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A hand squirting lime juice over a plate of cooked crab claws

Crab Claws

Crab Claws are a seafood delight that's succulent and delicious! While pricey to order, and sometimes messy to eat at restaurants, this homemade version is much tastier and fuss free! Today's Jonah Crab Claws are cooked in 20 minutes with just a handful of ingredients-so you NEED to try them!

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine American, Asian, South American
Keyword Crab, crab claw, Crab recipe, Crab recipes, how to cook crab, jonah crab claws, jonah crabs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 389 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Crab Claws

  • 2 lb Jonah Crab Claws Defrosted

Chilli Garlic Sauce

  • 3 Tablespoons Butter unsalted
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 cups sweet chilli sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
  • 1/4 cup cilantro minced
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 fresh chillies sliced (optional)

Serve:

  • Extra lime wedges
  • More chillies for spice
  • Bread for dunking in the sauce

Instructions

  1. Stove & Oven:
  2. Heat a large Dutch oven pan (5 quart and up) over medium high heat.
    Butter heating up in a large pot with garlic sautéing over medium heat
  3. Add the butter and cook in the garlic for just a couple minutes until fragrant.
  4. Add the chilli sauce and season, and bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
    Seasoning and the sweet chilli sauce is added to the garlic in the pot
  5. At that point add in the Jonah crab claws (frozen or defrosted) and toss well to coat the crabs well with the sauce.
    The jonah crab claws are added to the pot and tossed with the garlic butter sweet chilli sauce.
  6. If cooking on the stove, lower the heat to medium low, cover the pot and let the crabs cook for about 20 mins. Toss every 5 minutes or so in between.
    Crab Claws fully cooked in the pot which could be done in the oven or on the stove
  7. If cooking in the oven, make sure your one is preheated to 400 degrees F.
  8. Cover the same Dutch with a lid after tossing n the frozen crab claws, and place the pot in the oven. Cook for 15 minutes.
  9. Once ready, check if the crabs need 1/2 up or so of extra sauce (optional).
    Final garnish when the crab claws are cooked and ready is extra cilantro and some chilies along with lime juices added on top
  10. Finish off with the cilantro, lime juice and chilies.
  11. Serve right away.
    A hand squirting lime juice over a plate of cooked crab claws

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Crab Claws Tips

  1. Make sure you know the type of crab claws before buying as some are sold cooked, while others are not.
  2. The different types are listed below.
  3. If cooking the crab claws on the stove or the oven, it's optimal to defrost them, but not essential.
  4. You'll add extra cooking time to the frozen crab claws, while observing the amount of liquid.
  5. You can swap the chilli sauce for BBQ sauce or remove it all together and cook the crab claws in butter and garlic only. 
  6. Leftovers: Store them in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 6 days.
  7. Reheat: It's best to reheat in a small pot over medium low heat adding 1 tablespoon extra sauce for 5-7 minutes. You can alternatively use the microwave as well.
  8. To Freeze: once cooled down after cooking, you can freeze crab claws for up to 3 months well wrapped. Thaw before reheating.

Types of Crab Claws:

  • Jonah Crab Claws. The ones we used today, they are similar to the famous Dungeness crav, but they're larger in size.  The meat is usually flakier than stone crabs, it's just as tasty and sweet, but less pricey.
  • Stone: A pricier crab and considered more delicate, has more tender meat, super juicy and tasty. 
  • King: The largest in size, most expensive in taste with a firm texture and same sweet taste.
  • Snow: Smaller than the king size, but has the same firm texture.
  • Dungeness : In between the sizes and has a firm texture with a sweet tone.

How to Buy Crab Claws?

Make sure you choose fresh, and if frozen make sure you know the source. This will ensure sustainability so always check about the fishing practice too. Also be mindful of the different size depending on how you're cooking/serving the crab claws. They should have a sweet and delicate flavor. 

What is the best way them?

You can cook them on the stove, oven, boil or steam them. I prefer the two methods shared above in this recipe.

How do I know if they are fresh?

They should have a clean ocean like smell, and have bright colors with intact shells.

Nutrition Facts
Crab Claws
Amount Per Serving
Calories 389 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 46mg15%
Sodium 2108mg92%
Potassium 132mg4%
Carbohydrates 64g21%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 61g68%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 344IU7%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 34mg3%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.