What To Serve With Crab Cakes

Mmm crab cakes! One of my very favorite appetizers in the whole world and one that I like to make into a full meal. Wondering what to serve with crab cakes to compliment them? I've got you covered with a variety of tasty side dishes and few mouth watering dipping sauces too.

And if you are looking for the perfect crab cake recipe, I've got 2. I've got the best traditional crab cake recipe here as well as a really tasty low carb crab cake recipe here.

What goes with crab cakes?

I'm glad you asked. Crab cakes are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside with a combination of sweet and salty flavors. Light salads with lemon or vinegar based dressing go well and refresh the palate. Crisp raw or cooked vegetables go well too. As for a carbohydrate, rice dishes, polenta or veggie purees pair perfectly.

Here are my top 16 sides

I've broken these recipes into those categories to make it easy to find what you are looking for.

Dipping Sauce

The number one thing you need with crab cakes is a good dipping sauce. My recipes both have delicious dipping sauces (roasted red pepper low carb dip and lemon aioli for the classic cakes) but I believe variety is the spice of life, right?! So here are a few more tangy, delicious choices!

1. Tartar sauce. Truly a classic and really easy to make at home. This version is creamy and tangy and done in just 5 minutes!

Tartar Sauce

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe is way better than anything you’ll find at the store and so easy to make! Tangy, creamy, and ready in just 5-minutes, this delicious tartar sauce is a must-have condiment for crab cakes.

Check out this recipe

2. Love spicy mayo? Try this quick and easy 5-ingredient sriracha aioli for a spicy crab cake dip.

Sriracha Aioli

This delicious Sriracha Aioli is so quick and easy to make! All you need is a handful of basic pantry staples and 5 minutes and you've got a perfect spicy dip for your crab delights 🙂

Check out this recipe

3. How about a slightly spicy basil aioli? Equally good as a dip or salad dressing, this piquant sauce goes really well with our hero, crab.

Basil Aioli with Garlic and Lemon

A delicious tangy and addicting sauce perfect for dipping veggies into or dressing a nicoise salad.

Check out this recipe

Salads

Add one of these refreshing salads that compliment the rich fried crab cakes and refresh your palate.

1. Start with an elevated garden salad with a zippy orange vinaigrette to cut through the oil. You can even serve the crab cakes on top of this bright salad.

Orange Vinaigrette

Delicious orange salad dressing is quick and easy. Fresh, bright citrus flavours with a mild sweetness to complement mild garden greens and tender vegetables as well as peppery greens like nasturtium, watercress and arugula. Top your salad with some delicious tangy goat cheese to make it a meal! This will dress salad for approximately 6-8 servings.

Check out this recipe

2. When you ask what goes with crab cakes, coleslaw is probably the most common answer in many areas! This buttermilk and mayo coleslaw is the perfect take on this salad and will have you coming back for more!

Coleslaw with Buttermilk Dressing

This cool and creamy buttermilk coleslaw recipe is a classic side dish that goes well with all sorts of seafood from crab cakes to fish.

Check out this recipe

3. Rocket (aka Arugula) and Pear Salad with an apple cider dressing is light tasting and also hearty with the addition of roasted yams.

Rocket and Pear salad

Sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, rocket and pear salad has a ton of flavor and texture from Asian pear, blue cheese, walnuts and spicy rocket. Easily a main course or a side dish.

Check out this recipe

4. A crisp and lemony kale salad is pleasantly refreshing and really fast to make.

Crunchy Kale Salad with Lemon and Parmesan

A bright and citrusy Crunchy Kale Parmesan Salad with lemon juice, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. This is the perfect healthy salad a side dish and it only takes 4 ingredients!

Check out this recipe

5. For a heartier salad, try this tomato and cucumber version made more hearty with the addition of walnuts and a shower of herbs.

Tomato Cucumber Salad with Herbs and Walnuts

Bright and refreshing with the earthiness of walnuts, this salad goes well with crispy crab cakes.

Check out this recipe

Vegetable Sides

Simple, crisp or creamy veggie sides are a welcome addition to a meal of crab cakes. I like to keep the simple to let the sweet crab shine.

1. Simple green beans in butter are tender crisp and the color is a wonderful compliment to the cakes.

Garlic Butter Green Beans

Crisp and delicious green beans are a beautiful contrast and simple foil to the soft, rich crab and quick to make.

Check out this recipe

2. Corn and crab go really well together. Steam up a pot or try this grilled corn on the cob for something extra special.

Grilled Corn On The Cob

Simple, crisp and sweet corn loves sweet, salty and tender crab meat.

Check out this recipe

3. Lemon and rosemary flavor this easy roasted broccoli that compliment our seafood star wonderfully.

Lemon Rosemary Broccoli

Super tasty and easy oven roasted Lemon Rosemary Broccoli is a quick way to add healthy veggies to your plate. Bright lemon flavors and woodsy, peppery rosemary pair will with crab cakes.

Check out this recipe

The Carb's

Cook up one of these comforting sides to finish off your crab cake dinner!

1. Asparagus risotto is a creamy classic with tender tips of asparagus and a hint of lemon that helps this pair wonderfully with the crab.

Lemon Asparagus Risotto

An easy spring risotto that can serve 4-6 as a side dish or 2 generous main dishes. If you love lemon and want to add more, peel and cut sections of 1 lemon (supremes) and half them, then stir them in 5 minutes before the end of cooking time.

Check out this recipe

2. Mushroom risotto is also a welcome pairing to serve alongside. The earthiness of mushrooms (store bought work if you don't have wild) adds a little extra flair to this creamy Italian dish.

Chanterelle Risotto

Check out this recipe

3. Creamy white beans add extra protein and are a wonderful creamy side dish when you want a hearty meal.

Vegan White Bean Stew Recipe

Simple, classic vegan white bean stew is both traditional and fresh. A great vegan main dish made creamy by a low slow simmer and equally at home as a side dish or served on crostini as an appetizer.

Check out this recipe

4. Garlic bread. Need I say more?

Air Fryer Garlic Bread

This air fryer garlic bread is the perfect carby, garlicky, buttery side for some fabulous crab cakes. It's ready in a flash and easy to make

Check out this recipe

5. Simple potatoes, mashed, roasted or smothered like these ones are also friends with our crispy crab patties.

Smothered Potatoes

Made entirely from pantry staples with minimal prep and effort in less than 25 minutes, these smothered potatoes are well loved by family and go well with crab.

Check out this recipe

I hope this helps you figure out what to serve with crab cakes and that you find a new favorite combo. . Got a favorite I didn't feature? Let me know about it below!

For more on what I'm cooking up, follow me on Instagram or Facebook and come on into my home and kitchen shop, West Coast Kitchen Garden!

Have a wonderful day and a delicious dinner,

Sabrina