Steamed Blue Crab with Old Bay and Lemon Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Fresh Maryland blue crabs steamed with Old Bay seasoning and served with a zesty lemon butter dipping sauce for a classic seafood experience. This seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs live blue crabs, Old Bay seasoning, water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 3, 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 3 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large pot with a steaming rack, pour 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle 3 tbsp of Old Bay seasoning evenly over the liquid. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
  2. Step 2: Place 6 live blue crabs on the steaming rack, cover the pot with a tight lid, and steam for 20 minutes until the shells turn bright red and the meat is opaque.
  3. Step 3: While crabs steam, melt 6 tbsp of unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in 2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp minced garlic, and 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Keep warm.
  4. Step 4: Remove crabs carefully with tongs and serve immediately with the lemon garlic butter dipping sauce.

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