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Our gluten-free easy crab cake recipe is loaded with sweet imitation crab meat (though you could use fresh lump crab) and perfectly seasoned with fresh chives, Dijon mustard, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce.

Super easy to make in the air fryer as we’ve done - Size them for a healthy appetite, or scoop them into flavorful-sized bites for cocktail party appetizers or dip-worthy finger food. We love this recipe for its rich crab taste and bright flavors that are sure to bring the coast to your table.

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East-Coast-Inspired Crab Cakes

For years, we searched for the perfect crab cake recipe. We wanted a recipe that wasn’t overly filled with breading and had no minced pepper, no parsley, and only a hint of onion flavor so that the taste of the crab comes through.

ABOUT THIS RECIPE
(per serving)

Gluten FreeDairy FreeNut FreeKetoSoy Free
Servings | 6
AVG. Maker RATING: 
5 from 2 votes
Write a Recipe Review
Prep Time :15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Custom Time10 minutes
Total Time37 minutes
Course : Appetizer, Brunch, Dinner
Cuisine : American
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Calories 265
Fat 16
Carbohydrates 23
Protein 6

The best crab cake recipe you will ever find.

East-coast-inspired, this crab cakes recipe came to us after a trip to the Outer Banks, where we enjoyed lunch at a bar and restaurant near the Wright Brothers National Memorial in the town of Kill Devil Hills.

The restaurant’s recipe, our waitress revealed, included cracker crumbs instead of breadcrumbs and the perfectly crisp cakes were convection baked rather than fried in oil. Those clues eventually unlocked our success!

Over time our crab cakes recipe took shape, becoming perfectly golden brown and crispy in one of our favorite kitchen gizmos, the air fryer.  Lastly, because what is life without a little sauce, we’ve made a sweet, creamy condiment for dolloping on top using feathery fresh dill from our garden.

We feel it’s the best crab cake (with sauce) recipe you will ever find.

Yes! They are that good, and we’re sure you’ll love them too!

How to Make Crab Cakes at Home

Crab Cake Ingredients

(Yields 7-8 crab cakes)

Imitation Carb—We’ve used Morey’s® imitation crabmeat, which, in our opinion, is an over-the-top, delicious brand that’s budget-friendly. The 16-ounce package is perfectly portioned, which is just what you’ll need for this recipe. If you can find it, you’ll LOVE It! TransOcean® brand is our second runner-up, but you’ll need two 8-ounce packages to make the recipe. Please note: When shopping for imitation crab, read the package and look for certified gluten-free.

Egg – One large egg is all you’ll need.

Mayonnaise—1/2 cup is the right amount to mix everything without making it too creamy. Our first choice is always the only “Real” (gluten-free) mayonnaise, Hellman’s ®, or Best Foods® if you live west of the Rockies.

Saltine Table Crackers – Light and crispy Schar Table Crackers® is our go-to brand for gluten-free saltines. The taste is just like regular saltines; for convenience, they are packed in individual packages so they stay crisp and don’t spoil. You’ll need two packages (1 cup or about 12 crackers) crunched up.

Dijon Mustard—Just one tablespoon of this robust Dijon Mustard sauce adds flavor and sweetness to the crab.

Worcestershire Sauce – Be sure to read the label carefully. Sometimes hard to find, you’ll want to look for a certified gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. A good stand-in is Bragg Liquid Aminos, which will add a slight soy flavor if none is available. One tablespoon is all you’ll need either way.

Fresh Chives – One tablespoon of fresh Chives, chopped small, plus a little more for garnishing, adds a slight onion flavor without overpowering, letting the crab taste shine through.

Hotsauce—Texas Pete’s Original Hot Sauce is the brand we’ve used forever with no issues. Please note that it is not certified gluten-free. That said, the label reads (peppers, vinegar, salt, xanthan gum, and benzoate of soda—to preserve freshness and flavor). One teaspoon of hot sauce will add a slight amount of zest to the taste!

Coconut Spray for Air Frying – A light coconut spray helps air fry the crab cakes to golden brown perfection.

Serve with lemon wedges and Fresh Dill Sauce (recipe included in the printable card below).

Picture the Recipe Step-by-Step

Cuisinart TOA-65 Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven, 1800-Watt Motor with Digital Display and Controls – Intuitive Programming, Adjustable Temperature Settings and Cooking Presets, Stainless Steel

Secrets to Making the Best Crab Cakes:

  • Don’t over-mix the ingredients.
  • Chill the mixture for 10- 30-minutes before forming it into cakes.
  • Do not pack the crab mixture too tight when forming the cakes.
  • Spray each cake with coconut oil spray before air frying.
  • Turn the cakes halfway through the air fry cooking.
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How to Make Fresh Dill Sauce

Makes 4-6 Servings

¼ cup Mayonnaise

¼ cup plain Greek or whole milk Yogurt

1 tablespoon fresh Dill, chopped

1 tablespoon Lemon Juice

1-1/2 teaspoons Garlic, minced (about one clove)

1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder

Instructions:

Add the mayonnaise, yogurt, chopped dill, lemon juice, minced garlic, and onion powder to a small bowl. Stir to combine thoroughly. Chill until ready to use.

The sauce will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Red Thermapen One by Thermoworks

Thermapen® ONE

We love our Thermapen ONE!
There's no more guessing if our food is at the correct temperature for doneness. Fast and extremely accurate, ± 0.5°F (± 0.3°C), you’ll know your temperature lightning-fast. The automatic backlight is brighter, and the light sensor is more sensitive to changes in ambient lighting conditions. It comes with a rugged, waterproof case and features a 5-year warranty against defects.

