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Easy Ultimate Butter Garlic Crab

Butter Garlic Crab is a restaurant-quality seafood dish made at home with succulent crab simmered in rich butter, fresh garlic, herbs, and lemon. This simple yet luxurious recipe delivers bold coastal flavors in just 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Seafood
Calories: 440
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 –2.5 lbs Dungeness crab cleaned, cracked, pre-cooked
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 10 –12 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped (optional)
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Lemon wedges for serving
  • Crusty bread optional

Method
 

  1. Rinse and pat dry cracked crab pieces thoroughly.
  2. Melt half the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Deglaze pan with white wine and simmer 2–3 minutes.
  5. Add remaining butter, herbs, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, and paprika.
  6. Reduce heat and simmer sauce for 5–7 minutes.
  7. Add crab to skillet and gently toss to coat.
  8. Cover and warm crab for 5–7 minutes.
  9. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and bread.

Notes

Avoid burning garlic by keeping heat at medium-low. Allow crab to reach room temperature before adding to sauce for best texture.