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    Home » Recipes » Savory Salads

    Crab Salad

    By: Jessica · Posted: Jan 13, 2025 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe 5 comments
    5 from 25 votes
    crab salad in white bowl with text on image

    This easy crab salad recipe uses imitation crab meat and a few other simple ingredients you can get at the grocery store! The creamy, savory salad recipe is perfect for a quick lunch, a side dish, or a potluck, similar to our chicken salad recipe!

    imitation crab salad in white bowl with pink napkin in background

     

    Quick Overview: In only 10 minutes, you’ll have a dish that’s ready to eat or you can store in an airtight container to serve later! Serve alone or even on top of a green salad. If you’re looking for a sandwich, this crab meat sandwich recipe will be the one!

    Why You’ll Love This Imitation Crab Salad Recipe

    If you love seafood dishes (or dare I say, even if you don’t) you’ll absolutely love this imitation crab recipe.

    • The creamy dressing gives this seafood salad recipe a great flavor!
    • It’s so easy. In just 10 minutes you’ll have a dish that you can serve with something like this fried shrimp recipe, or just eat it by itself for a quick lunch or even a light dinner.
    • It uses simple ingredients. You can find all of them at your favorite grocery store.
    • It keeps well. If you’re looking for a salad recipe to feed a crowd, this is it! You can make it in advance, and even easily double/triple the recipe.
    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Imitation Crab Salad Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Top Tip
    • Main Dishes to Pair with Crab Salad:
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Ingredients

    8 ingredients – yes! That’s all it takes to make this crab salad.

    Make sure to scroll to the recipe card towards the bottom of this post to see the ingredients and instructions all in one place.

    ingredients for crab salad on table
    • Flake crab meat – you can use the leg-style crab meat as well but flake crab gives this salad a better texture. We’ve even used flaked crab meat in this crab pasta recipe and it’s delicious!
    • Mayo – our favorite is Hellman’s or “Best Foods” mayo (not Miracle Whip) but any will do!
    • Celery – My husband isn’t a huge fan of celery in salad recipes but I absolutely LOVE it. It helps give a “crunch” to a creamy texture. (Although I omit the celery when making a crab salad sandwich.)
    • Dijon mustard – the flavor of the Dijon mustard adds the right about of “kick” to this salad.
    • Onion powder – it’s only a small amount but I feel it’s necessary.
    • Garlic powder – a simple ingredient but it packs the perfect flavor.
    • Salt – definitely optional but I feel it adds a nice touch. However, imitation crab can have salt in it too so maybe make sure it doesn’t have too much salt before adding.
    • Black pepper – not necessary but we prefer it!

    Instructions

    No cooking, and very little prep, this crab salad comes together and ready to eat, in minutes!

    1. Taking pieces of the flake crab meat, you can pull the crab meat apart with your hands or you can use a knife and cut it in to small, bite-size pieces. Place in a medium bowl.
    2. Next, pour the remaining ingredients on top of the crab meat.
    Steps 1 and 2 for making crab salad.
    1. Stir until evenly mixed.
    Mixed crab meat with spices and condiments
    1. Serve this simple crab salad recipe cold, as a side dish, main course on a bed of lettuce, or even on homemade sliced Italian bread or dip with spicy ranch crackers!
    crab salad in white bowl with pink napkin underneath

    FAQs

    Can you eat imitation crab raw?

    Absolutely! It’s often enjoyed right out of the package with melted butter but is delicious in a no-cook recipe like this easy crab salad recipe.

    What is crab salad made of?

    There are different versions out there but the majority of crab salads are made of imitation crab, mayonnaise, and spices.

    What is a good side dish for crab salad?

    Here are some dishes that pair well with crab salad: loaded baked potato soup, Bisquick cheddar biscuits, old-fashioned green beans, and even french fries.

    Substitutions

    Imitation Crab Meat: If you can’t find the flake-style of crab meat, you can use the leg-style. You can cut it in to small pieces but it won’t have the same texture. However, if you use a cheese grater, you could possible shred the crab meat to get it similar to a flake-style.

    Real Crab Meat: You can use fresh crab if you like the real thing but it will be quite a different result, especially if you use a canned crab meat. If you use real, snow-crab meat, that will be even better but of course feel free to experiement! We prefer the imitation crab meat for this recipe. If you have real crab meat, you may love to use it for this crab bisque!

