Description
Indulge in sweet and succulent snow crab legs, perfectly steamed and drenched in a flavorful garlic butter sauce. This easy recipe brings restaurant-quality seafood right to your kitchen, ready in minutes!
Ingredients
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2 pounds frozen snow crab legs, thawed
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1 cup water
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1/2 cup unsalted butter
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon black pepper
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1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
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2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
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Lemon wedges, for serving
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Instructions
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Prepare for Steaming: If using thawed crab legs, ensure they are fully thawed. If cooking from frozen, see “Additional Notes.” In a large pot with a steamer basket, add 1 cup of water. Ensure the water level is below the steamer basket.
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Bring to a Boil: Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat.
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Add Crab Legs: Carefully place the snow crab legs in the steamer basket in a single layer if possible. If necessary, steam in batches to avoid overcrowding.
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Steam the Crab Legs: Cover the pot tightly and steam for 5-7 minutes for thawed crab legs, or 8-10 minutes for frozen crab legs. They are done when heated through and the shells are bright red.
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Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: While the crab legs are steaming, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes, until fragrant but not browned.
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Season the Butter Sauce: Stir in the salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Remove from heat.
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Serve: Carefully remove the steamed snow crab legs from the pot and place them on a serving platter. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the crab legs, or serve it on the side for dipping. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Notes
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Variations:
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Spicy Garlic Butter: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter sauce for a spicy kick.
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Herb Butter: Incorporate fresh herbs like dill, thyme, or oregano into the butter sauce.
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Old Bay Seasoning: Sprinkle crab legs with Old Bay seasoning before steaming for extra flavor.
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Tips:
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Cooking from Frozen: You can steam snow crab legs directly from frozen, but increase the steaming time to 8-10 minutes. Ensure they are heated through completely.
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Doneness: Crab legs are pre-cooked; you are just reheating them. They are done when heated through, fragrant, and the shells are bright red. Avoid overcooking to prevent rubbery meat.
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Serving Suggestions: Serve with sides like corn on the cob, coleslaw, baked potatoes, or crusty bread for a complete meal.
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Intolerances and Allergies:
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Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
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Dairy-Free: To make it dairy-free, substitute butter with a dairy-free butter alternative or olive oil. Note that this will change the flavor profile.
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Shellfish Allergy: Contains shellfish (snow crab). Not suitable for individuals with shellfish allergies.
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Taste Preferences:
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Less Garlic: Reduce the amount of garlic to 2 cloves for a milder garlic flavor.
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More Lemon: Increase lemon juice to 2 tablespoons for a tangier butter sauce.
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Salt Adjustment: Taste the crab legs and adjust salt in the butter sauce accordingly, as crab legs can be naturally salty.
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- Prep Time: PT15M
- Cook Time: PT10M
- Category: American, Seafood
- Method: Stovetop, Steaming
- Cuisine: Main Course, Seafood
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Keywords: snow crab legs, steamed crab legs, garlic butter crab legs, seafood recipe, easy seafood, crab legs recipe, quick dinner, shellfish recipe, holiday seafood, party food