The BEST Dungeness Crab Recipes

Get to cracking this sweet and succulent crustacean, because these are 14 of the best Dungeness crab recipes to try!

Sweet, tender, and naturally rich in flavor, Dungeness crab is one of the most versatile seafood ingredients you can cook with.

In this roundup, you’ll find a mix of easy crab recipes for every occasion— Fresh pasta dish, comforting mac and cheese, flavorful tacos, classic crab cakes, rich dips, and simple seafood meals you can make any night of the week.

These recipes also work great for using leftover crab meat after a seafood boil or cracking fresh whole crab at home.

If you’re new - Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is a species found along the Pacific Coast and is one of the most popular crabs for cooking thanks to its sweet, tender meat and rich flavor. According to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, it thrives in the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, making it a seasonal favorite for fresh seafood recipes.
A typical recreation season opens in July and ends in September. Keep these recipe ideas handy and send to your crabbing buddies!

Let’s get into the 14+ best Dungeness crab recipes!

Table of Contents

What Can You Make With Dungeness Crab?

Crab Cakes

A true classic! Crab cakes are one of the most popular crab recipes out there. This one is elevated with red onions instead of the typically green onions, and has a unique spice added that makes all the difference! Paired with a 4-ingredient tartar sauce.

RECIPE: Crab Cakes

Crab Rolls

Like New England Lobster rolls, but using the Pacific Coast’s Dungeness crab instead! It’s pure delicacy in a bun!

RECIPE: Crab Rolls

Cooked Whole Dungeness Crab

cooked crab in a pot crab legs crab sections and whole crab cooked

When you're working with fresh crab, the best absolute best way to enjoy it is freshly cooked whole. We use it often after our family crabbing trips, so it's tested and perfected. Enjoy it with a side of garlic butter, but most often than not, you won't need sauce with how sweet and juicy it turns out!

RECIPE: How to Cook Dungeness Crab

Cajun Dungeness Crab Boil

dungeness crab boil with corn sausage potato and lemon

The second best way to highlight this sweet crustacean is by making this one-pot wonder that will ensure lasting memories. Cajun Dungeness Crab Boil is easy to whip up, since everything goes into one large pot, but oh boy the juiciness is out of this world.

RECIPE: Dungeness Crab Boil

Crab Mac & Cheese

crab and mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs and parsley on a blue plate

A creamy crab Mac made using Gruyère and cheddar with a hint of Old Bay!
RECIPE: Crab Mac & Cheese

Seafood Boil

Is your mouth watering just looking at this seafood boil?! This seafood boil is SO scrumptious that you'll be dreaming about it for days! This recipe is filled with Dungeness crab, prawns, mussels, steamer clams, corn, sausage and potatoes. All buttered up in a Cajun sauce that's buttery goodness.

RECIPE: Seafood Boil

Crab Omelet

It doesn't get much better than a crab breakfast or brunch. It's one of the best crab recipes to make with any leftovers.

RECIPE: Crab Omelet Recipe

Hot Crab Dip

crab spinach artichoke dip topped with more crab served with crackers

This cheesy, creamy, flavor-packed crab dip is pure dynamite at a gathering! It's perfectly garlicky and reminds me so much of our popular garlic sauce (toum) that compliments any meal and works perfectly at a party. It sure is a seafood dip I can get behind!

RECIPE: Hot Crab Spinach Artichoke Dip

Crab Tacos

Get your crab on with this Fresh Crab Tacos recipe! These flavorful seafood tacos are made with fresh Dungeness crab, a simple fresh corn salad, then top with a spectacular cilantro lime dressing and fresh jalapenos!

RECIPE: Crab Tacos

Crispy Air Fryer Crab Rangoon

This crab rangoon recipe is packed with this sweet crustacean! You will be sure to taste them in every bite! They're perfectly crunchy on the outside, and creamy and crabby on the inside. With a little squeeze of fresh lemon, a grating of fresh garlic, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley - turns this classic dish into a Mediterranean palette!

RECIPE: Crispy Air Fryer Crab Rangoon

Crab Pasta with Lemon Garlic Sauce

Crab Pasta With Tomatoes and Lemon Garlic Sauce

This Crab Pasta With Tomatoes and Lemon Garlic Sauce is a light and fresh, crab and pasta dish that's a perfect one-dish wonder to impress!

Using fresh and simple ingredients, from the lemon, garlic, and herb sauce, to compliment succulent fresh crab. Make this light and refreshing crab pasta recipe in just 20 minutes!

Check out this recipe

Crab pasta with lemon herb sauce and tomatoes surrounded by dungeness crab

How To Open, Clean, and Crack Dungeness Crab Guide

If you're working with whole Dungeness crab, or would like to take on recreational crabbing, then this is the perfect article for you! It perfectly guides you through the ins and outs of how to crack, how to open a whole crab, and what to keep vs what to discard. Reach out if you have any more questions!

How to RECIPE: How to Crack Crab

Crab Melt on an English Muffin

crab melt on english muffin with tomato cheese and fresh crab meat

Try eating just one of these fresh and cheesy crab melts. With a crunchy crab meat salad made with Old Bay seasoning, which is the quintessential seasoning to pair with our favorite crustacean! Topped with a cheese mixture, then a juicy slice of beef tomatoes, and to top it all off, even more cheese! It's simply scrumptious!

RECIPE: Crab Melt