Crab Salad is an easy recipe that works great as a side dish or a filler to make a crab salad sandwich. You will love this delicious and easy side dish recipe!
Whenever I am getting remade salads from the deli, my eyes are always drawn to the Seafood Salad and the Crab Salad. They are absolutely delicious, but they are so easy to make at home. I love the simplicity of this recipe and it’s generous creamy dressing.
Thank you for this recipe.
My friends and family love it
Everytime I make it I get requests for the recipe
My 22 year old son even asked for the recipe after he polished off a big bowl!!! ♥️
How to Make Crab Salad
- Combine main ingredients. In a medium bowl combine combine the crab meat, red onion, and celery.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, Old Bay Seasoning, dill, salt, and pepper. Taste the dressing and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine the dressing and main ingredients.
Using Imitation Crab
Whenever I share my Crab Pasta Salad on Facebook, I get dragged big time for using imitation crab. It is my mom’s recipe, and she always used imitation crab, so that is how I make it. My mom probably picked using imitation crab for it’s affordability.
While I like to make this as an imitation crab salad, you absolutely can use real crab in this recipe. It would be fantastic here. If you use canned crab, make sure to go through it carefully to remove any shells that remain.
What is Old Bay Seasoning
Old Bay Seasoning is a mix of different spices. It is most widely used on the East Coast of the United States while eating shellfish. That being said, it is widely available throughout grocery stores in the United States. If you are unable to find it, you can make your own Old Bay Seasoning.
How to Eat Crab Salad
This crab meat salad can be eaten just with a fork as a side dish, but it would also be great a few other ways:
- Serve it in lettuce cups for a great low carb option.
- Make a crab salad sandwich. It makes for a filling lunch that you will really love.
- Use it as a topping on salad greens. Throw in some other vegetables and make it a really healthy lunch option.
Leftovers
This recipe is best when eaten within twenty-four hours of being made. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and given a stir before serving.
I do not recommend freezing this salad.
What to Serve with Crab Salad
If you are putting out a full spread for a get together and this salad is part of it, here are some other great recipes that you will love.
If you make this Crab Salad recipe or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Crab Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces imitation crab meat see note about using real crab meat
- 1/2 small red onion diced small
- 1 celery stalk diced
- 1 cup mayonnaise (I used light)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning learn more about Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill or 1/2 teasoon dry dill
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the crab meat, red onion, and celery.
- In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Old Bay Seasoning, fresh dill, and salt. Taste and add pepper to taste.
- Stir the dressing into the main ingredients and serve. This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days in an air tight container.
JJ says
Loved your Crab Salad! I did alter a tad. I was out of Old Bay so I used Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, added a smidgen of Spicy mustard, and a splash of Tabasco – delish! Hubby had it as a sandwich on Brioche bun, chips and dill spear and I had mine on a romaine lettuce leaf with crackers. Perfect light meal for a hot summer day! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Karen says
What to go if using real crab
You follow the recipe as written but replace the imitation crab with real crab.
Amber says
This was the first time making an actual recipe with imitation crab. Although I love it, I never know what to really do with it. This recipe used pretty much everything I already had at home minus a few cheap ingredients. This is a very tasty and economical dish. I just toasted my sourdough bread, and it still gave it a nice touch of buttery flavor for a sandwich. Even my dad was like wow this is a repeat performance! I already raved about this to a few of my friends. I look forward to using more of your recipes.
I’m so glad that you liked it, Amber!
Gabi says
Omit the extra salt…Old Bay seasoning has enough salt without adding more to the recipe. Otherwise, delicious!
I love this recipe as is, with kosher salt not table salt, but of course tastes vary.
Michelle says
This is delicious! I added pasta to this and extra dressing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Michelle!
Jeffery G Davis says
I mixed this up for me and my wife. Perfect recipe! Of course you could change some of the ingredients, like Old Bay to Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, however this is delightful as is. A handful of Ritz Crackers make for a tasty snack. Thanks for sharing your culinary wisdom !
I’m so glad you like it!
Sonia Hamilton says
🇨🇦 I made this salad this morning. I like it, but too much mayo for me, so next time, for personal preference, I will make with half a cup. Otherwise was good, simple and easy to make.
Faye says
Can you use lime juice in place of the lemon juice because I am allergic to lemon
I would go with a white wine vinegar instead. The lime will add a flavor that really won’t work here.
Oneta says
Mix the dressing in the large bowl to save a step of having to use two bowls. Great recipe.
KP says
This was amazing! I was looking for new ways to eat imitation crab and this is it. I might try using blended cottage cheese next time instead of the Mayo to get additional protein! Thanks for the amazing recipe!
I’m so glad that you liked it!