Description
Delicious baked crab legs smothered in a flavorful garlic butter sauce with hints of lemon, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper, perfect for a quick and elegant seafood dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 2 lbs king crab legs (or snow crab legs)
Butter Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Serving
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Crab Legs: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If the crab legs are frozen, ensure they are thawed completely. Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to slightly cut the shells to expose the meat, making it easier to enjoy once cooked.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add minced garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper if using. Let the mixture simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Season the Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and season the sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your preference.
- Prepare for Baking: Arrange the crab legs in a baking dish in a single layer. Generously brush the crab legs with the prepared butter sauce, ensuring they are well coated.
- Bake the Crab Legs: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the crab legs for 15 to 18 minutes. Halfway through baking, baste the crab legs with the remaining butter sauce to keep them moist and flavorful.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the crab legs from the oven. Garnish with additional chopped fresh parsley and serve hot with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the meat.
Notes
- Thaw crab legs completely before baking for even cooking.
- To avoid overcooking, keep an eye on the crab legs during baking as they can dry out if left too long.
- For spicier flavor, increase cayenne pepper or add a dash of hot sauce to the butter sauce.
- Leftover butter sauce can be saved for dipping bread or vegetables.
- This recipe works well with both king crab and snow crab legs, adjust quantity and cooking time accordingly.
