Best 4 Air Fryer Cajun Crab Cakes Recipes

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Embark on a culinary journey to the vibrant flavors of Louisiana with our tantalizing Air Fryer Cajun Crab Cakes. These delectable crab cakes are a symphony of fresh crab meat, aromatic Cajun spices, and a crispy, golden-brown crust. Indulge in the perfect balance of textures and flavors as you bite into the succulent crab filling, enveloped in a crispy coating infused with the bold heat of cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you through two irresistible Air Fryer Cajun Crab Cakes recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish. The first recipe presents a traditional approach, using a combination of mayonnaise, bread crumbs, and eggs to bind the crab cakes together. For a gluten-free alternative, the second recipe swaps out the bread crumbs for almond flour, ensuring that everyone can savor the deliciousness of these Cajun crab cakes.

Whether you prefer the classic or gluten-free version, our Air Fryer Cajun Crab Cakes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. They make a fantastic appetizer, main course, or addition to your next party buffet. Serve them with a tangy remoulade sauce, a dollop of tartar sauce, or a zesty lemon wedge for an extra burst of flavor.

So, prepare to tantalize your taste buds and embrace the vibrant spirit of Cajun cuisine with our Air Fryer Cajun Crab Cakes. Let's dive into the recipes and embark on this culinary adventure together!

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

AIR FRYER CRAB CAKES RECIPE



Air Fryer Crab Cakes Recipe image

These crab cakes are very filling and taste like they are full of crab meat! The seasoning offers a light salty and smoky flavor.

Provided by Chad Campbell

Categories     Seafood

Time 13m

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 ounces crab meat, see note
¼ cup green onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir well until evenly combined.
  • Scoop out portions of the mixture and shape into 3 inch patties.
  • Spray the air fryer basket with an oil mister or brush with olive oil.
  • Arrange the patties in an even layer in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave room around each patty.
  • Air fry at 370 degrees for 6-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of your patties.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 52 calories, Carbohydrate 2 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 32 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 2 grams fat, Fiber 0 grams fiber, Protein 6 grams protein, SaturatedFat 0 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 1, Sodium 362 grams sodium, Sugar 0 grams sugar, TransFat 0 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 1 grams unsaturated fat

AIR FRYER CRAB CAKES



Air Fryer Crab Cakes image

Air frying crab cakes means less mess and less cleanup, but at no sacrifice to taste. They're flavorful, crisp, and lighter than if cooked with oil in a skillet. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, aioli, or tartar sauce, as well as fresh lemon wedges.

Provided by lutzflcat

Categories     Appetizers and Snacks     Seafood     Crab     Crab Cake Recipes

Time 1h25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 large egg, beaten
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®)
½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
1 pound lump crabmeat, drained and picked over
3 tablespoons milk
salt and ground black pepper to taste
11 saltine crackers, crushed
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 wedges lemon
olive oil cooking spray

Steps:

  • Combine egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, seafood seasoning, and hot pepper sauce in a small mixing bowl. Stir in green onion and set aside.
  • Place crab meat in a medium bowl and break up with a fork. Add milk, salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Add crushed saltines and baking powder and toss lightly to combine. Add to the egg mixture, stirring gently and being careful not to break apart the crab lumps.
  • Scoop crab with a 1/3-cup measure and form into 8 patties. Place patties on a plate, cover, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 8 hours.
  • Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Spray crab cakes on both sides with cooking spray and place them in the air fryer basket.
  • Cook for 5 minutes, then gently turn the cakes over, and cook until crispy brown, about 5 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 241.7 calories, Carbohydrate 10.5 g, Cholesterol 136.3 mg, Fat 9.4 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 28.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 937.1 mg, Sugar 1 g

