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    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Best Crab Rolls Recipe

    Published: Jul 26, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

    287 shares
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    5 from 44 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for Classic Crab Rolls.

    My Classic Crab Rolls are loaded with fresh jumbo lump crabmeat gently tossed with a seasoned mayonnaise-based dressing. I love New England Lobster rolls and when someone told me I could get a crabmeat version of that New England Classic, I knew it was going to be love at first bite.

    New England Crab Rolls on a white plate

    This easy-to-make crab roll recipe takes about ten minutes to make, and I promise it will be better than your favorite seafood restaurant.

    New England Crab Rolls on a white plate.

    Crab Rolls are definitely a big splurge, but making your own will reduce the cost by 50-75%. And trust me, my classic crab rolls are worth every penny of that splurge!

    If you love a good lobster roll make sure to check out my New England Style Lobster Roll.

    Table of Contents:

    • Ingredients to make Crab Rolls
      • Made with simple ingredients
    • Do I have to use Old Bay Seasoning?
    • What kind of crab meat should I use to make Crab Rolls?
    • How to make the best Crab Rolls
    • Recipe FAQ’s
    • More Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Best Crab Rolls Recipe
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Notes
      • Nutrition

    Ingredients to make Crab Rolls

    Ingredients to make recipe.

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my New England Crab Roll recipe. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Made with simple ingredients

    • Split-top New England Style hot dog buns that are buttered and grilled are the classic way to serve this delicious crab salad sandwich. If you can’t find those, look for regular split-top hot dog buns. Pepperidge Farms makes a few different styles.
    • Jumbo lump crab meat is used to make a true crab roll. Lump crabmeat and even claw will work, but using “special” would honestly be a waste of money, the stringy small pieces have little flavor and won’t make an attractive or flavorful sandwich.
    • Celery, Shallots, and Chives add a savory flavor boost and a little crunch to the salad.
    • Mayonnaise is the base of the dressing, so make sure to use a high-quality mayonnaise, like Hellman’s, Dukes, or Blue Plate.
    • Lemon juice and Lemon Zest are the acidic components of the dressing that give the dressing a bright flavor.
    • Fresh Italian Parsley adds a bit of color to the salad. Fresh dill can also be used if you enjoy that flavor.
    • Old Bay seasoning is a must when making lobster rolls and crabmeat rolls. You can substitute salt and black pepper, but you’ll never know what your missing.

    Do I have to use Old Bay Seasoning?

    No, you don’t and purists would tell you New Englanders don’t use Old Bay seasoning, but Old Bay is freaking delicious with crab meat.

    If you’d rather not use old bay, simply substitute about one-quarter teaspoon of black pepper and ¼ teaspoon of table salt (or to taste).

    Some recipes include a few drops of hot sauce, but since I used old bay, there was no need to add it.

    What kind of crab meat should I use to make Crab Rolls?

    The best crabmeat for crab rolls is jumbo lump crab meat. I was fortunate enough to find Maryland crab meat which is the gold standard for crabmeat.

    You can also use lump, claw, Dungeness, king, snow crab, or even (gasp) imitation crabmeat. Fresh crab meat is always better than frozen or pasteurized.

    My main concern when buying crabmeat is the country of origin. If you’re buying pasteurized crabmeat there is a good chance it’s not from the United States.

    Most pasteurized (cans) crabmeat, comes from Asian and Indian waters. Not only are these waters questionable in terms of cleanliness, these are not blue crabs. You’ll see blue swimming crabs on the label, but they’re not the same and they don’t taste the same.

    How to make the best Crab Rolls

    Collage showing how to make recipe.

    Add the mayonnaise, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, chives, chopped parsley, and old bay to a medium bowl.

    • Whisk to combine the ingredients for the mayonnaise mixture.
    • Add the chopped shallot, and celery to the dressing.
    • Stir until fully combined.
    • Add the mayonnaise mixture to the crabmeat in a large bowl.
    • Very gently fold the crabmeat into the dressing, so you can see the big lumps of crabmeat.
    New England Crab Rolls on a white plate

    Serve the crab mixture on the split-top roll and garnish with a sprinkle of Old Bay and chopped Italian parsley. You can also use chopped fresh dill or fresh chives as a garnish on my Classic Crab Rolls.

    • When I can find them I use New England-style hotdog buns, which have more of a white bread side to them. If you find this type of roll, melt some butter and brush it on the sides of the roll and lightly toast the buttered rolls. Serve the crab salad on the toasted bun for a taste of decadent deliciousness.
    • Some people like to add a bib lettuce leaf to the roll before adding the crab salad. This is totally unnecessary but does add a little pop of color.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Is crabmeat already cooked?

    Yes, it is. In order to pick the crabmeat from the body of the crabs it has to be cooked first. Fresh, pasteurized, canned and frozen crabmeat are already cooked and ready to eat.

    Does canned crabmeat taste like fresh crabmeat?

    Not at all. It’s a sad substitute for anything you want to make out of crabmeat. That being said, if it’s the only crabmeat available it will work, but the flavor and texture will not be the same.

    Can I make the crab filling ahead of time?

