 at 7:50 pm

    5 stars
    We use this method ALL THE TIME because of you. So helpful and delicious!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      August 26, 2021 at 10:50 am

      I'm so glad you enjoy the method!

      Reply
  2. M.T. says

    August 26, 2021 at 6:50 am

    This is so genius. I never thought to use my IP for crab legs. I can't wait to try this!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      August 26, 2021 at 10:48 am

      I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  3. Skye says

    September 06, 2021 at 5:50 pm

    Never thought of using the instant pot but this definitely has me converted. So tender and easy to crack. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      September 10, 2021 at 5:22 pm

      You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  4. Tammy Smith says

    October 18, 2021 at 11:10 am

    5 stars
    I used your instant pot method this weekend for the crab legs and they were amazing! Instead of just melting butter, I used the lemon garlic butter recipe and it was amazing too!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      October 22, 2021 at 7:52 pm

      That sounds so good!

      Reply
  5. PJ says

    October 30, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    5 stars
    Simple and great recipe! Super easy, don’t hesitate to try it

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      November 03, 2021 at 8:06 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  6. Kara says

    January 04, 2022 at 11:34 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is awesome!!! I love crab and used this recipe at my parents house for New Years. I will definitely make this many more times!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      January 05, 2022 at 10:20 am

      I'm glad to hear you will make them again.

      Reply
  7. Brittney says

    February 05, 2022 at 9:26 pm

    5 stars
    I never made crab legs at home, and this was the perfect recipe for a first timer. Simple, clear, easy, and flavorful. I did a quick thaw with a bowl of cool water and followed Brandi’s instructions and had no issues. I definitely recommend making the lemon garlic butter for dipping. I added some Cajun seasoning to my butter, it was so good. I will use this method in the future! Brandi is also the reason I even purchased an IP and it really comes in handy.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      February 07, 2022 at 10:04 am

      Awesome. That's so good to hear.

      Reply
  8. Debbie says

    December 31, 2022 at 9:24 pm

    5 stars
    Made this for dinner tonight. I used frozen crab legs, followed the directions and they came out perfect! Thank you!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      January 03, 2023 at 9:34 am

      You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  9. Felicia says

    June 06, 2023 at 8:13 pm

    5 stars
    So quick and easy to make. These were very easy to crack open as well. Definitely will make them again.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      June 10, 2023 at 1:18 pm

      Glad to hear you will make them again!

      Reply
  10. Monica O says

    June 30, 2023 at 7:38 pm

    5 stars
    So good!! I didn't want to heat up the house with the oven, so the instant pot was great! The legs were super easy to crack and the lemon butter made these even better!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      July 08, 2023 at 3:16 pm

      My favorite!

      Reply
  11. Felicia says

    September 08, 2024 at 9:17 pm

    5 stars
    Other kids ask for nuggets. My daughter asked for crab legs 😂
    By far the easiest way to make crab legs and I used Brandi’s tip to break them apart.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      September 09, 2024 at 7:47 am

      haha! Your daughter knows what's up!

      Reply
  12. Jennifer says

    March 23, 2025 at 5:34 pm

    5 stars
    Our go to for making crab legs at home. Easy and delicious… plus easy to crack.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      March 25, 2025 at 8:09 am

      Yay! Such a great method.

      Reply
5 from 10 votes

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Welcome!

Brandi currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri and is a self-taught cook and fitness enthusiast. She is the author of The Super Easy Air Fryer Cookbook and has been featured on Good Morning America and in Women's Health Magazine, Shape, Parade, Essence, Country Living, Southern Living, BuzzFeed, Delish, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Spaces Magazine, Greatist, and more.

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