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    Cucina by Elena » Recipes » Classic Italian Recipes

    Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg)

    Published: Nov 25, 2022 · Modified: Sep 13, 2023 by Elena · 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg)- if you love Maryland-style crab cakes, this recipe is for you! There is little filler, and the jumbo lump crab meat is the star of the show. Seasoned with lemon, parsley, and Old Bay Seasoning, this is the best crab cake recipe!

    You can make the filling up to a day in advance and bake them when ready. Serve them for a special occasion or any night of the week!

    You will also love Fried Butterfly Shrimp Recipe (Easy and Crunchy), Stuffed Salmon Recipe with Shrimp and Crab, Classic Lobster Bisque Recipe (Easy), and King Crab Salad Recipe (Simple and Easy). If you are wondering what to serve with crab cakes- get inspired here.

    Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg)

    I fell in love with authentic Maryland crab cakes when I visited Maryland as a child. The Chesapeake Bay is home to Maryland’s famous blue crabs. 

    This recipe is inspired by my dad's *famous* and delicious crab cakes. I request his crab cakes every chance I get. They are filled with lump crab meat and contain just the right spices and filling to make any crab lover swoon.

    They are baked to golden brown perfection and served with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (or tartar sauce, if desired).

    Crab Cakes Without Eggs

    This is recipe is similar to my dad's but made without using eggs in the filling to create eggless crab cakes. I love this easy recipe, and it is beautiful for all of those with egg allergies.

    crab cakes displayed on wooden board with lemon and parsley.
    Jump to:
    • Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg)
    • Simple Ingredients
    • Best Crab Meat for Crab Cakes
    • Crab Cake Filler
    • How to Make Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg) Step-by-Step Photos
    • Variations
    • Can I make these easy Crab Cakes ahead of time?
    • Storage
    • What to Serve with Crab Cakes
    • Top Tip
    • Crab Cakes Recipe FAQ
    • More Seafood Recipes
    • Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (egg-free)

    Simple Ingredients

    These easy crab cakes are best made with quality crab meat (see my recommendations below). Splurge on good crab meat as the rest of the ingredients are inexpensive.

    ingredient shot for recipe
    • Crab Meat
    • Mayonnaise (egg-free or vegan mayo)
    • Panko Breadcrumbs
    • Green Onion
    • Fresh Parsley
    • Dijon Mustard
    • Worcestershire Sauce
    • Old Bay Seasoning
    • Lemon Juice
    • Butter or Olive Oil

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Best Crab Meat for Crab Cakes

    The fresher the crab meat, the superior the taste of the crab cake. Ask your grocer where to find the freshest crab meat in the store.

    I purchase fresh crab meat sold in a 1 lb plastic tub from the seafood counter in my local grocery store. You can sometimes find the tubs on the ice next to the seafood counter. Buy the best crab meat you can find to create the very best crab cakes.

    Here are some options and names you will find on package labels for the type of crab meat for this recipe.

    • Jumbo lump crab meat
    • Blue crab meat
    • Claw meat
    • Fresh lump crab meat
    • Backfin crab meat

    Stay away from imitation crab meat for making crab cakes. It's simply not worth it and won't give you the best results.

    Crab Cake Filler

    We don't want a lot of filler to let the crab remain the star ingredient, but we need a little texture and binger to hold everything together. All of these options work well interchangeably.

    • Panko bread crumbs (used in this recipe and my personal preference)
    • Saltine crackers, made into crumbs
    • Ritz crackers, made into crumbs

    How to Make Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg) Step-by-Step Photos

    Can you believe these crab cakes are ready in 20 minutes? They are super easy to pull together for a fabulous presentation and a luxurious-tasting meal.

    process: crab cake mixture

    Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Generously grease a rimmed baking sheet with butter or nonstick spray or line it with a silicone baking mat.
    In a large bowl combine the mayonnaise, parsley, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, lemon juice, and salt together. Mix until combined.

    TIP: Place the crab meat on top, followed by the panko breadcrumbs. With a rubber spatula or large spoon, very gently and carefully fold them together. Do not mix vigorously or the crab meat will fall apart.
    Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day if making ahead of time.

    Using a ½ cup measuring cup, portion the crab cake mixture into 6 mounds on the baking sheet. (Do not press down or smush the cakes). Use your hands to shape the mounds, so they are one uniform mound.

    process. butter on top of crab cakes before baking.

    Brush the tops with melted butter or olive oil. This creates a nice crust.

    process. Baked crab cakes on baking sheet.

    Bake the crab cakes for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges and on top. Drizzle each with fresh lemon juice and serve warm.

    bakes crab cakes on baking sheet.

    Variations

    Try this recipe as it is written the first time you make it and try these variations the next time!

    • Spicy - add a little hot sauce to the crab mixture for added heat.
    • Saucy - crab cake sauce ideas (even though I prefer without a sauce) include tartar sauce, hollandaise sauce, and even cocktail sauce.

    Can I make these easy Crab Cakes ahead of time?

    Yes! The good news is you can prepare the crab cake mixture and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking the crab cakes. Simply brush with butter or olive oil before baking, and you are ready to bake and serve.

    crab cakes displayed on wooden board with lemon and parsley.

    Storage

    Cover leftover crab cakes tightly with plastic wrap or an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    What to Serve with Crab Cakes

    Crab cakes make a delightful main dish or even as a sandwich on a toasted bun. Serve with a beautiful salad, roasted potatoes, and homemade bread or focaccia.

    Make a surf and turf dinner with these recipes- How to Cook Steak in a Pan (Perfect Recipe) and How to Cook a Small Prime Rib Roast Recipe.

    You can make mini crab cakes and serve them as finger food, a crowd-pleasing appetizer. They make great leftovers as well if you have any!

    Top Tip

    • For the best crab cake texture, use (jumbo) lump crab meat, a little filler, and bake the cakes in a very hot oven. Alternatively, you can use an air fryer.

    Crab Cakes Recipe FAQ

    Is it better to pan-fry or bake crab cakes?

    You can certainly do both. I find that frying them in a frying pan makes it easier for the crab cakes to fall apart when flipping them. I simply brush butter or olive oil on top of the crab cakes and bake them in the oven. They are perfect that way and don't fall apart!

    What makes crab cakes stay together?

    Typically, crab cakes use eggs as a binder. In this Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg) we use vegan mayo as a binder and skip the egg. The crabcake holds together great without any egg white or whole egg added.

    What kind of crab meat is best for crab cakes?

    Jumbo lump crabmeat is generally the best choice for crab cakes. Jumbo lump Maryland crab meat is perfect for making these easy crab cakes at home. Using delicate lump crabmeat requires less binding for the cakes.

    crab cakes displayed on wooden board with lemon and parsley. one crab cake on a white plate.

    More Seafood Recipes

    • Crispy Baked Cod with Panko Recipe
    • Baked Stuffed Flounder with Crab and Shrimp
    • Easy Blackened Cod Recipe
    • Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp
    • Seafood Pasta with Red Sauce (Linguini Frutti di Mare)
    • Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe (with Fettuccine)
    • Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass With Lemon Butter Herb Sauce
    • Squid Ink Pasta Recipe with Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Sauce
    crab cakes displayed on wooden board with lemon and parsley. one crab cake on a white plate. with bite taken out of it.

    Make sure to leave a ⭐️star rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.

    I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.

    Print
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    cover photo. crab cakes no egg

    Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (egg-free)

    ★★★★★

    5 from 3 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Easy Crab Cakes Recipe (no egg)- if you love Maryland-style crab cakes this is the recipe for you! There is little filler and the jumbo lump crab meat is the star of the show. Seasoned with lemon, parsley, and Old Bay Seasoning this is the best crab cake recipe!

    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 pound fresh lump crab meat
    • ⅔ cup Panko bread crumbs
    • ¼ cup mayonnaise (vegan mayo, or regular mayo if no egg allergies)
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried)
    • 1 tablespoon green onion
    • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (up to 1 and ½ teaspoons for a spicier kick)
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus more for serving
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • Pepper to taste
    • 2 tablespoons melted butter (or olive oil)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Generously grease a rimmed baking sheet with butter or nonstick spray or line it with a silicone baking mat.
    2. In a large bowl combine the mayonnaise, parsley, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, lemon juice, and salt together. Mix until combined.
    3. Place the crab meat on top, followed by the panko crumbs. With a rubber spatula or large spoon, very gently and carefully fold them together. Do not mix vigorously or the crab meat will fall apart.
    4. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day if making ahead of time.
    5. Using a ½ cup measuring cup, portion the crab cake mixture into 6 mounds on the baking sheet. (Do not press down or smush the cakes). Use your hands to shape the mounds, so they are one uniform mound. Brush the tops with melted butter or olive oil. This creates a nice crust.
    6. Bake the crab cakes for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges and on top. Drizzle each with fresh lemon juice and serve warm.

    Notes

     

    Storage: Cover leftover crab cakes tightly with plastic wrap or an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    • Author: Elena
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
    • Category: Savory
    • Method: American
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: crab cakes, no egg crab cakes, main dish, seafood, Maryland style crab cakes

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cucinabyelena on Instagram when you make the recipe! I would love to see it. Don't forget to leave a STAR RATING and REVIEW on this post. Thank you!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy Norton says

      September 03, 2023 at 3:43 pm

      These are amazing! I live in Maryland, so this is a blasphemy, but I replaced the Old Bay with Cavender's Greek seasoning so it wouldn't be too spicy for visiting grandkids. I used high quality local Maryland lump crab and they were amazing - a huge hit with all! I will be coming back to this one over and over for sure!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        September 04, 2023 at 7:52 pm

        Yay! So happy everyone loved them. What a treat with that fresh Maryland crab!

        Reply
    2. Jessica says

      August 04, 2023 at 7:57 pm

      If I plan to make these ahead of time and freeze them, would you recommend freezing before baking or after?

      Reply
      • Elena says

        August 05, 2023 at 1:41 pm

        Freeze after baking and the reheat! Enjoy.

        Reply
    3. Lisa says

      February 02, 2023 at 5:58 pm

      Just tried the recipe for the first time and my husband loved them!

      Reply
      • Elena says

        February 03, 2023 at 12:01 pm

        So happy he did! We love to make them for special occasions. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Jodi says

      December 26, 2022 at 9:16 pm

      I made these crab cakes for Christmas Eve. They were amazing!! Everyone loved them. I will always make this recipe for the holidays!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Elena says

        December 28, 2022 at 2:44 pm

        So happy you found a staple recipe to make again and again! It is one we love!

        Reply
    5. jDD says

      November 29, 2022 at 11:33 am

      These are the best crab cakes! So easy to make too.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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