    Yes, you can prepare the crab filling in advance and store it in the refrigerator for 24 hours. However, it’s best to assemble the crab rolls just before serving so the rolls don’t get soggy.

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    four Crab Rolls on a white plate.
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 44 votes

    Best Crab Rolls Recipe

    My Classic Crab Rolls are loaded with fresh jumbo lump crabmeat gently tossed with a seasoned mayonnaise-based dressing and takes less than 10 minutes to make.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Entree, sandwich
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 272kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 6 drops hot sauce optional
    • 1 teaspoon old bay – or use salt and black pepper to taste
    • 2 tablespoon shallot finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon chives fresh or freeze dried
    • ¼ cup celery finely chopped
    • 16 oz jumbo lump crabmeat (lump, claw, Dungeness, snow, king or imitation crab meat can be used)
    • 6 top sliced hot dog buns – or New England Style hot dog buns if you can find them
    • Italian parsley finely chopped for garnish. You can also use chopped fresh chives, or fresh dill as the garnish.
    • Old Bay sprinkle as garnish – optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Add the mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, hot sauce, and old bay to a medium bowl.
    • Whisk to combine the ingredients for the dressing.
    • Add the chopped shallot, and celery to the dressing and stir until fully combined.
    • Add the mayonnaise mixture to the crabmeat in a large bowl. and very gently fold the crabmeat into the dressing.
      Try not to break up the lumps of crabmeat.
    • Serve the crab salad on top cut hot dog buns.
      When I can find them I use New England style hot dog rolls, which have more of a white bread side to them. If you find this type of roll, you should melt some butter and brush it on the sides of the roll and lightly toast the buttered rolls. This is true decadence.
    • Some people like to add a bib lettuce leaf to the roll before adding the crab salad. This is totally unnecessary but does add a little pop of color.
    • Garnish the crab rolls with a sprinkle of old bay and chopped parsley. This of course is optional.

    Notes

    What type of crabmeat should I use?
    The best crabmeat for crab rolls is jumbo lump crabmeat. I was fortunate enough to find Maryland crabmeat which is the gold standard for crabmeat.
    You can also use lump, claw, Dungeness, king, snow crab, or even (gasp) imitation crabmeat.
    My main concern when buying crabmeat is the country of origin. If you’re buying pasteurized crabmeat there is a good chance its not from the United States.
    Most pasteurized (cans) crabmeat, comes from Asian and Indian waters. Not only are these waters questionable in terms of cleanliness, these are not blue crabs. You’ll see blue swimming crabs on the label, but there not the same and they don’t taste the same.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 751mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Vicky Cornelius

      September 10, 2023 at 1:26 pm

      You have wonderful recipes! But the number of popups and flashing ads are annoying enough for me to spend very little time on your site. Have you considered getting rid of them? Thank you.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        September 10, 2023 at 1:45 pm

        The ads are how I make money and able to keep posting new recipes. If I remove the ads I’d have to start charging for access to my recipes. If you want to bypass the ads, click on the jump to recipe button at the top of the page.

        Reply
    2. Hayley Dhanecha

      August 14, 2023 at 3:03 am

      5 stars
      These crab rolls were simply amazing, so easy and simple recipe that can be done anyday. Can’t wait to make these again.

      Reply
    3. Jessica

      August 13, 2023 at 7:09 pm

      Thanks for the tips on what types of crabmeat to buy…now everything I have everything on my list and ready to go for a special dinner next weekend 🙂 Can’t wait!

      Reply
    4. Ann

      August 13, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      This crab roll recipe sounds so yummy! I have not made these at home before, so excited to give this recipe a try!

      Reply
    5. Lauren Michael Harris

      August 13, 2023 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      We love in crab-central so it’s much easier and cheaper than lobster to make these sandwiches with. My husband said this recipe is even better than lobster rolls – will make again!!

      Reply
    6. Sean

      August 13, 2023 at 8:30 am

      5 stars
      Every time I visit my family on the east coast I have to eat one of these, I used your recipe to treat my family and they were amazing!

      Reply
    7. Sophie

      August 11, 2023 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      The combination of flavors is simply irresistible. Everyone loved these Crab Rolls, and I’m already looking forward to making them again!

      Reply
    8. Kathryn

      August 11, 2023 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      YUM! This is my kind of lunch. These crab rolls were pure perfection and totally hit the spot. Thanks so much for the delicious recipe!

      Reply
    9. Jacqueline Debono

      August 10, 2023 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      Love these crabmeat rolls. They are a luxury sandwich perfect for elegant picnics or outdoor lunches. We had them poolside along with some champagne for a birthday brunch!

      Reply
    10. Bernice

      August 08, 2023 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      Gosh, I wish I lived closer to the ocean! One look at these crab rolls and I had to try them out. However, I added cooked and chilled baby shrimp to make a shrimp roll and it was delicious! I can only imagine how amazing it is with real crab.

      Reply
    11. Elaine

      August 07, 2023 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      I made your delicious crab rolls this past weekend and everyone loved them. It’s so easy and tastes like you got them from a restaurant. Great recipe!!

      Reply

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    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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