Get your crab on with this Fresh Crab Tacos recipe! Make these flavorful seafood tacos with fresh Dungeness crab, a simple fresh corn salad, then top with a spectacular cilantro lime dressing! This meal that's packed with fresh flavors comes together in 20 minutes!
Nothing beats fresh crab in my eyes. Being on the coast, we get our share often as a fun family activity. When we're not eating them freshly steamed, or in this phenomenal Easy Cajun Crab Boil recipe, we're cracking them and adding them to a fresh meal for our entire family to enjoy.
If you're working with live crab, you'll need our favorite method on How to cook crab, and of course follow it up with How to crack crab!
There's a lot more Crab recipes to choose from if you end up with leftovers! Like this Crab Omelet, that made the news in my town. And, a crowd favorite Crab Rangoons, that are so crunchy and so creamy! Not to mention this mouthwatering crab melt!
If you're in a spaghetti mood, you have to try this light and fresh Crab Pasta with Lemon Garlic Sauce. Or switch it up and make these blackened fish tacos with cabbage slaw that are perfect for a post fishing meal.
Table of Contents
INGREDIENTS NOTES
Let's take a look at what's inside these crab meat tacos!
You get a satisfying crunch from the corn salsa, some garlic, cilantro, tomatoes, and cheese to take it up a notch (and because we love cheese), and allow this succulent crustacean to shine as much as possible on this one!
The garlic cilantro dressing is packed with flavor, and you can put as much or as little as you'd like.
Fresh Dungeness is so incredibly delicious on its own (I just had it for dinner and I want more!) so I'm always cautious about the amount of other flavors I add to crab recipes to make sure not to overpower it.
WHAT TYPE OF CRAB TO USE IN THIS RECIPE
We are so fortunate to have the Pacific coast as our homestead, which means fresh Dungeness! But any will be perfect for this crab meat tacos. There are so many varieties to choose from, so take your pick!
All of them are different, in terms of how much meat they have so be mindful of that in this recipe. Two Dungeness will average 2 or so cups, but that will vary significantly between rock crab, blue, green, snow, king, and so on (yes there are more species!).
HOW TO MAKE THESE SEAFOOD TACOS
Making this crab taco recipe is as simple as can be. So let's dig in.
First, I typically make the cilantro lime crema and place in the fridge to meld.
Then whip up the corn salsa. Next warm the tortillas on a skillet, add cheese, add the crab, and transfer to a plate to top with the fresh corn salsa and the sauce. It's that easy.
TIPS and TRICKS
Make it easy!
- CORN
- Use frozen, canned, or cooked corn instead of fresh corn on the cob.
- If you prefer to make this corn salsa recipe with cooked corn that's totally fine!
- CRAB TIPS
- Purchase pre-cracked meat in the fish section of just about any grocery store. This will significantly cut down on time.
- Always pick through crab meat for shells.
CRAB TACO SAUCE
To get the most flavor out of your dressing, make it in advance and place it in the fridge the night before! The flavors will meld beautifully by the next day.
FAQ
The best sauce to serve with them is a cilantro lime crema. The garlic, cilantro, and fat from the sour cream compliments the juicy crab meat perfectly, along with other veggies served with it.
Add as much sauce as you'd like but even a little bit will make a big difference in these tacos.
Chips and dip, flavored rice pilaf, roasted veggies, or a fresh salad are all great sides to serve alongside. Choose a dish that's flavorful, but doesn't take the spotlight away from fresh crab.
Store for up to 2-3 days in the fridge depending on how fresh the crab meat is. Pack leftovers in an airtight container to keep them fresh. Enjoy within a day or two if possible.
RELATED RECIPES
MORE CRAB RECIPES
Fresh Crab Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 cups Fresh crab meat about 2 whole dungeness
- pinch of salt for the crab
- 8 corn tortillas
- 2 cups your favorite shredded cheese White cheddar, mozzerela, or medium cheddar work great!
- 3 tablespoon butter as needed
Corn Salsa Ingredients
- 2 corn on the cob or 15 oz can
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 6 stalks green onion diced
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
- 3 tablespoon jalapeno finely diced, or to taste
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lime zest and juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
To Make The Corn Salsa
- Shuck and cut corn off the cob and place in a bowl.
- To the bowl, add cut tomatoes, diced green onion, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, lime zest and juice, olive oil and salt. Then stir and set aside, or set in fridge covered.
Garlic Cilantro Seafood Taco Sauce (optional)
- In a blender or food processor, add the garlic, cilantro, mayo, salt and lime juice. Blend until mixed thoroughly.
- Add the sour cream and stir to combine. Place in fridge to get cold and harden a bit if you have time, otherwise serve as is.
To Assemble the Tacos
- In a skillet on medium-high heat, add in about ½ tablespoon of butter, and let melt. Add corn tortillas to crisp on one side, then flip.
- Immediately add a handful of cheese and crab to top of each tortilla. Once the cheese has melted and the crab is warmed, remove the tacos and place on a serving plate, covered. Repeat these steps with all the tortillas.
- Top each taco with corn salad and cilantro lime sauce to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
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Chris
I am saving this recipe for later in August, when my hubby and I will be getting away for our 30th anniversary. We have pre-ordered a half bushel of blue crabs for the two of us, so there will be lots of leftovers. I'll make the sauce ahead of time, we'll shop at a local farm stand for corn salsa ingredients, and I'll bring the other ingredients -- think we'll try it with goat cheese crumbled on top rather than melted. Can't wait for crab tacos with corn salsa!!
Suzy Sakamoto
Hi Chris, that sounds like an amazing time! Happy 30th to you two! Enjoy our family's go-to crab tacos.
Deirdre
OMG! Love this recipe. The sauces are simple & packed with amazing fresh flavor. The second time I made them, I made the tortillas ahead of time & reheated in the oven, w/ cheese & crab, for easier service. So easy, and one of the most amazing things I’ve made. You must try!
Suzy Sakamoto
I'm so glad you enjoyed one of my family's favorites! Thank you for your comment, Deirdre!
Andy L. Pearson
I'm looking forward to making these! Is there a chance you did these in the oven? And if you have what temperature and for how long?
Suzy Sakamoto
Hi Andy! I skipped the oven altogether. The only thing that requires cooking is the corn tortillas, which I warmed on a skillet. I used fresh cooked crab and made the salsa to top. Hope that helps!
Jolene King
Had fresh dungy crab so made bisque the 1st night with crusty garlic bread, crab artichoke pizza the next night and these crab taco’s last We love our free crab friends drop off! Next time I will make half of the corn salsa, I added 2 jalapeños and might have used more, a bit more salt. But with the left over salsa I’m cooking up some pasta and making….you guessed it ….l cold crab pasta salad, feta , black olives, red crushed pepper
Suzy Sakamoto
Jolene, you're living our kind of life! We just had crab for dinner, and making crab boil for my mom's birthday. We can't get enough. Crab pasta is the perfect way to reuse leftovers. Yum!