AIR FRYER CRAB CAKES WITH CHIPOTLE SAUCE



Air Fryer Crab Cakes with Chipotle Sauce image

These deliciously crisp cakes are loaded with sweet crab. Not overmixing and allowing the mixture to rest before cooking helped the crab cakes hold their shape better, as did cooking them in an air fryer. Serve these hearty morsels with creamy chipotle sauce and you'll have a decadent dinner in no time.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 large egg
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper (about 1 small bell pepper)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound fresh lump or jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
Nonstick cooking spray, for the air-fryer basket and crab cakes
Lemon wedges, for serving
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped, plus 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the crab cakes: Whisk together the egg, mayonnaise, bell pepper, chives, parsley, lemon zest and juice, mustard, seafood seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl. With a rubber spatula or large spoon, very gently fold the crab and panko into the mixture. Try to avoid breaking up lumps of crab as much as possible. Cover the crab mixture with plastic wrap and allow to rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day. This will allow the panko to absorb more liquid and help bind the crab cakes together better.
  • For the chipotle sauce: While the crab mixture is resting, stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, chipotles and adobo sauce, chives, parsley and lemon zest and juice in a small bowl until combined. Season with salt and black pepper and set aside. (The sauce can be refrigerated, covered with plastic wrap, up to 1 day.)
  • Just before cooking, divide the crab-cake mixture into 4 portions. Lightly compact each portion to form a patty (about 3 1/2 inches in diameter) with your hands to ensure they hold their shape while cooking and place onto a large plate.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and spray the basket with cooking spray. Place the crab cakes into the basket and spray the tops with cooking spray. Cook until deep golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway through and spraying again with cooking spray, about 16 minutes. Serve warm with chipotle sauce and lemon wedges.

CAJUN CRAB CAKES (NO BREADCRUMBS)



Cajun Crab Cakes (No Breadcrumbs) image

Two of the most crucial ingredients used in New Orleans cooking are Cajun spice and local seafood! Crab has always been my favorite type of shellfish, but I have never really cared much for crab cakes. The overpowering presence of seasoned breadcrumbs used in most recipes interferes with the sweet and delicate flavors of the fresh lump crabmeat. After years of experimenting with many of New Orleans' most famous crab cake recipes, I have created a flavorful, mouth-watering, delicious piece of work! The key is to use a small amount of crumbled crackers instead of breadcrumbs. I hope you enjoy!

Provided by Tracy

Categories     Appetizers and Snacks     Seafood     Crab     Crab Cake Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 23

2 tablespoons salted butter
½ onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
½ large red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 bunch green onions (green portion only), chopped
½ large carrot, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's®)
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
2 large eggs, beaten
1 pound lump crabmeat, picked free of shell
9 buttery crackers (such as Keebler Club® crackers), crushed
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chile-garlic sauce (such as Sriracha®)
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's®)
2 teaspoons parsley flakes
1 teaspoon paprika

Steps:

  • Melt butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the celery, bell pepper, green onion, carrot, and garlic. Continue to cook and stir until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes more.
  • Season with 1 tablespoon parsley flakes, 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning, basil, pepper, dill weed, oregano, and thyme. Cook and stir until fragrant, 5 minutes more.
  • Transfer cooked vegetables to a large bowl; allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Set skillet aside for later use.
  • Stir the beaten eggs into the vegetables. Mix in the crabmeat and cracker crumbs with your hands, making sure not to break up the chunks of crab too much.
  • Shape the crab mixture into 12 small cakes.
  • Heat vegetable oil in the skillet over medium high heat.
  • Pan-fry the crab cakes in batches until golden brown on each side, about 3 minutes.
  • To make dipping sauce: Whisk together the mayonnaise, chile-garlic sauce, 2 teaspoon Creole seasoning, 2 teaspoon parsley flakes, and paprika.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 529.9 calories, Carbohydrate 13.3 g, Cholesterol 143.6 mg, Fat 44.2 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 21.3 g, SaturatedFat 8.8 g, Sodium 1039.5 mg, Sugar 3.2 g

Tips:

  • Prepare the crab cakes in advance: You can make the crab cakes up to 24 hours before cooking. Simply form them into patties, cover them with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When you're ready to cook them, just take them out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature for 15 minutes before air frying.
  • Use fresh crab meat: Fresh crab meat will give your crab cakes the best flavor. If you can't find fresh crab meat, you can use frozen crab meat that has been thawed and drained.
  • Don't overmix the crab cakes: Overmixing the crab cakes will make them tough. Gently mix the ingredients together until they are just combined.
  • Use a light hand when forming the crab cakes: The crab cakes should be gently formed into patties. Don't pack them too tightly, or they will be dry.
  • Spray the crab cakes with cooking spray before air frying: This will help them to brown and crisp up.
  • Serve the crab cakes with your favorite dipping sauce: Some popular dipping sauces for crab cakes include tartar sauce, remoulade sauce, and cocktail sauce.

Conclusion:

Air fryer crab cakes are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer or main course. They are perfect for a party or a weeknight meal. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying dish that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy seafood recipe, give air fryer crab cakes a try. You won't be disappointed!

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