What to Serve with Crab Legs – 15 Delicious Sides
If you’re a seafood enthusiast looking to make a delicious seafood dinner at home, you may be wondering what to serve with crab legs. Whether you’re hosting a backyard crab boil or planning a cozy dinner for two, there are lots of side dishes to choose from to complete your meal well.
A crab leg dinner can be light and healthy or on the more indulgent side, depending on what you pair it with.
If you’re wondering if you can make a Red Lobster quality meal at home, I’m here to tell you that you can! Of course, you’ll want to serve your crab legs with a melted butter dipping sauce.
A creamy and rich, buttery concoction with a hint of garlic powder is the quintessential companion to enhance the natural sweetness of crab meat. But what about the sides that will make your meal filling and well-rounded? Check out my list of 15 ideas to serve with crab legs for your seafood feast!
1. Garlic Butter Linguine
A classic garlic butter linguine adds a satisfyingly savory and buttery base to your crab feast, allowing you to soak up all the delicious flavors of the sweet meat.
2. Loaded Baked Potatoes
Indulge in the goodness of loaded baked potatoes, topped with sour cream, regular butter, chives, cheese, and maybe even some crispy bacon for a hearty side.
3. Green Beans Almondine
Fresh green beans tossed in olive oil, black pepper, and garlic powder and then roasted with almond slices make the perfect side dish for a light crab legs dinner.
4. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
For a carb-filled delight, try crab-stuffed mushrooms, combining the sweetness of crab with a savory, breadcrumb-packed filling.
5. Cajun Dirty Rice
Spicy Cajun dirty rice, loaded with ground meat, vegetables, and aromatic spices, adds a Southern-inspired kick to your crab leg feast and is a great option for adding a ton of flavor to your meal!
6. Corn on the Cob
Sweet corn on the cob adds a delightful sweetness and a satisfying crunch, balancing out the flavors of the crab. This simple recipe is a great pair for any seafood meal.
7. Lemon Garlic Herb Rice
Fragrant rice infused with lemon and fresh herbs provides a light and refreshing contrast to the richness of crab legs. Lemon rice is the perfect seafood dish side. Top it with a little Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
8. Grilled Asparagus
Tender-crisp asparagus spears, lightly seasoned and grilled, offer a great pairing with an earthy flavor to balance the indulgence of crab.
9. Roasted Potatoes
These are perfect for seafood boils! Rustic roasted potatoes with a crispy exterior and fluffy interior make for a hearty side that pairs well with crab legs.
10. Old Bay French Fries
You can’t go wrong with this delicious side dish when it comes to any kind of seafood. Crispy fries seasoned with olive oil and sprinkled with Old Bay spice bring a classic Chesapeake Bay flavor to the table. Sweet potato fries are another great option too!
11. Spinach and Feta Salad
A light and nutrient-packed spinach and feta salad with a tangy vinaigrette complements the richness of crab legs.
12. Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Soft, cheddar cheese biscuits with a hint of garlic provide a warm and comforting accompaniment, perfect for sopping up crab juices. You could opt for garlic bread as an alternative to these biscuits.
13. Potato Salad
Fresh, cold potato salad is one of the best side dishes for crab legs for a seafood cookout or casual get together. The flavors complement each other, and the potato salad is filling and satisfying.
14. Quinoa Salad with Citrus Dressing
A light and protein-packed quinoa salad with a citrusy dressing offers a healthy and vibrant side option.
15. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamy potatoes with garlic and cheese is one of those classic sides that pair so well with a main course of different types of crab legs. We also love cheddar chive mashed potatoes with crab as well.
Now that you have a variety of sides to pair with your crab legs, don’t forget to bookmark how to reheat crab legs for your leftovers!