Baked crab legs in butter sauce
🛒 What You’ll Need
- 2-3 lbs King or Snow Crab legs (thawed if frozen) 🦀
- 1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted butter, melted 🧈
- 4-5 cloves Garlic, minced 🧄
- 1 tbsp Old Bay seasoning ✨
- 1 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped 🌿
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika 🌶️
- 1 Lemon (half juiced, half sliced into wedges) 🍋
- Optional: A pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat! 🌶️🔥
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. 📝🔥
- Clean the Crab: Rinse your crab legs under cold water and pat them dry. For easier eating later, you can use kitchen shears to slightly score the shells. 🦀🚿
- The Liquid Gold Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, Old Bay, paprika, and parsley. 🌪️🧈🧄🤤
- Assemble: Arrange the crab legs in a single layer on your baking sheet. Brush the garlic butter sauce generously over every inch of the crab. Tuck lemon slices between the legs for extra aroma. 🏗️🍋✨
- Bake: Cover the tray tightly with aluminum foil to trap the steam. Bake for 15–20 minutes (15 for Snow Crab, 20 for King Crab) until steaming hot and fragrant. ⏲️🎯🔥
- The Finish: Remove the foil and give the crab one last brush with the buttery juices from the bottom of the pan. 🥄🤤
- Serve: Pile them high on a platter and serve immediately with the remaining butter sauce on the side for dipping! 🍽️🍋😋
🔥 Pro Tips:
- The Steam Secret: Covering the tray with foil is crucial! It prevents the delicate crab meat from drying out and ensures it stays juicy and tender. 🦀🛡️💎
- Score the Shells: Use scissors to snip a line down the length of the legs before baking. This allows the garlic butter to seep inside the shell and flavor the meat directly! ✂️🧈🎯
