Crab legs are truly a divine meal for all seafood lovers out there. This all-time, classic seafood favorite possesses unique juiciness, softness, and sweetness, and just the smell and sight of them are enough to make everyone’s mouth water.
But for an authentic seafood experience and a delightful meal, you’ll definitely need flavorful side dishes to go alongside your favorite crab legs.
From roasted vegetables to avocado and tomato salad to dipping such as cocktail sauce, we’ve got everything covered. So, transform now your ordinary seafood dinner into a savory and meaningful one with these 21 Best Side Dishes for Crab Legs!
1. Roasted Vegetables
Don’t you just love meals that are both flavorful and effortless to prepare and make? When it comes to side dishes for crab legs, roasted vegetables are a beloved classic, and that’s for a good reason.
The ultimate combination of fresh cremini mushrooms, yellow squash, red bell pepper, red onion, broccoli florets, and butternut squash all seasoned in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, with salt and pepper, is undoubtedly a perfect veggie fit for your crab legs meal.
And best of all, it only takes three easy steps to prepare, whether you’re starting from scratch or using canned vegetables.
2. Fresh & Steamed Artichokes
Artichoke is one of the most common side meals to pair with crab legs. And I must say, it complements crab legs really well. It’s rich, delicious, and phenomenal. The combination of crab legs and fresh and steamed artichokes creates a nice contrast that surely delights the taste buds.
When making this recipe, use four pieces of medium-sized artichokes. Squeeze lemon juice into a pot of water and add around one tablespoon of salt. Then, bring the artichokes into a good steam for around twenty-five to thirty-five minutes. Serve, and enjoy!
3. Cocktail Sauce
Here’s another flawless and no-fuss side dish for your awesome crab legs meal. Using a small bowl, you mix lemon juice, minced garlic, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. For the ultimate spicy and hot kick of flavors, you can freely add a dash or two of chili sauce.
Since all you need is a mixing bowl and variety of filling sauces, the entire dish is nothing but easy and convenient to make. It only takes five minutes to whip up, so it will be a true lifesaver time and time again!
4. Asian Garlic Noodles Recipe
Even the pickiest eaters and biggest naysayers won’t be able to say “no” to this easy-peasy Asian garlic noodles recipe.
Made with red bell peppers, shrimp, cremini mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, and cilantro and seasoned with a rich blend of oyster sauce, brown sugar, and soy sauce, these Asian garlic noodles are fantastic and delicious.
Pair them with crab legs, serve them to the entire family, and watch them sip and gobble the noodles bite after bite without any complaint!
5. Deviled Eggs
So, you have crab legs on the table, and it just dawns on you that you don’t have any side to pair with it.
That’s when these quick-deviled egg recipes come to your rescue and save your day. This recipe truly comes within reach since it’s made up of only seven ingredients: eggs, mayonnaise, white vinegar, yellow mustard, salt, Spanish paprika, and ground black pepper.
Their delicate crispiness and crunch with their creamier taste go really great with a lot of meals, including your favorite crab legs. They take a mere thirty-five minutes, and you can season and whip them up any way you desire!
6. Avocado & Tomato Salad
Avocado might not be everyone’s ultimate favorite green veggie. But it’s sensational what you can do with this bland veggie once you pair it with other ingredients like tomatoes. It becomes juicy, tender, and incredibly delicious thanks to lime, jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, and small tomatoes.
This vegetable side dish recipe is a fantastic addition to a holiday crab legs meal and an easy fix for adding a high-nutrient side dish to family dinners. If you like, you could even add eggs, fish, and chicken to this side dish recipe and turn it into a satisfying meal all in itself.
7. Roasted Beets
Beets that are roasted to perfection and slathered with olive oil, salt, and pepper are just divine and feel like a taste of heaven. But if you do not have an oven at home, don’t worry. You can still enjoy beets as an excellent side dish for your crab legs by grilling them.
8. Mashed Cauliflower
As avocado and tomato salad blend really well with crab legs, so do mashed cauliflowers. To prepare and make, simply add garlic, butter, cream cheese, salt, and cauliflower to a food processor, and puree until it’s perfectly and completely smooth.
Top and garnish the cauliflower puree with butter, fresh chives, cracked peppers, and serve. It’s 100% garlicky, buttery, healthy, and keto-friendly!
9. Lemon Rice
You’re already most likely thinking rice to pair with your crab legs, but, while steamed rice tastes incredible, why not take this traditional dish to another level?
There are a bunch of ways to revamp or recreate your steamed rice. One is by mixing it with lemon juice and a nutty aroma of ingredients like peanuts, spices, lentils, herbs, and whatever else you want!
10. Beer Cheese Soup
Beer cheese soup is a well-recognized side dish but pairing it with crab legs is not that famous or common. To be honest, I don’t really know why only a few people have tried it, because the filling of this soup really tastes fantastic with crab legs. It has a subtle but mild sweetness that gives a nice contrast to the sumptuous flavors of crab legs.
You can freely take it up a notch by using Tuckerman Pale Ale and adding shredded cheese, bacon, and green onions as the final garnish to the beer cheese soup for a wonderful burst of flavors.
