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Home » Salads » Crab Salad Recipe

March 3, 2019 By Sara 51 Comments

Crab Salad Recipe

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Crab Salad Recipe | Seafood Salad | Deli Salad #crab #salad #seafood #lowcarb #keto #lunch #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This crab salad is a blend of imitation crab, vegetables and herbs, all tossed in a simple creamy dressing. A quick and easy salad that’s perfect served over lettuce, with crackers, or in a sandwich.

I’m always looking for new lunch options, some of my favorites include rainbow veggie pinwheels and Greek pasta salad. This crab salad can be made in less than 10 minutes, is packed with protein and is totally delicious!

Crab Salad Recipe | Seafood Salad | Deli Salad #crab #salad #seafood #lowcarb #keto #lunch #dinner #dinneratthezoo Crab Salad Recipe | Seafood Salad | Deli Salad #crab #salad #seafood #lowcarb #keto #lunch #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Creamy crab salad with fresh vegetables and dill in a mayonnaise dressing.

I’m always tempted to pick up those ready made salads at my local deli counter, but doing that on a regular basis can add up really quickly! This crab salad is a copy of the seafood salad my grocery store makes. It’s inexpensive to make and tastes even better than the store bought version.

What is imitation crab?

Crab salad is often made with imitation crab, because it’s inexpensive, available year round, and can be found in almost every grocery store. Imitation crab is made of mild white fish, typically Alaskan Pollock, which is blended with other ingredients to form a product that looks and tastes similar to real crab. You can use real crab in your crab salad if you prefer, but it’s definitely easier to go with imitation crab.

Imitation crab flakes in a bowl.

How do you make crab salad?

This crab salad is a mixture of imitation crab flakes, celery, red onion, fresh dill, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning and mayonnaise. Everything gets mixed together in a big bowl, then you can either chill your salad, or serve it immediately.

Imitation crab, celery and red onion in a serving bowl.

Tips for Crab Salad

  • I use imitation crab flakes because they’re already cut into bite sized pieces. You can also buy the stick-style imitation crab and slice it yourself.
  • I highly recommend using fresh dill, the flavor is superior to dried dill. If you need to use dried dill, you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of dried for fresh.
  • You can use low fat mayonnaise if desired.
  • I recommend making sure your red onion is finely chopped so that you don’t get large pieces in each bite. You can also use sliced green onions instead of red onion for a milder flavor.
  • This crab salad can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  • You can add other ingredients to this salad, such as diced cucumber, or even other seafood such as shrimp.

Imitation crab, seasoning, dill, celery and mayonnaise in a bowl.

Ways to serve crab salad

You can eat this crab salad as-is, or serve it in a variety of different presentations.

  • Lettuce: Spoon your crab into a butter lettuce cup.
  • Crackers: Serve your salad with a side of buttery crackers.
  • Sandwich: Add your crab to a toasted roll along with some green leaf lettuce.
  • Avocado: Spoon your crab into an avocado half.
  • Pasta: Add 8 ounces of cooked short pasta to make a pasta salad.
  • Cucumber: Spoon onto cucumber slices for an easy party snack.
  • Puff Pastry: Fill up cooked puff pastry shells with the salad.

Crab salad served on a bed of lettuce with a side of crackers.

Once you try this crab salad, you’ll be hooked. It’s so much fresher tasting than the deli version and the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd!

More salad recipes

  • Pesto Pasta Salad
  • Cucumber Tomato Salad
  • Avocado Chickpea Salad
  • Black Bean and Corn Salad
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad

Crab Salad Video

Creamy crab salad with fresh vegetables and dill in a mayonnaise dressing.
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5 from 21 votes

Crab Salad

This crab salad is a blend of imitation crab, vegetables and herbs, all tossed in a simple creamy dressing. A quick and easy salad that's perfect served over lettuce, with crackers, or in a sandwich.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword crab salad, seafood salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 309kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 pound imitation crab meat flaked style, or sticks cut into slices
  • 1/2 cup celery finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons red onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped, plus more for garnish

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl. Stir gently to combine.
  • Serve immediately, or cover and chill for up to 2 days.
  • Sprinkle with additional chopped dill for garnish if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 625mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 1.9mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Filed Under: Lunch, Salads Tagged With: Seafood

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Comments

  1. David says

    February 19, 2021 at 12:14 pm

    5 stars
    Great, simple recipe! Tweaked it a teeny bit. Added a little sour cream and some Cajun seasoning. Used half crab and half krab. Went well with the Polish/Russian black bread I made yesterday.
    Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  2. Melissa says

    February 4, 2021 at 12:28 pm

    5 stars
    This was really great and easy to make! I added a little more mayonnaise because I was using dehydrated celery flakes. Will definitely be making this again.

    Reply
  3. Bill says

    November 16, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    So good! I bought the 2 lb package of the faux crab at
    Sam’s . Used the recipe as read except for 1/8 cup sweet relish. Also used my food processor slicer blade to shred the fish makes it more “crablike”. Perfect so thanks!!!

    Reply
  4. Mindy says

    August 26, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    5 stars
    I put this salad on sour dough bread, topped and with cheese and the toaster. Viola crab melt! Delicious!

