Grilled Dungeness Crab with Meyer Lemon Herb Butter
Fresh crab legs bathed in a bright citrus-butter sauce with aromatic herbs, perfect for summer evenings. This seafood-inspired grilling ready in about 25 minutes pairs Dungeness crab legs, unsalted butter, Meyer lemon for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 16 oz Dungeness crab legs
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 Meyer lemon
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush crab legs with 1 tbsp olive oil and season with 1/4 tsp kosher salt. Grill 3-4 minutes per side until lightly charred and heated through.
- Step 2: While crab cooks, zest 1 Meyer lemon and squeeze 1 tbsp juice into a small bowl. Melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat, add 1 minced garlic clove, and cook 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Remove skillet from heat, stir in zest, 1 tbsp Meyer lemon juice, 2 tsp fresh thyme, and 2 tbsp chopped parsley. Pour over grilled crab legs and serve immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Grilled Dungeness Crab with Meyer Lemon Herb Butter take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (15 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Grilled Dungeness Crab with Meyer Lemon Herb Butter?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep dungeness crab legs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Grilled Dungeness Crab with Meyer Lemon Herb Butter?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Grilled Dungeness Crab with Meyer Lemon Herb Butter for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Grilled Dungeness Crab with Meyer Lemon Herb Butter?
Seafood grilling like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Grilled to golden perfection—this recipe saved my summer cookout.
- ★★★★★
The Meyer lemon butter made the crab shine—perfect for my dinner party last weekend!
- ★★★★★
My kids asked for seconds! So simple yet elegant for a weeknight meal.
