Cremy crab salad recipe is fresh, crunchy, and bursting with coastal flavor. This easy dish is your new go-to for quick lunches, light dinners, or impressive appetizers. Made with tender crab meat, crunchy cucumbers, and a tangy mayo-based dressing, it comes together in minutes and tastes like something straight off a seaside menu.
Table of Contents
- What is a Crab Salad Recipe?
- What is Imitation Crab?
- Key Ingredients
- How to Make Crab Salad Recipe
- How to Serve Crab Salad Recipe
- How to Customize Crab Salad Recipe
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Store Leftovers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes You'll Enjoy
- Recipe Card
- Creamy Crab Salad Recipe (That Tastes Like Summer!)
- Comments
It’s a great salad to have with some buttery crackers on the side or served on a bed of lettuce. Serve it as a sandwich, or enjoy it on its own; this salad is absolutely to die for!
What is a Crab Salad Recipe?
Crab salad (seafood salad) is a delicious, easy-to-make salad that’s a mixture of crab meat, shredded cabbage, cooked corn, chopped green onions, and cucumbers with a mayo-based dressing.
It’s packed with protein and is low in sodium, calories, as well as cholesterol! Plus, it’s a great way to get some good carbohydrates in the system.
This salad has an exquisite flavor and serves as the perfect side dish. You can make this salad with either real crab meat or imitation crab meat (krab).
What is Imitation Crab?
Imitation crab (krab) is made from surimi, which is fish flesh (usually pollock) that has been washed, deboned, chopped, and turned into a paste.
This paste is then combined with other ingredients, heated, and shaped into sticks and flakes.
Imitation crab typically contains no crab, but it is made from seafood and is designed to taste like crab.
Key Ingredients
All you need are some simple ingredients to make this beautiful salad. Here’s what you’ll need to make this crab salad recipe at home:
- Crabmeat: First of all, you’ll need the star ingredient of this dish: crab meat! You can go for either real crab meat or imitation crab meat, whichever you prefer.
- Green cabbage: Shredded cabbage adds a delicious crunch to the salad and gives it a delicious flavor.
- Canned corn: The sweetness from the corn perfectly complements all the other ingredients in this salad.
- Green onion: For a slightly sharp flavor, we’ll also be adding in some green onions.
- English cucumber: Cucumbers make this salad so light and refreshing! We’ll be adding some English cucumbers since they’re either seedless or have very small seeds.
- Mayonnaise: To bring it all together, we’ll be adding some mayo to the salad as the dressing. You can use whichever brand you like the most. I used Homemade Mayonnaise while making this salad.
- Seasonings: We’ll also be needing some salt and black pepper to taste. You can add about a half teaspoon salt and pepper.
How to Make Crab Salad Recipe
This is an incredibly easy salad to make! Here’s how to make it step by step:
Start by rinsing all vegetables well.
Next, shred the cabbage.
Cut green onions and cucumber as well.
Cut crab meat into smaller pieces.
If making this salad ahead of time, store ingredients in one large bowl until ready for use. You can cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until ready for dressing and seasoning, up to 4 hours.
Prior to serving, add mayonnaise and mix gently to avoid mashing the vegetables and releasing juice, which makes the salad watery.
Then add salt and pepper to taste and mix carefully once again.
For the best results, serve the salad right after the dressing and seasonings are mixed in.
Your delicious Crab Salad is ready to be served.
How to Serve Crab Salad Recipe
This Crab Salad goes incredibly well with a side of buttery crackers, in hoagie rolls to make a crab salad sandwich, or with some pasta for a pasta salad.
At home, Crab Salad Recipe is requested pretty often by my family.
I usually serve it with mashed potatoes, the way kids like it.
Other delicious ways to eat it are with pasta, between two slices of bread for a great sandwich, or in a tortilla wrap.
How to Customize Crab Salad Recipe
This salad is delicious as is, but if you’re looking to customize it a bit, here are some ideas:
- Add other veggies: You can add just about any veggie you like to this salad. Celery, red onion, red bell pepper, lettuce, and avocado all do well in this salad. You can also add fresh herbs such as fresh parsley or dill.
- Add zest and tang: To give it a zesty flavor, you can add some freshly squeezed lemon juice to your salad. For a deep, tangy flavor instead, you can add a little Dijon mustard to the mayo before mixing it into the salad.
- Make it creamier: Add some mashed avocados or sour cream to the salad to give it a deeper, creamier flavor.
- Add other seasonings: To change up the flavor, you can also add other seasonings you like, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or even Old Bay seasoning.
- Other protein: Just because it’s a crab salad doesn’t mean it can’t be a seafood salad! You can add any other seafood you like to this Crab Salad, including cooked shrimp!
