Grilled Crab Legs – an easy, simple grilled crab leg recipe that is perfect for a fancy surf and turf meal. Great for any special occasion!
Easy Grilled Crab Legs
Typically when making crab legs you start boiling water in a giant pot on the stovetop, but what if I told you there is a way to make delicious crab legs without waiting for the water to boil or making a huge mess!? It’s simple, just toss them on the grill! It is so quick and easy with none of the mess. Perfect for any special occasion – no matter what type of crab you get!
What You Will Need
- crab legs – grilling works for making any type of crab legs – snow crab, Alaskan king crab, or Dungeness crab.
- melted butter or ghee – used for dipping the crab after it has been grilled to perfection!
How Many Pounds Of Crab Legs Should I Serve Per Person
If you are planning to serve crab legs as the main item of the meal you will want to purchase about 1.5-2 pounds per person. If you are planning to serve the crab legs with another entreé, like a Standing Prime Rib Roast or Perfectly Grilled Steaks, you could scale back the amount of crab to around 1 pound per person.
Do I Need To Thaw Crab Legs Before Grilling
Yes! Thawing your crab legs before grilling will ensure that they are heated evenly. You can easily thaw crab legs by placing them in cold water for 20-30 minutes or by setting them in the refrigerator overnight.
How To Tell When Grilled Crab Legs Are Done
When they are done cooking they will be heated all the way through and a nice, bright red color. You can also look at the meat on the end – it should be firm & white, not rubbery at all.
Can They Be Overcooked
Yes, if they are left on the grill for too long the meat can become dried out. Most crab legs are pre-cooked so they only need to be reheated.
How To Grill Crab Legs
First, thaw your crab legs.
Then place them on the grill for 5-7 minutes, flip, and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Your cook times will vary depending on what type of crab you are cooking.
Once they are fully cooked, all you have to do is serve them with melted ghee or butter! That’s it!
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Other Seafood Recipes You Might Like
Crab Pasta Salad
Seafood Chowder
Grilled Shrimp
Butter Poached Lobster
Grilled Crab Legs
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner/Entree
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American
Description
Grilled Crab Legs – an easy, simple grilled crab leg recipe that is perfect for a fancy surf and turf meal. Great for any special occasion!
Ingredients
- 4 bunches of snow crab legs, fresh or thawed
- melted butter or ghee for serving
Instructions
- Ensure grill grates are clean and bring grill to medium-high heat.
- Place crab legs over direct heat and close the lid. Let cook 5-7 minutes.
- Open grill and flip. Close lid and let cook another 4-5 minutes or until they are warmed through.
- Remove from grill and serve immediately with melted butter or homemade ghee.
Notes
- King Crab Legs: the directions are the same for king crab legs, the cook time will just be a bit longer – about 7-10 minutes per side or until they are hot all the way through.
- Frozen Crab Legs: I would highly recommend thawing your crab legs before grilling. While you can grill frozen crab legs (the cook time will just be a bit longer) you risk that some of the crab meat may get dry (the thinner pieces) while other thicker parts may not be all the way done.
Vina says
I’ve been dying to grill crab legs, and I saw you recipe on Google. I checked you out first. It was all I needed. Thank you. Simple. No pressure. Can’t wait to get those babies on the fire lol.
Erin says
Yay! Enjoy – crab legs are one of my favorite foods!