13 Best Lump Crab Recipes: Maryland’s Finest

Last updated on January 22nd, 2024

These incredible, mouth-watering lump crab recipes cover all menu categories ranging from appetizers to main entrees.

But one thing is for sure with all of them: They’re amazing!

Lump Crab Recipes From Maryland

Growing up in Maryland, I cut my teeth on crabs.

We were so lucky because crabs were regularly available to us Marylanders wherever we went.

Admittedly, I took it for granted that crabs would always be as plentiful as they were when I was younger.

Going out to eat crabs was our way of life during the summer months!

Specifically, a few of the seafood restaurants we frequented the most for crabs were:

• Phillips Seafood Restaurant in Ocean City (Now in Baltimore only)
• The Cracked Claw – originally in Germantown, then later in Urbana, and now, sadly, closed.
• Chesapeake Bay Seafood House – in Rockville, but now they’re closed.

We absolutely LOVED Chesapeake Bay Seafood House.

They offered a seafood buffet and all-you-can-eat crab legs, crabs, shrimp, hush puppies, French fries and even fried frog legs.

Yes, they really do taste like chicken!

We would sit there for hours on end cracking shells and enjoying each other’s company.

Crab Feasts

Also, if we weren’t going out to eat crabs, we were buying crabs by the bushel to eat at home.

And that’s what you call a crab feast ’round these parts!

One bushel of crabs, depending on the size of the crabs, equals between 5 and 9 dozen of these sought after crustaceans.

What we’d do is lay out newspaper across the entire table, usually outside on the deck, and pour the hot, steaming, ready-to-pick crabs onto the center of the table!

Each place setting had to have a crab mallet, crab cracker, a crab pick, a bowl of melted butter, and a bowl of vinegar.

And of course some Old Bay Seasoning!

Then you crack open a beer and get to crackin’ on those crabs.

Why Are Crabs So Expensive?

Maryland blue crabs are so expensive because they’re SO tasty!

In addition, the demand is high, but the supply is low due to the population declining over recent years.

These days you’re pretty darn lucky to get your mallets on some nice size, meaty crabs, justifying a true crab feast.

And when you do, it ain’t cheap!

But you know what I’ve learned through the years?

If it makes you happy, do it!

Don’t wait for a special occasion to make these crab recipes!

By the way, for several of these recipes you CAN substitute imitation crab meat.

Here are other truly delicious imitation crab meat recipes.

Of course the taste of imitation crab is not like the true crab flavor of Maryland blue crabs.

However, I gotta say it’s still downright tasty!

Traditional Maryland Lump Crab Recipes

So, as an alternative to spending this week’s paycheck on cracking crabs for hours on end, you can buy the crab meat, already picked!

As a result, you can create some downright amazing lump crab meat recipes!

You know that great feeling you get when you reminisce about something uplifting from your past?

Well, I don’t know if it’s just because I’m from Maryland, but that’s exactly how I feel every single time crab meat passes my lips.

It sounds a little dramatic, but for me, crab meat equals good times with the people I love the most!

So, why not increase these great feelings of joy by creating delicious lump crab recipes that can be enjoyed all year long?

And being that my entire website ranks pretty darn well for “cream of crab soup”, I knew I had to add to my crab recipe toolbox!

All of the simple ingredients in these recipes, including the crab meat, can easily be found at your local grocery store.

And don’t worry about using fresh crab meat.

Of course fresh lump crab meat is ideal.

BUT, there are some incredible Maryland canned lump and jumbo lump crabmeat brands who package their crab meat with the utmost freshness.

So without further ado, here are links to my favorite recipes using Maryland crab meat.

1. Maryland’s Grand Prize Cream of Crab Soup Recipe

This wonderful, crab-meaty creamy concoction won the Grand Prize at the 53rd Annual National Hard Crab Derby in Crisfield, Maryland.

Serve this soup up with a garnish of fresh parsley and your good to go!

Ms. Charlese Smith submitted this recipe and the rest is history!

2. Maryland Deviled Eggs with Lump Crab Recipe

Our most popular crab recipe to date is this amazing Maryland Deviled Eggs recipe with jumbo lump crab meat, some dijon mustard, Old Bay Seasoning and other delicious ingredients.

They were never even on my radar to make until my husband said he heard on the radio about something called Humpty Lumpty.

