This elevated classic old-fashioned Crab Melt recipe is an absolutely mouthwatering sandwich that will fulfill all your seafood cravings! It's served as a traditional open-faced crab sandwich and starts with a perfectly toasted English muffin, then fresh crab meat salad with a little crunch, along with the best cheese combination, a fresh pop of beef tomatoes, and even more cheese to top. You will want more than just one!
Crab melts are the perfect all-year-around satisfying treat for seafood lovers!
Just imagine the rich, sweet, and savory taste of fresh crab meat salad combined with melted asiago and white cheddar cheese, along with a slice of fresh juicy tomato, all on an old-fashioned toasted English muffin.
It's a mouth-watering dish that will leave you feeling satisfied! Plus, crab meat is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids! So not only is it delicious, but it's also good for you. Whether you're in the mood for a quick lunch or a relaxing dinner, a crab melt sandwich is the perfect choice, and you sure don't have to tell me twice since I love creating crab recipes for my family, friends and to share with you.
Use Alaskan king crab, Dungeness crab, or any species local to you!
Crab is such a healthy and versatile ingredient and there's countless ways to enjoy it beyond just a melt! It sure is one of our go-to crustacean. If you're working with whole crab, cracking and cleaning them is worth the work for this juicy crustacean, but even better when you have a hot and cheesy crab dip to look forward to!
For another seafood breakfast option, try making a crab omelet or my current favorite brunch food - salmon and egg breakfast toast!
If you're feeling adventurous, gather up your family and friends and make this classic easy Dungeness crab boil, with corn, sausage, and potatoes. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, there's always a delicious crab recipe that awaits!
Table of Contents
SUPER EASY CRAB MELT SANDWICH
Not only are these crab melts absolutely scrumptious, but they're easy to whip up! Which as a busy mom of a growing family, I absolutely thrive on. Here's the gist of how to make it:
First, gather your ingredients.
Then, toast the English muffins, don't skimp on the salted butter!
Next, in a bowl mix up all the crab salad ingredients. Chop, measure, and stir, is all it takes!
Now it's time to assemble...with a whole lot of asiago and white cheddar! Step by step thorough instructions below.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Here's a list of ingredients you'll need to make this mouthwatering crab melt recipe:
Crab meat
Use Dungeness, Alaskan king crab, snow, blue, rock, or whatever you have local to you. There are tons of great fish mongers that get their hands on fresh crab around me that I turn to when it's off season for us. Turn to your local fish markets for the best quality local seafood. This recipe can accommodate any fresh species.
Salad ingredients
- Mayonnaise
- Green onion, chopped
- Red or orange peppers, finely diced
- Fresh flat parsley, chopped
- Old Bay. A true classic pairing with any crab recipe!
Sandwich ingredients
- Asiago, shredded. I love this cheese when mixed with white cheddar, especially in seafood dishes. It adds a good pop of flavor and the right amount of salt.
- White cheddar, shredded
- Butter, salted or unsalted
- English muffins
- Fresh tomatoes, cut into slices
- optional sliced avocado
- Chopped parsley, to garnish
HOW TO MAKE CRAB MELTS
Crab melts are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that are perfect for any occasion!
To start, toast the bread under broil with some melted butter. Scoop the crab salad mixture on the slice of bread then place a handful of cheese on top. Broil until the cheese is melted. Add a slice of tomato and more cheese, broil again until the cheese melts.
Once the crab melts are done, remove them from the oven and serve them hot with a side of your choice.
Whether you're hosting a party or just looking for a quick and easy snack, crab melts are a great choice that everyone will love!
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Prepare the mixture - mix mayo, parsley, green onion, and spices. Then gently fold in the crab meat.
2. Prepare the oven - place the oven rack on the 3rd rack placement, or about 6†from the heat, then turn the oven to broil on high.
3. Prepare the bread - Butter the English muffins and place them on a sheet pan to broil until lightly browned, for 2-3 minutes.
4. Prepare the crab melt sandwich - Scoop the crab mixture onto the bread, place a handful of the cheese mixture on top, then broil for 2-3 minutes.
5. Top with a slice of tomato and another handful of the cheese mixture, then broil for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese has melted.
6. Top with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
EXPERT TIPS
With these tips in mind, you'll be able to make delicious and crowd-pleasing crab melts every time!
- Use fresh crab meat! For the best flavor, I like to work with fresh whole crab that I crack and clean myself, or fresh crab meat.
- Toast the English muffin prior to assembling the melts. This helps in avoiding the sandwich from getting soggy, and I sure love a toasted bread anyway!
- Watch the cheese closely to not overcook it. Cheese can go from melted to crispy fairly quickly. Stay close to the oven while broiling.
- Serve hot! As soon as it comes out of the oven you're ready to dig in. It's best enjoyed warm.
- Taste for salt and add more as needed. From the shredded cheese and Old bay seasoning it should have enough salt, but not everyone's salt factor is the same.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CRAB MELTS
When serving this cheesy crab sandwich, pair it with fresh fruit or a side salad. I love this fried feta and strawberry salad, it's sweet and savory! You can't go wrong with this pickled beet salad to make a healthy side.
