Name: Air Fryer Crab Legs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 lb crab legs (cleaned and scrubbed); 2 Tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon old bay; ½ teaspoon garlic powder

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It's so quick and easy to cook the most perfect crab legs in an air fryer! Ready to serve in less than 15 minutes, they are seasoned with old bay for a great at home boil!

Air fryer crab legs on a white plate and garnished with herbs.

If you're looking for another way to make your crab legs at home then this is it.

Since snow crab legs usually come cooked, they are super quick to warm up in your air fryer, so once you've cleaned them, all you have to do is season them and let the air fryer do its job!

How to make air fryer crab legs

Scrub the legs. I like to use a potato brush to scrub them well. The dry them with a paper towel.

crab legs in large bowl with water and scrubber

Combine crab legs, olive oil, old bay, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Use hands to rub oil and seasoning all over crab legs.

Crab legs with seasonings in a silver bowl.

Place the legs in foil paper and wrap tightly.
Place in an air fryer basket.
Air fryer crab legs on 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes.
Remove from the air fryer and foil paper. Enjoy 🙂

The cooked crab legs on foil in the air fryer basket.

Why cook crab legs in an air fryer?

Mainly because I love my air fryer. But it's also a great way to quickly "cook" crab legs. I don't have to wait for the water to boil when doing it on the stovetop. I also like the fact that the seasoning sticks to the shells of the crab legs.

What do you serve them with?

These air fried crab legs are great served as an appetizer with some melted butter for dipping. Simplicity at it's best! You can of course serve these up as part of a seafood boil with other seafood and lots of sides.

Make up your own seafood menu with these crab legs served alongside:

What are the best crab legs to use?

Because we are cooking these crab legs in the air fryer, you want to make sure the legs will all fit in! For that reason, it's best to stay away from Alaskan king crab and go for snow crab instead. Smaller crabs like Dungeness will work well too.

Recipe Notes and Tips

I prefer to use fresh/defrosted crab legs as I like the seasoning to stick to the crab shells. If you have frozen, you can cook it from frozen by adding a few extra minutes.
When the crab legs are cooked they should be a vibrant orange / pink color.
Take care not to overcook the legs or the meat can become chewy.

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5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Crab Legs

It's so quick and easy to cook the most perfect crab legs in an air fryer! Ready to serve in less than 15 minutes, they are seasoned with old bay for a great at home boil!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword air fried crab legs, how to cook crab legs, how to cook crab legs in an air fryer

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 176kcal

Author Tanya

Ingredients

1 lb crab legs cleaned and scrubbed
2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon old bay
½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Combine crab legs, olive oil, old bay, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Use hands to rub oil and seasoning all over crab legs. Place the legs in foil paper and wrap tightly. Place in an air fryer basket.
Air fryer crab legs on 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes.
Remove from the air fryer and foil paper. Enjoy 🙂

Notes

You can make these with frozen or fresh crab legs. If frozen, they will take an extra few minutes in the air fryer or you can defrost them fully before you cook them.
When the crab legs are cooked they should be a vibrant orange / pink color.
Take care not to overcook the legs or the meat can become chewy.
These are great on their own or served with melted butter.

Nutrition

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