    Reply
  5. Sophie says

    August 5, 2020 at 7:55 am

    5 stars
    This was delicious. Perfect as a summery side dish. I did not add the celery because I didn’t have any on hand, but it was great nonetheless. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Julie Mueller says

      August 5, 2020 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      Hi
      I made this with the help of my mother
      Shes 79
      It was a great bonding time for one another
      It was amazing
      I say you definitely need to try it

      Reply
    • Amy Jean Marsalis says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:02 am

      Yum I just made this but added a bit of myself in here subbed celery for cucumber added a bit of sour cream used lime juice instead of lemon juice and no onions its amazing

      Reply
  6. Lynnlie says

    July 22, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    I’m trying to understand how this recipes has 21 g of carbs…I’m only counting about 6? Any help is appreciated 🙂

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 23, 2020 at 1:13 pm

      Imitation crab has about 13 grams of carbs per serving, if you used fresh crab it would likely be less.

      Reply
      • Susan says

        January 3, 2021 at 9:35 am

        YES, Real crab has no carbs

        Reply
  7. Matt says

    June 27, 2020 at 9:59 am

    5 stars
    A really good recipe; I’ve made it a few times with both real crab and fake crab. Both are excellent. My recommendations:
    – Go WAY heavier on the Old Bay seasoning. At minimum a full teaspoon, maybe 2.
    – I serve this on toasted potato hot dog rolls. The toasting really bumps this up a notch and the potato rolls are better than regular hot dog rolls.
    – Don’t skimp on the fresh dill or use dried. It really makes a difference if you use the fresh stuff. And you can use the leftover to make pickles!
    – Sprinkle your sandwich or however you eat it with Old Bay and fresh lemon juice.

    Reply
  8. Toya says

    May 16, 2020 at 1:48 pm

    We added dried cranberries for a tart , sweet lil surprise . It’s a game changer

    Reply
  9. Kelia says

    May 12, 2020 at 9:33 am

    Do you think I could use Greek yogurt instead of mayo?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 13, 2020 at 7:53 pm

      I might do a blend of greek yogurt and mayo, the yogurt on its own may be too tart!

      Reply
  10. Renee says

    May 10, 2020 at 10:15 am

    5 stars
    Currently making this. Just want to thank you for the recipes

    Reply
  11. Treena says

    May 6, 2020 at 4:15 pm

    Thanks for the inspiration!
    I had one pkg of the ‘faux’ crab meat (8 Oz) already, then bought a 12 Oz. Pkg of small, cooked (peeled and deveined) frozen shrimp. Defrosted & drained it, then added it to the shredded ‘crab.’
    Mixed it into a half cup of mayo + couple of Tblsps of cocktail sauce and a Tblsp of chili sauce. Added a dash each of garlic powder, dried minced onion and dried dill weed (what I had.) Chopped a stalk of celery and a half of a small green pepper and mixed it all together. Easy peasy, TY!
    Next time, I’ll probably grate and add a carrot, and maybe cook, cool and add a few cups of rice or shell pasta.

    Reply
  12. Mark says

    March 10, 2020 at 10:33 pm

    5 stars
    This is a fantastic recipe! I added a little sugar to taste, otherwise as written. This is as good or better than any store-bought crab salad I’ve ever had.

    Reply
  13. Ellen says

    February 18, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    5 stars
    Filled a tortilla with the salad and made a wrap. It was excellent, great recipe!!

    Reply
  14. Callie says

    December 21, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    I don’t have any old Bay seasoning, what can I use instead?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 22, 2019 at 7:22 am

      You can make it yourself by combining 2 teaspoons celery salt, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, and 1/8 teaspoon each of black pepper and ground red pepper.

      Reply
    • Diane Barnes says

      January 9, 2020 at 3:36 pm

      I didn’t have any bay seasoning either as I live in Switzerland but it was still delish without it, used it instead of tuna salad in tuna melt, absolutely
      fabulous!

      Reply
    • Jennifer Simms says

      August 14, 2020 at 10:51 am

      Paprika will be fine

      Reply
  15. Lex says

    September 12, 2019 at 10:21 pm

    5 stars
    Very tasty! We skipped the dill and added fresh garlic and used green onion.

    Reply
  16. Terry says

    August 5, 2019 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    Delish!!

    Reply
  17. Tamara A Green says

    July 30, 2019 at 7:44 am

    5 stars
    I have been making crab salad for years. This is by far the best recipe, yet!!! I added jalapeno to add a bit of a kick. Thank you for sharing. I will be using this recipe from now on

    Reply
  18. Rickell Eastland says

    July 1, 2019 at 10:02 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely DELICIOUS! Quick and easy to make . I added green onions for an extra kick.

    Reply
    • Edith says

      October 24, 2019 at 7:28 am

      I added sour cream bell peppers macaroni and the other ingredients and it is delicious. Thanks

      Reply
  19. Sheri says

    June 25, 2019 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    This was delish! I did not have fresh dill so I used dry.
    Yum!

    Reply
    • Callie says

      December 21, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      I don’t have any old Bay seasoning, what can I use insted?

      Reply
      • Caroline Betancourt says

        March 15, 2020 at 7:19 pm

        Try this:
        2 tablespoons celery salt.
        1/4 teaspoon paprika.
        1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper.
        1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
        1 pinch dry mustard.
        1 pinch ground nutmeg.
        Good luck. 🙂

        Reply
  20. Bonnie J Olson says

    June 23, 2019 at 1:19 pm

    Making this right now!!!

    Reply
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