Sliced avocado or tomatoes to serve alongside add extra freshness and a light side to compliment this yummy seafood sandwich. And don't forget to serve them hot out of the oven to ensure the best taste and texture.
STORAGE TIPS
It's best to store any leftovers separately into air tight bags or Tupperware. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days!
Follow the instructions on how to make crab melts to reassemble and rewarm them.
HOW TO PREP AHEAD
Here's how I like to prep this dish in advance for a super quick assembly when we're ready to eat:
- Toast the English muffins in advance and set in a bag or Tupperware to stay fresh.
- Make the salad in advance. Cover and refrigerate until you're ready to assemble.
- Pre-shred the cheese if you're working with a block of cheese, like I am.
- Pre-slice the tomatoes and chop the fresh parsley.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
- This is a tried and true tested and perfected recipe from our life on the coast. We work with fresh crab often and in every recipe, I like to make them shine!
- Separating the cheese into two parts and adding on top of the salad, then again on top of the tomato creates more room for this to be a cheesy melt. It's incredible!
VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Try different cheeses. Experiment with your favorite cheese. Others to choose from are manchego, swiss, parmesan, or brie.
- Add sliced avocado to add more freshness and a creamier texture.
- Substitute green onion for red onion for more flavor.
- Use another bread like sourdough, white bread, artisan bread, ciabatte or sliced baguette.
- Use another type of crab. I'm working with fresh caught Dungeness crab, since that's what we catch on the Pacific Coast. If you have another species then use that instead.
FAQ
To reheat an already assembled sandwich, place under a broil that's 5 to 6 inches away from the heat and allow to warm completely and the cheese to melt. The time will vary depending on how cold your melt is but watch the broil closely after a minute has passed. It shouldn't take more than 3 minutes to warm through a cold melt.
Yes, canned crab meat can be used for a crab melt. Just make sure to drain it well before using it. Another good safety measure to do is to check it for any shells, just in case.
Most crab melts are made with cheddar cheese, but other types of cheese like Swiss or Monterey Jack can also be used. I love pairing it with white cheddar and asiago for a great flavor combination with the fresh crab meat salad.
Crab melt with Old bay seasoning works great together. Another seasoning is any seafood boil seasoning or rub that pairs well with other shellfish. Like Johnny's seasoning, lemon herb, and even herbs like thyme.
MORE CRAB RECIPES
I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! When you make this dish, please RATE using the ⭐️stars, and COMMENT at the end of the page. I love connecting with you in the comments section.
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Crab Melt on English Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup crab meat 5oz
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup green onion chopped
- ¼ cup peppers finely diced; red or orange peppers
- ½ cup asiago shredded
- ½ cup white cheddar shredded
- ¼ cup fresh flat parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay
- 2 tablespoon butter salted or unsalted
- 2 english muffins separated
- 1 large tomato cut into slices
- 2 tablespoon chopped parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the mixture - mix mayo, parsley, green onion, and spices. Then gently fold in the crab meat.
- Prepare the oven - place the oven rack on the 3rd rack placement, or about 6 inches from the heat, then turn the oven to broil on high.
- Prepare the bread - Butter the English muffins and place them on a sheet pan to broil until lightly browned, for 2-3 minutes
- Prepare the crab melt sandwich - Scoop the crab mixture onto the bread, place a handful of the cheese mixture on top, then broil for 2-3 minutes.
- Top with a slice of tomato and another handful of the cheese mixture, then broil for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Top with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
TIPS
- Use fresh crab meat! For the best flavor, I like to work with fresh whole crab that I crack and clean myself, or fresh crab meat.
- Cut the tomato into thick pieces so they're nice and beefy.
- Toast the English muffin prior to assembling the melts. This helps avoid the sandwich from getting soggy.
- Leave the peppers out if you don't prefer them.
- Watch the cheese closely not to overcook it. Cheese can go from melted to crispy fairly quickly. You can stay close to the oven while broiling.
- Serve hot! As soon as it comes out of the oven you're ready to dig in. It's best enjoyed warm.
- Taste for salt and add more as needed. There should be enough salt between the shredded cheese and Old bay seasoning, but adjust to your liking.
Joann
Wow wow wow!!! The flavor was amazing and I'm wishing I got more crab. I love the crunch in the crab salad!
Suzy Sakamoto
Hi Joann! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Shari
I made the crabby sandwich. It was delicious and so easy to make! I have a sensitivity to tomatoes so I had avocado instead. I wish I had more crab because one was not enough. I may be making a stop at our local seafood market to get another crab.
Suzy Sakamoto
Thank you so much Shari! I'm so glad you enjoyed this cheesy and crabby melt! Time for a crab run 🙂
KC
The perfect upgrade to the classic canned tuna melt. LOVE it.
Christy
Absolutely LOVED the crab melts! I usually make tuna melts and love them and thought to try making it with fresh crab I had. So glad I did! Will definitely make again.
Michaela
So much flavor yet the crab still shines. Thank you!