Um….. huh?

Anyway, I Googled it and couldn’t find any type of deviled eggs recipe called Humpty Lumpty.

So, I decided to just create the recipe on my own!

And I’m so glad that I did because they were out of this world delicious!

These deviled eggs are great topped with sliced green onions and a couple splashes of your favorite hot sauce.

Just remember if you are serving these to a crowd, please provide a label stating that they contain shellfish, as the crab can be hidden by the egg yolk.

3. Crab Stuffed Cucumber Cups with Old Bay Seasoning Recipe

These Crab Stuffed Cucumber Cups were really fun to make, using up some leftover lump crab mixture after making my Maryland Deviled Eggs recipe.

My husband couldn’t wait to dig into them!

It was fun to make the little scoops in each slice of cucumber to nestle the crab meat mixture into.

This is a super easy recipe to make!

4. Maryland Hot Crab Dip Recipe

Another tried and true, traditional Maryland crab recipe is this Maryland Hot Crab Dip.

Baked to a golden brown, you can eat this creamy dip with:

• Ritz crackers
• Tortilla chips
• Sliced baguette
• Celery
• Pita wedges
• Saltine Crackers
• Slices of sourdough bread

As a matter of fact, I wrote an entire post on What to Serve with Crab Dip.

With key ingredients being cream cheese and Worcestershire sauce, this dip is heaven in your mouth!

This is a great recipe for when you have guests over or for watching the big game.

Mmmm!

5. Lump Meat Crab Salad with Old Bay Seasoning Recipe

This Crab Salad Recipe with Old Bay Seasoning is seriously refreshing and actually pretty darn healthy!

With corn, avocado, red onion, lime juice, and of course crab meat, your taste buds will be so happy!

6. Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce Recipe

This Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce recipe is quite possibly the best crab cake I’ve ever had!

Fry them up in a large skillet using half olive oil and half butter for the best flavor.

The remoulade sauce, which is a French condiment similar to tartar sauce, really complimented this crab cake recipe perfectly!

Using fresh herbs, very little filler and panko bread crumbs or cracker crumbs as the crisp outer coating, these crab cakes will be a hit in your household!

And don’t forget the lemon wedges as a side garnish!

7. Air Fryer Maryland Crab Cakes

These Air Fryer Maryland Crab Cakes are made using a tried-and-true native Marylander’s recipe.

Using an air fryer, you can make this recipe using mini crab cakes as well.

Dip each bite of these crab cakes in some homemade remoulade sauce or some cocktail sauce and life is good!

8. Maryland Crab Pizza

I’m proud to say that I developed this Maryland Crab Pizza recipe myself!

Searching for inspiration but not finding exactly what I wanted, I took matters into my own hands and tested out some ingredients until I got the recipe just right!

Needless to say, my husband and son were very happy that I had to ‘test it out’ on them several times!

This crab pizza recipe fits perfectly on a rectangular baking sheet.

9. Traditional Crab Imperial

Again, with this recipe, I had to make it a couple of times until I got it just the way I liked it!

With a simple white imperial sauce, this Traditional Crab Imperial recipe is the epitome of Maryland’s Eastern Shore cuisine.

This classic dish is great served as an appetizer or the main course when entertaining.

10. Crab Stuffed Salmon

This Crab Stuffed Salmon Recipe combines tender, flaky salmon with the rich, sweet flavor of crab meat, creating a wonderful balance of flavors and textures.

11. Maryland Crab Soup

Delicious, easy to make and authentic, this is the best Maryland Crab Soup recipe to make at home!

12. Easy Crab Melts

Using lump crab meat and Old Bay Seasoning, every bite of these crab melts will take you back to all those crab feasts you enjoyed growing up.

13. Crab Macaroni and Cheese

One of my newest recipes, this Crab Macaroni and Cheese is the ultimate Marylander’s comfort food!

Finally, be sure to bookmark this blog post because we will be updating it every time we make a new crab meat recipe!

Next up will be a Chicken Chesapeake recipe! So stay tuned!

In the meantime, click on over to more Maryland themed posts here:

Best Steamed Crabs in Frederick Md

11 Awesome Made in Maryland Etsy Gifts For Marylanders

Baked Oysters on the Half Shell Recipe: Hoopers Island, Maryland