Substitutions and Variations
Substitutions:
- Imitation Crab (Surimi) → Real Crab Meat
Budget-friendly and easier to find, though less protein-rich and less crabby in flavor. - Mayonnaise → Greek Yogurt or Avocado
For a lighter or healthier creamy base, try swapping mayo with plain Greek yogurt or mashed avocado. - Cucumber → Celery or Bell Peppers
Adds crunch if you want a fresher or sweeter twist. - Lemon Juice → Lime Juice or Vinegar
For a slightly different tang, substitute lemon juice with fresh lime juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar. - Fresh Herbs (Dill, Parsley) → Chives or Basil
Adjust herbs based on what you have or prefer—chives add a mild onion flavor; basil adds a sweet, aromatic touch. - Saltine Crackers or Bread → Lettuce Wraps or Rice Cakes
For a low-carb or gluten-free serving option.
Variations:
- Spicy Crab Salad
Add diced jalapeños, a dash of hot sauce, or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for heat. - Tropical Crab Salad
Mix in diced mango, pineapple, or avocado for a sweet and creamy island vibe. - Asian-Inspired Crab Salad
Toss with sesame oil, soy sauce, chopped scallions, and a bit of grated ginger for an umami kick. - Mediterranean Crab Salad
Add olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a drizzle of olive oil and lemon. - Crab and Avocado Salad
Combine crab meat with creamy avocado chunks for richness and extra healthy fats. - Keto-Friendly Crab Salad
Use full-fat mayo, plenty of herbs, and serve over leafy greens to keep carbs low.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days if stored in an airtight container.
Don't freeze mayo-based salads such as this one because the texture will be off when thawed. It's best to make Seafood Salad right before you serve it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store crab salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days for the best freshness and safety.
Absolutely! Making crab salad a few hours in advance helps the flavors meld. Just keep it refrigerated until ready to serve.
Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, add extra veggies like celery and cucumber, and serve over greens or in lettuce cups.
The salad itself usually is, but always check the ingredients on imitation crab or dressings, as some may contain gluten or additives.
It’s not recommended to freeze crab salad because the texture of the crab meat and creamy dressing can change and become watery when thawed.
Recipe Card
Creamy Crab Salad Recipe (That Tastes Like Summer!)
Ingredients
Crab Salad Recipe Ingredients
- 1 small cabbage head
- 1 can corn
- 1 lb. crab meat
- 1 bunch green onion
- 1 long English cucumber
- ¾ cup mayonnaise (I used Homemade Mayonnaise)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by rinsing all vegetables well.
- Next, shred the cabbage.
- Cut green onion and cucumber as well.
- Cut crab meat into smaller pieces.
- If making this salad ahead of time, store ingredients in one large bowl until ready for use. You can cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until ready for dressing and seasoning; up to 4 hours.
- Prior to serving, add mayonnaise and mix gently to avoid mashing on the vegetables and releasing juice, which makes the salad watery.
- Then add salt and pepper to taste and mix carefully once again.
- For the best results serve the salad right after the dressing and seasonings are mixed in.
Notes
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Lena says
Hello Valya! This recipe gets a 10 star review. I made it for dinner today. Turned out really good! Going into my recipe collection.
I didn't add any salt.
Thank you for sharing your recipes with us!!!
Valya's Taste of Home says
Hi Lena! I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for being a loyal follower and for the amazing review! That means a lot!
Leslie Wallace says
I came across your recipe for crab salad and I was so happy to see that I had all the ingredients. (I did use red onion instead of green onion). It came out delicious. Thank you for such a simple recipe.
Will be following you for more easy delicious recipes.
Valya's Taste of Home says
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for trying out my recipe and for a fantastic review! 🙂
Diana says
I was CRAVING crab salad like my mom used to make when we were kids and only remembered that it had corn and googled that. Brought me to your page (so glad!) and it was exactly it. Yuuummmmy.
Valya's Taste of Home says
I'm so happy to hear that. Thank you for an amazing review! And welcome to my website!
Jackie says
Will definitely try this. Thanks. Through the negative comment on this post I learnt something, that I can use the fresh meat ... Thanks ?
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
The salad is great either way. Enjoy! 🙂
Nat says
Interesting!
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Crab lovers salad for sure!
Kasia says
You do realize this is not crab meat, right? What you have here is mostly pollack, spices and chemicals. If you're going to post a recipe, maybe you should know the difference between crab and fake crap. Yikes.
valya'stasteofhome.com says
I'm sorry if you're having a bad day. You can use fresh meat pulled from the crab as well. It's totally fine.
Ella says
Bahaha...just seeing your response and I’m laughing
because I love your comeback. It’s like the kids saying “well duh”.
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Haha, thank you! 😉
Marina says
Thank you for your recipe it's the best crab salad I ever made;-)
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Marina, you made my day 😉 Thank you for such an amazing review!
Angelina says
Crab salad... yum! I know what I'm making for tomorrow. Thank you for the recipe!
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Thank you Angelina! It's truly delicious. 🙂