Craving a taste of the sea without the fuss? Imagine tender, sweet crab meat, perfectly steamed and dripping with a luscious garlic butter sauce. This isn’t a dream from a fancy seafood restaurant—it’s a 10-minute reality you can create right in your own kitchen with your Instant Pot. Get ready to impress yourself (and anyone lucky enough to share) with this incredibly simple yet elegant Garlic Butter Crab Legs recipe. Let’s dive in!
Ingredients
• 3 lbs / 1.36 kg Crab Legs, king or snow
• 1 ½ cups / 355 ml Water
• ⅓ cup / 76 g Salted Butter
• 2 tsp / 6 g Minced Garlic, about 2 cloves
• 1 tsp / 5 ml Olive Oil
Instructions
1. Directions
2. Prepare the Instant Pot: Pour the water into the Instant Pot inner pot and place the steamer basket or trivet inside.
3. Steam the Crab: Arrange the crab legs in the steamer basket, folding them if necessary to fit. Secure the lid, set the steam release valve to ‘Sealing’, and cook on the ‘Steam’ setting for 4 minutes.
4. Quick Release: Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick pressure release by carefully turning the valve to ‘Venting’. Once the pin drops, open the lid.
5. Plate the Crab: Using tongs, carefully transfer the hot crab legs to a large platter or serving dish.
6. Make the Garlic Butter: Discard the water from the inner pot and dry it. Select the ‘Sauté’ function. Add the olive oil and butter to the pot.
7. Sauté the Garlic: Once the butter has completely melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
8. Serve: Immediately pour the hot garlic butter sauce over the steamed crab legs. Serve with lemon wedges and extra melted butter for dipping, if desired.
Nutritional Information
• Per Serving
• Calories: 300
• Total Fats: 9g
• Net Carbs: 2g
• Protein: 35g
• Fiber: 0g
Pro Tips
• For the best texture, thaw frozen crab legs in the refrigerator overnight before cooking. If you’re short on time, you can rinse them under cold running water to speed up the process.
• Add a splash of white wine, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter sauce for an extra layer of flavor.
• Be careful not to overcook the crab legs, as they can become rubbery. The 4-minute steam time is for pre-cooked crab legs, which is how most are sold.
• Serve with crusty bread to soak up every last drop of the delicious garlic butter sauce.
FAQ
Q: Can I cook frozen crab legs in the Instant Pot
A: For the best texture, it is highly recommended to thaw your crab legs before cooking. You can thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or rinse them under cold running water if you are short on time.
Q: How long does it take to steam crab legs in an Instant Pot
A: For pre-cooked crab legs, which is how they are most commonly sold, you only need to steam them for 4 minutes on the ‘Steam’ setting, followed by a quick pressure release.
Q: What kind of crab legs are best for this recipe
A: This recipe works perfectly with either king crab or snow crab legs. Choose based on your personal preference and availability.
Q: How can I customize the garlic butter sauce
A: To add an extra layer of flavor to your sauce, consider adding a splash of white wine, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