Crab Cake Serving Suggestions:

Have fun making these easy crab cakes in the air fryer. Then, serve them with fresh dill sauce for a perfect summertime main dish to kick back with on the patio with a cool glass of Riesling or Chardonnay.

Plate them up with a simple green salad, or enjoy any of these delicious ideas for completing your meal:

Cool Is Cucumber Mint Salad

Zucchini & Summer Squash Grill Packets

Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad

Asparagus and Pea Macaroni Pasta Salad

Before we go...

How do you like these Easy Crab Cakes made in the Air Fryer?

Let us know in the comments! Share it and rate the recipe – it’s super helpful for other readers and us. Just click the blue-green comment bubble on the bottom right of your screen to jump to the comment area below. And as always, don’t forget to take a picture and tag it #CookingGfreeDeliciously on Instagram. We love seeing what you cook up!

XXO

Kymberley

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Easy Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer with Dill Sauce

Loaded with sweet imitation crab meat (though you could use fresh lump crab) and perfectly seasoned with fresh chives, Dijon mustard, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce, this recipe for its rich crab taste and bright flavors is sure to bring the coast to your table.
Kymberley

@ GfreeDeliciously

5 from 2 votes
Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review! It’s super helpful for others and us!
This recipe may contain affiliate links. For more information, visit our Affiliate Disclosure.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Refrigeration Time 10 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Course Appetizer, Brunch, Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 265 kcal

EQUIPMENT

  • 1 Air Fryer or Convection Oven
  • 1 Large mixing bowl
  • 6 Small Prep Bowls
  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Bench Scrape
  • 1 Egg Mold
  • Utensils (Cooks Knife, Measuring Cups & Spoons, Rubber Spatula or Large Spoon)

INGREDIENTS
 
 

For the Crab Cakes

  • 16 ounces imitation Crab chopped into small to medium-size pieces (may substitute lump crabmeat)
  • 1 Egg
  • ½ cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 cup gluten-free saltine table Crackers (2-packages, or about 12 crackers)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tablespoon gluten-free Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh Chives chopped small (+ more for garnishing)
  • 1 teaspoon Hotsauce
  • Coconut spray for Air Frying
  • Lemon wedges and Dill Sauce for serving

For the Fresh Dill Sauce

  • ¼ cup Mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup plain Greek or whole milk Yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh Dill chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons Garlic minced (about 1 clove)
  • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder

INSTRUCTIONS
 

To make the Crab Cakes

  • Preheat the Air fryer to 325°F (163°C). Then gather and measure out all the ingredients, so everything is ready to combine.
    Gather and measure out all the ingredients.
  • Gently mix the ingredients, taking care not to break up the crab meat too much or over-mix. Once mixed, refrigerate for 10- 30-minutes to let the cracker crumbs absorb the liquids and flavors of the other ingredients.
    Gently mix the ingredients.
  • Divide or scoop the crab mixture into portions; lightly pack into patties about 1-inch thick. Make each crab cake generous (as shown) or into small bite-sized bits. [1]
    Lightly pack into patties about 1-inch thick.
  • Place the formed cakes onto a parchment paper-covered air fryer rack. Spray each patty with coconut spray, then fry for about 7-minutes or until the top side is deeply golden-brown. Flip, spray the facing side, and continue to fry for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and thoroughly heated.
    Place the formed cakes onto a parchment paper-covered air fryer rack.
  • Transfer the crab cakes to plates or a serving platter. Sprinkle with fresh chopped chives and serve with lemon wedges and dill sauce.
    5. Transfer the crab cakes to plates or a serving platter. Sprinkle with fresh chopped chives and serve with lemon wedges and dill sauce.

To make the Fresh Dill Sauce ( Makes 4-6 Servings)

  • Add the mayonnaise, yogurt, chopped fresh dill, lemon juice, minced garlic, and onion powder to a small bowl, stirring to combine thoroughly. Chill until ready to use.

YOUR OWN NOTES

KITCHEN NOTES

Footnotes:
[1] We’ve found that using a bench scrape and egg mold helps make the crab cakes easy to form in the perfect size and transfer to the air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 746mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Vitamin D: 0.2µg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword chives, crab, eggs, hot sauce, mayonnaise, mustard, quick and easy

Recipe Card with Nutrition powered by WP Recipe Maker

Copyright © 2017-2024 Kymberley Pekrul | GfreeDeliciously | gfreedeliciously.com | All content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. However, copying and/or pasting full recipes on social media is strictly prohibited. Please read my Photo Use Policy for detailed guidelines and further clarification.

RECIPE TAGS:

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Kymberley @gfreedeliciously

Hi, I'm Kymberley, the creator of GfreeDeliciously and the Amazing, Glorious Journey Programs. I pray that my work will inspire you to honor your body through God and Good Food from the inside out, all while enjoying your Amazing, Glorious Journey!

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My journey began when everything I thought I knew about cooking and eating suddenly changed when I discovered I was celiac. So, I re-learned how to eat, cook, and navigate through life gluten-free – trusting God and His plan for me.

I live in the Holylands of Central Wisconsin. All the recipes you’ll find here are gluten-free and inspired by the people and places I love most. Whenever possible, I cook with seasonal ingredients using fresh whole foods, making dishes suitable for everyday life and bringing food lovers together at the same table. I hope my recipes, and tips can make your life a little easier.

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