11. Cajun Sausage & Chicken Rice
To me, nothing beats Cajun sausage and chicken rice as an amazing side dish to your all-time favorite classic crab legs meal. The secret key to making this side dish recipe perfect and delicious is by adding sufficient chicken broth to the skillet.
The spices of onion powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme with bell pepper and sausage also add a nice blast of flavor to the Cajun sausage and chicken rice that’s impossible not to like and resist!
12. Stir-fried Green Vegetables
Until you have tried them, you can’t possibly understand how fantastic stir-fried green vegetables are. This vegetable side dish is so appetizing and flavorful. All you’ll need to make them are peas, spring onions, fresh ginger, broccoli heads, bok choy, and lime juice.
This side dish recipe will only take less than thirty minutes to make, which is a fantastic thing because you’ll desire to make more the moment this meal is done.
13. Quinoa and Edamame Salad
Quinoa and edamame salad is a creamy, filling, and delicious side dish for crab legs, and very quick and convenient to make.
Just combine cooked quinoa, bell pepper, cucumber, green onion, carrot, edamame, and finally, the dressing in a large mixing bowl. Lastly, this side dish recipe is best served chilled, so don’t forget to put the salad in the fridge for at least one hour until cold.
14. Lemon Rice Pilaf
No crab leg feast is ever complete without serving lemon rice pilaf on the side. This bright, zesty, and delicious side dish made of long-grain white rice, chopped dill, and lemon juice will really melt into your mouth.
And just one cup of it would never be enough. Plus, you can make this classic rice side dish in just half an hour. It’s definitely a crowd-pleaser that leaves everyone at the dining table fulfilled and extra satisfied.
15. Drawn Butter
Drawn butter is indeed the most simple but iconic side dish for a crab leg meal. The truth is crab legs don’t need more than this creamy, flavorful, and rich dairy since they are sweet and delicious on their own. However, when dipped in melted butter, this seafood meal transforms into a new level of awesome goodness.
To whip up, simply melt unsalted butter in a saucepan over simmering water for around five to seven minutes. Then, let it stay out and solidify for another eight hours. If you want to kick this side dish on a notch, all it takes is to add zest of two lemons in a mixing bowl, and you’re all set!
16. Baked Zucchini Fries
Here’s another comforting side dish that adds a delightful and refreshing twist to your crab legs meal. Made with simple ingredients of zucchini, Panko breadcrumbs, wheat flour, egg whites, and grated Parmesan cheese, baked zucchini fries are totally hard to resist!
This side dish is an excellent companion to almost any seafood, including crab legs. Creamy, delicious, tender, and doubly juicy!
17. Beer Bread
Warning: this beer bread is exceptionally delicious and addictive. I highly recommend you make this stunning beer bread as a side dish for your crab leg feast.
There’s no way it would not disappear in seconds once you serve this at the dining table for your loved ones to try and enjoy. The beer bread loaf is made with melted butter and plain seltzer water, and it’s a sure winner!
18. Classic Corn Cob
Delicious, mouthwatering, and delightful, this classic corn cob will bring life to any seafood party. The boiled ears of corn are coated and drenched in milk, butter, and sugar.
The ingredients of this side dish might look simple, but I assure you the taste is in a league of its own. Plus, corn cob is such a nostalgic meal, too. One bite of these ears of corn is enough to bring back blissful childhood memories!
19. Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Another well-loved comfort food on our list of best side dishes for crab legs is Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Rich, soft, and appetizing, cheddar bay biscuits make a fantastic side dish to almost any entrée that you might think of.
Since they are so whole and hearty, this side dish is perfect for family picnics, alfresco dining, and even large gatherings too. Made with cheddar cheese, onion powder, dried parsley, and melted butter, you get all the flavors you will ever ask for in cheddar bay biscuits: soft and buttery with the perfect savory taste of bread.
20. Spanish Mussels
This side dish powerfully combines all the ingredients of Spanish cuisine in one meal. Loaded with smoked paprika, garlic, Spanish saffron, and dry white wine, this side dish is literally Spanish street in a meal form.
And of, how I like it. It’s so appetizing and mouthwatering to eat. On top of everything, it’s super-duper easy to customize. Whether you want it cheesy, creamy, or spicy, the final word is yours!
21. Fresh Summer Salad
This flavorful but nutritious fresh summer salad is the ultimate side dish for your crab legs seafood feast. Even those who don’t love vegetables in their meal will definitely fall in love with this fresh summer salad.
It’s nothing but radish, onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers wrapped in lemon juice and Dijon mustard dressing. I can already feel in my taste buds how tangy, refreshing, and crisp this side meal is.
The Bottom Line
Indeed, if you’re looking for the perfect side dish for your seafood party, look no further because this list of ours has everything under control.
From vegetable salads to soft, juicy bread and dipping sauces, every side dish is sure to delight your meal. Guaranteed to 100% transform your seafood party from ordinary to perfection, these 21 Best Side Dishes for Crab Legs are true crowd-pleasers.
