Description
These Crab Crunchies are flavorful bite-sized snacks made with tender crab meat, creamy cheeses, and a crispy panko coating. Ideal for parties or as appetizers, they are sure to delight your guests!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup of crab meat (fresh or canned, drained and flaked)
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup of cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 cup of green onions, finely chopped
- 1 cup of crushed crackers (like Ritz or saltines)
- 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise. Use a hand mixer or a spatula to blend them until smooth and creamy.
- Add the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to the bowl. Stir well to combine.
- Sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, Old Bay seasoning, and black pepper. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Gently fold in the crab meat and shredded cheddar cheese, being careful not to break up the crab too much.
- Add the chopped green onions and crushed crackers to the mixture. Mix until evenly distributed.
- Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, take about a tablespoon of the crab mixture and form it into a small ball or patty. Repeat until all the mixture is used.
- Place the formed balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- In a shallow dish, add the panko breadcrumbs. Roll each crab ball in the breadcrumbs until fully coated, pressing gently to ensure they stick.
- In a large skillet, pour enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan, about 1/4 inch deep. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
- Carefully place a few crab balls in the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on one side until golden brown.
- Using a slotted spoon, gently flip the crab crunchies and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes on the other side until crispy and golden.
- Transfer the cooked crab crunchies to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining crab balls.
- Serve the crab crunchies warm with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tartar sauce or cocktail sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- For a spicier kick, consider adding a dash of hot sauce to the mixture.
- These can be made ahead of time and frozen before frying. Just fry them straight from the freezer, adding a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes