Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

You wanna know what makes me WAAAYYYY less “crabby” on a rainy Monday?! Well, that would be this recipe for Air Fryer Crab Cakes with Old Bay Aioli đŸ™‚

Especially knowing I made the actual crab cakes the night before and all I had to do at dinner was throw them in the air fryer.

There are so many recipes for crab cakes!

This one I feel like is the perfect combo of veggies, seasoning, and tons of lump crab meat without too much filling.

This one is also SO much healthier because they are air fried and not fried in butter or oil.

How to make Air Fryer Crab Cakes

The first step is cooking some diced red bell pepper, onions, and celery in a skillet over medium heat in olive oil for about 8 minutes.

Seasoned simple enough with kosher salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.

veggies for crab cakes

Then add Old Bay seasoning, garlic, fresh thyme, and fresh lemon juice.

old bay seasoning container

The lemon juice and thyme really give these crab cakes a fresh and vibrant flavor.

Cook this for one more minute and let it come to room temp.

veggies and seasoning for crab cakes

Once the veggies are at room temp, gently fold in a pound of lump crab meat, panko bread crumbs, and eggs.

Lump crab meat is not as hard to find as you might think.

crab panko and eggs for crab cakes

It comes in cans at the grocery store at a pretty reasonable price.

You could also get it from the seafood counter of course.

The eggs and bread crumbs will bind the crab cakes together so they are easy to form and hold together nicely.

crab cake mixture

Forming the cakes with your hands is the only way to do it.

It’s a dirty job, but also satisfying once you see the cakes come together.

Once formed, place them on a lined baking sheet or tray.

These will need to set up in the fridge for at least an hour so they don’t fall apart.

I did mine the night before to make a busy weeknight dinner a breeze.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Cooking the Air Fryer Crab Cakes

When you are ready to air fry these babies, place four at a time in your air fryer basket.

Set the air fryer to 370 for 12 minutes.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Golden brown, succulent crab cakes is what will await you!

As these were cooking I whipped up an Old Bay Aioli as a dipping sauce.

The sauce is light mayo, Sriracha, garlic, lemon juice, and Old Bay seasoning.

It’s the perfect compliment to these gorgeous crab cakes.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

I also served Air Fryer Crab Cakes with extra lemon wedges on the side along with the Old Bay Aioli.

Not too shabby for a Monday night dinner đŸ˜‰

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

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If you like Air Fryer Crab Cakes, you might also like these recipes…

Crab and Corn Stuffed Poblanos

Cheesy Crab and Corn Stuffed Poblanos

And also Seafood Wonton Nachos

Seafood Wonton Nachos

Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Spicy Crab Sushi Stacks

Spicy Crab Sushi Stack

Air Fryer Hoisin Salmon Burgers

Air Fryer Hoisin Salmon Burgers

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Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Air Fryer Crab Cakes are made a little healthier by cooking them in the air fryer instead of in oil, full of yummy flavor and served with Old Bay Aioli!

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Air Fryer, Air Fryer Recipes, Crab, Crab Cakes, Old Bay, Recipe, Seafood, TikTok
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 crab cakes
Calories 310 kcal
Author Cheri Renee

Ingredients

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 3 celery stalks
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • kosher salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/2 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning
  • 1 pound cooked lump crab meat (fresh or canned)
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • Optional: extra lemon wedges to squeeze over top

Old Bay Aioli

  • 1 cup mayo (or light mayo)
  • 1 to 2 Tbsps Sriracha (or hot sauce of choice)
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp Old Bay seasoning

Instructions

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

  1. Dice the red pepper, onion, and celery. Drizzle olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the peppers, onions, celery, season with kosher salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  2. Add the garlic, lemon juice, thyme, and Old Bay. Cook 1 more minute.

  3. Turn off the heat and let the mixture come to room temp. Once at room temp gently fold in the crab meat, panko bread crumbs, and beaten eggs.

  4. Form this mixture into 8 crab cakes, lay flat on a lined baking sheet or tray and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

    Note: You can make these the night before, store in the fridge with a piece of parchment paper or foil over top.

  5. Place 4 crab cakes in the air fryer basket, Set the air fryer at 370 degrees for 12 minutes. Repeat with remaining 4 crab cakes. Serve with Old Bay Aioli and lemon wedges on the side if desired.

Old Bay Aioli

  1. Whisk all ingredients together and serve with the Air Fryer Crab Cakes.

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