    Mustard: You can definitely try using regular mustard but we prefer the “twang” that Dijon mustard has! Regular yellow mustard may have more of a “zing” so maybe add a little and taste test before adding the amount that we use for dijon. We use Dijon mustard in a lot of our savory salad recipes and in this ham salad!

    bite of crab meat salad on fork, holding above bowl of salad

    Variations

    Celery: You can absolutely make this crab meat salad without celery, and I actually prefer to make it without it if I’m serving on bread for crab salad sandwiches. (Although we do love celery in sandwich spreads, like this tuna salad recipe.)

    Red or Green Onions: We use onion powder in this recipe but added chopped red onion or chopped green onion may be another variation that would be delicious!

    Red Bell Pepper or Green Pepper: I absolutely love the flavor of bell peppers, so adding a bit of chopped bell pepper would add another level of “crunch” to this recipe.

    Seasoning: We stick with common ingredients for this recipe but feel free to use other items like seasoned salt, instead of of table salt, or even Old Bay Seasoning for additional flavor! Fresh dill or fresh parsley are also something that may be a good fit for a flavor boost!

    Hot Sauce: Love an extra kick? Add a few drops of hot sauce, to your desired spice level!

    Storage

    If making this cold salad ahead of time or simply storing leftovers, store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

    Top Tip

    Make a large batch of this easy recipe to eat for busy lunch days or even serve as a side dish for a quick, weeknight dinner idea!

    Main Dishes to Pair with Crab Salad:

    This cold crab salad recipe pairs amazingly well with these dishes:

    • Fish finger tacos
    • BBQ Grilled Ribs or BBQ Pork Steaks
    • Smoked Chicken Tenders or these Smoked Cornish Hens
    • A Juicy Steak

    Related Recipes

    If you love this easy salad recipe, then you’ll also love these easy, savory salads!

    • Chicken salad with grapes and apples, sitting on bread.
      Chicken Salad with Grapes and Apples
    • Chicken macaroni salad in a bowl.
      The BEST Chicken Macaroni Salad
    • Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad in big bowl, sitting on napkin.
      Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Carrot salad in small round bowl, by blue fabric napkin.
      Carrot Salad

    Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!

    Recipe

    close up of bowl of crab salad on a pink napkin

    The BEST Crab Salad

    Jessica Burgess
    This easy crab salad recipe uses imitation crab meat, is ready in just a few minutes, and uses simple ingredients that you may already have on hand.
    5 from 25 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5 servings
    Calories 247 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces imitation flaked crab meat
    • ½ cup mayo
    • ½ cup diced celery
    • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • pinch black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Tear apart the flaked crab meat, or cut in to small, bite-size pieces and place in medium sized mixing bowl.
    • Pour the remaining ingredients on top of the crab meat. Stir to fully blend ingredients. Serve!

    Notes

    How to Store Leftover Crab Salad
    If making ahead of time or simply storing leftovers, store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
    Serving Sizes:
    This can vary, depending on if you’re having this as a main dish or as a side dish. For larger portions, this may only be 3 servings. For smaller portions, as a side dish, it can be closer to 5-6 servings.
    TIP: Make ahead of time for a potluck or to eat throughout the week for lunch or a busy weeknight dinner idea!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 810mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 62IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords easy crab meat salad, easy salad recipe, lunch recipe, potluck idea
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 25 votes (21 ratings without comment)

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    1. tom says

      January 11, 2023 at 3:43 pm

      5 stars
      very easy and very tasty!!!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        January 11, 2023 at 10:41 pm

        Thank you Tom! So glad that you liked this crab salad recipe too!

        Reply
    2. Allyssa says

      June 27, 2022 at 5:52 am

      5 stars
      This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make crab salad recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again!

      Reply
    3. Jen says

      June 27, 2022 at 1:03 am

      5 stars
      So delicious! The fam loved it!

      Reply
    4. Paula K says

      June 26, 2022 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      So incredibly easy to make! All of my kids loved it too which is HUGE!!

      Reply

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    Jessica Burgess of Fantabulosity, slicing an avocado.

    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

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