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    Home » Recipe » Salads and Sides » What To Serve With Crab Cakes

    What To Serve With Crab Cakes

    Published: Oct 24, 2021 · Modified: Jan 18, 2023 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    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.

    Paper towel lined plate full of crispy crab fritters on a white table with a small bowl of sauce in the background.
    (Crispy Crab Cakes With Lemon Aioli Recipe)

    And if you are looking for the perfect crab cake recipe, I've got 3. I've got the best traditional crab cake recipe here, Crispy Corn And Crab Fritters With Spicy Mayo and some really tasty low carb crab cake recipe too! No crab? Try these delicious Easy Old Fashioned Salmon Patties.

    Catching your own or bringing home live crab? Read How Long Can Crabs Be Kept On Ice for safe handling info.

    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. Find more ideas of What To Serve With Crab Cakes.

    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 all have delicious dipping sauces (roasted red pepper low carb dip, lemon aioli and spicy mayo) 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
    Bowl of tartar sauce with dill fronds and lemon around it.

    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
    Sweet potato fries with pink spicy mayo dipping sauce.

    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.

    Easy Homemade Basil Aioli with Lemon and Garlic
    A delicious tangy and fresh sauce perfect for dipping veggies into or dressing a nicoise salad. Makes approximately 2 cups.
    Check out this recipe
    Basil Anchovy Aioli To Dip Veggies

    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
    Easy Garden Salad With Orange Vinaigrette

    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
    Bowl of coleslaw

    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
    Rocket Pear and Roasted Veg Salad with yams and walnuts

    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
    Green simple kale salad with lemon dressing.

    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
    Tomato cucumber and walnut salad on a red plate and topped with lots of chopped parsley

    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
    Garlic butter green beans in a white dish

    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
    cobs of grilled corn on the cob with pats of butter melting over.

    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
    White 9x13 pan of roasted broccoli florets and slivers of lemon.

    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
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto Ingredients for an easy spring 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.

    Classic Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto
    Creamy, earthy and comforting, this chanterelle risotto is so luxurious. A delicious main course or side dish for fall and winter.
    Check out this recipe
    Overhead shot of chanterelle mushroom risotto in a wide rimmed white bowl on a rustic wooden table.

    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
    Simple Traditional Italian Beans With Fresh Herb Gremolata-A Vegan 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
    Ciabatta buns cut in half and toasted into garlic bread on a plate.

    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
    Slices of potatoes baked in a white dish with peppers and onions.

    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!

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    Cheers friends! Sabrina

    Have a wonderful day and a delicious dinner,

    Sabrina

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    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anthony Malette

      October 31, 2021 at 2:21 am

      Load Bake Potatoes

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        October 31, 2021 at 10:20 am

        Ooh great one Anthony! I’ll try a few out and try to get a recipe for those on this list! Thanks 🙂

        Reply
    2. nancy

      October 31, 2021 at 9:39 am

      I always feel stumped with what to eat with crab cakes! this is a great round up

      Reply
    3. Lisa

      November 03, 2021 at 4:33 pm

      I love this round-up of suggestions to serve with crab cakes and like that it's not just limited to the sauces/dressings...which all look delicious by the way! Thanks for compiling this...pinning it so I don't forget it!

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        November 03, 2021 at 5:44 pm

        Thanks so much Lisa, I’m so glad it’s helpful!

        Reply
    4. Colleen

      November 04, 2021 at 10:49 am

      I love crab cakes but usually we just have them with a salad. These ideas are much more exciting and I can't wait to try some of them.

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        November 04, 2021 at 11:56 am

        Thanks Colleen!

        Reply

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