There’s just something about keto crab cakes that makes any day feel like a special occasion. They come together with simple ingredients—just add a little fresh crab and in no time, you can have summer on a plate, any time of year. Make it lunch, a light dinner, or an elegant appetizer!
For other special occasion keto appetizers, you can’t go wrong with this cheese log and keto crackers or some antipasto skewers.
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Coast to Coast Crab Cakes
It’s no secret that I love being outdoors. And when it comes to summer, there’s nothing better than being at the beach. So every summer, even though we live year-round on the California Coast, we take a trip to South Carolina. And if there’s anything we love more than being at the beach, it’s eating at the beach. These are a copycat version from our favorite vacation restaurant—and every time I make them, it reminds me of being on those southern beaches with my family.
So no matter which coast you’re on—or yearning for —a batch of these keto crab cakes is sure to bring the beach to you. Enjoy! 😎☀️ – Linds x
How to Make Keto Crab Cakes
- Combine everything together in a small bowl.
- Form 6 cakes by shaping them into 2″ thick, round patties.
- Heat oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat.
- Sear crab cakes on each side until golden.
- Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
The Best Sauce for Crab Cakes
My favorite dipping sauce for low carb crab cakes is the homemade tartar sauce recipe shared below. Keto ranch dressing or keto guacamole would also be delicious!
Common Questions:
- Is crab meat OK on keto? REAL fresh crab meat is an awesome ingredient for keto recipes, with 0g of carbs per serving. Imitation crab meat on the other hand is loaded with fillers, ranging from starches (potato, wheat, corn, etc.) to soy, to sugar, to sorbitol.
- Are crab cakes high in carbs? The nutritional breakdown of crab cakes will vary based on the recipe. Generally speaking, traditional crab cakes have 5 g of carbs per cake, whereas these low carb crab cakes have 2 g net carbs!
- What is the best crab for crab cakes? I prefer lump crab meat, as this will give you chunky pieces of crab in every bite. Look for a hand/fresh picked crab meat — this means the crab has been picked through to remove cartilage and shells.
- How do you make keto bread crumbs? Breadcrumbs are used in traditional crab cakes as a filler — to make a low carb version (for this recipe), I like a combination of almond flour and ground flax seeds — both keep the net carb count low.
- Is it better to fry or bake keto crab cakes? We fry our gluten free crab cakes. But, if you’d prefer baked keto crab cakes, simply bake for 12-14 minutes in an oven preheated to 450 F.
Storing + Reheating
Once cooled, store your keto crab cakes in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in a hot pan with oil, until heated through, and crisped along the edges.
Recipe Variations
Don’t get crabby, try this low carb crab cakes recipe whichever way you want! Read below for more ideas and inspiration:
- Make these spicy with more hot sauce, cayenne seasoning, or your fave salsa on top!
- Change the seasoning. A dash of Old Bay seasoning? Some garlic? You do you.
- Substitutes for mayonnaise? Use Greek yogurt instead.
More Keto Appetizer Recipes
Keto Crab Cakes
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Crab Cakes:
- 2 Tablespoons Ground Flax Seeds
- 2 Tablespoons Almond Flour
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley
- 1 Egg
- 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon
- 1/2 Teaspoon Hot Sauce
- 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 Pound Fresh lump crab meat (note 1)
- 1/4 Cup Mild Tasting Oil (note 2)
Tartar Sauce (optional):
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup pickles finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons parsley finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon confectioners Swerve or Lakanto
Instructions
- Mix together ground flax seeds (2 tablespoons), almond flour (2 tablespoons), fresh parsley (1 tablespoon),egg (1), mayonnaise (1/4 cup), hot sauce (1/2 teaspoon), dijon (1 tablespoon), and salt (1/2 teaspoon) in a large bowl. Add the crab meat (1 pound) and gently stir to combine. I like to leave chunks of crab in my cakes, so I mix minimally!
- Scoop the crab mixture using a 1/3 measuring cup. Form 7 small patties, and pat the top so they're 2" thick. The mixture will be slightly wet, so I find this is easiest to place patties on a baking sheet and transfer them to the pan using a spatula.
- Cook. In a large pan, heat the oil (1/4 cup) until shimmering. Add the crab cakes and cook over moderately high heat. Don't overcrowd the pan, you may need to do this in batches depending on your pan size. Cook on each side until golden, about 3-5 minutes. Serve warm, with lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and tartar sauce, and DIG ON IN!
Fans Also Made These Low Carb Recipes:
Lindsey's Tips
- Crab - Lump crab meat. Opt for hand-picked, as it will have fewer shells.
- Oil - You can an oil with a high smoke point that's mild in flavor. Think vegetable or avocado oil.
- Bake instead of fry - In an oven preheated to 450 F for 12-14 minutes.
- Nutritional information is for 1 crab cake if you make 7 using this recipe:
Nutrition
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Cravings satisfied! it taste like the traditional version. Thank you so much for the recipe! ?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Vanessa!?
It is definitely the best crab cakes I ever tasted!! YUM ??
Yay! I’m so happy you enjoyed as much as I do! ?
Really Awesome! Thank you Lindsey, your recipes never disappoint!
Yay! Thanks for trying this recipe Steve?, I’m so happy you enjoyed as much as I do! ?
Gave these a try with dinner tonight and they did not disappoint! A recipe worthy of a restaurant, indeed! Easily, my new favorite recipe for crab cakes; delish!
Awesome Sara! I’m so happy you enjoyed as much as I do! ?
These crab cakes look so good! I love how easily they come together too. Definitely perfect for pairing with an arugula salad.
I agree! Let me know if you give these a try Tara!?
This should curb my crab craving that I have been having lately. Thank you!
Yahoo! hope you enjoy Charla!?
So long since I had crab cakes and this version is so delicious and easy too.
I’m so glad you enjoyed Amanda!?
Crab cakes remind me of my favourite restaurant that I really miss. I am going to have to try making them myself.
Sounds great! let me know how it goes! Enjoy!?
Hi – Great Site, thanks.
Thank you Niki, Happy to have you here 😄
Lindsay – do you think it would work to make this with salmon instead of crab? I LOVE crab, but even here in the Pacific Northwest, real crab meat is SO expensive! I have a Whole 30 Salmon Cake recipe I love, but it is very high in carbs, so I’m hoping for a low carb alternative. Thanks in advance!
PS I have LOVED all of your recipes that I’ve tried so far. You are definitely my “go-go” for delicious, low carb recipes!
Hi Penny! funny you should ask, I was thinking about trying that out this week as well! Yes, I think canned salmon would work really well here! Can’t wait to hear how it goes for you. And THANK YOU for the kind words! They truly mean more than you know!
Why can’t I save this recipe to Pintrest??
Hi Sheryl! I just checked and was able to save this recipe to Pinterest without an issue. There’s a button on the left side of the post, as well as on the recipe card (under the title). Have you tried clicking either of those? Or are you trying to pin another way? Thanks!
I just made these a couple of days ago, and they’re amazing! I’m not even living a keto lifestyle, and I absolutely adore them.
Yay! SO glad you found them amazing, Beth!
By far my favorite crab cake recipe. So easy to make and everyone loved them!
Yahoo! SO glad to hear that everyone loved them, Amanda!
It’s easy to make, but fancy at the same time! Sounds like my type of food!
Yay! Hope you enjoy, Catalina!
My kids loved it baked!! I’ll try the fried next time! Thanks for the recipe!
Yay! SO happy to hear that, Sandra! Can’t wait to hear what they think about the fried one.