Pan-Seared Crab Cakes with Old Bay Seasoning
Golden-crusted crab cakes with a savory Old Bay kick, served with a bright lemon-dill aioli for a taste of Baltimore's waterfront charm. This American-inspired brunch recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, layers fresh lump crabmeat, panko breadcrumbs, large egg into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. 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
- 12 oz fresh lump crabmeat
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 cup finely diced celery
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, gently combine 12 oz fresh lump crabmeat, 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning, and 1/4 cup finely diced celery. Mix with a fork just until combined—do not overmix.
- Step 2: Form mixture into 6 equal patties, each 3/4 inch thick. Chill on a plate for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until butter foams. Add crab cakes and cook 4-5 minutes per side until deep golden brown and crisp.
- Step 4: While crab cakes cook, whisk 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp fresh dill, and 1 tbsp lemon juice to make aioli. Serve crab cakes warm with aioli spooned on top.








