Impress your guests with these delicious crab appetizer recipes for tailgating

When you think of tailgating, you might not think of crab recipes. But crab has been a beloved ingredient used in appetizers for hundreds of years, so don’t count it out! From crabcakes to crab dip, these ‘crabulous’ crab appetizer recipes are sure to delight your guests!

Crab Appetizer Recipes

• With all of these recipes, we recommend using real fresh crab meat instead of imitation crab or canned crab meat. Real crab meat offers a richer, more authentic flavor and a firmer texture that enhances the overall dish. Real crab meat also contains more nutrients and fewer additives compared to imitation crab, making it a healthier option.

Crab Artichoke Toasts

Since you can’t come to my house without me trying to feed you, quick yet elegant appetizers like these Crab Artichoke Toasts are just what I need. They’re fancy enough for the holidays, but still super easy to whip up on the fly. If you know you’ll be hosting, you can make these crab appetizers ahead of time, making them perfect for tailgate party planning. Feel free to add some green onion on top for more color and flavor.

Crab and Avocado Nachos

Your typical nachos, but instead of pulled chicken or pork we have lump crab meat! Cool avocado is tossed on top, along with fire-roasted corn, sweet crab meat, melted white cheddar, chives, and bacon. Top it with some sourcream and you’re good to go! We recommend doubling the recipe because this crab appetizer is going to be gone before it hits the serving table!

Easy Crab Puffs Recipe

A puff pastry filled with succulent crab meat, creamy mayo sauce, and plenty of spices is my idea of the perfect finger food. Even your friends who aren’t big seafood lovers will enjoy a well made crab puff because they are so crispy and light! Just toss them on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown.

Stuffed Lemon Crab Cakes

Lemons make the perfect vessel for these super moist crab cakes with a crunchy top. They are citrusy, meaty, and the ideal single-serve appetizer for your next get-together. Your guests will definitely be wondering, “Why haven’t I stuffed a lemon before?!” Don’t forget to use freshly squeezed lemon juice!

Cucumber Crab Crustini

Want to bring a delicious but also healthy appetizer to the party? This healthy crab appetizer is a light and delicate take on a crab crostini that will be a hit with all of your guests! It’s also an ideal evening canapé that won’t leave everyone feeling too stuffed to enjoy dinner.

Buffalo Crab Dip

We’ve all heard of buffalo chicken dip, but have you tried buffalo crab dip? It’s just as addicting, and you won’t have to worry about if anyone else brought it to the party, because it’s super unique! It’s also really easy to make, so we highly recommend this one if you are in a pinch. The crab mixture is warm, cheesy and a little spicy, and the entire recipe is super easy to reheat if you make it ahead of time.

Cheesy Avocado Crab Stuffed Piquillo Pepper Ciabatta Pizzette’s with Sriracha Aioli

In typical Half Baked Harvest fashion, it’s a long title and a lot of ingredients, but these crab stuffed peppers on ciabatta are INSANELY delicious. Don’t forget the sriracha aioli because it adds so much flavor!

Crab Beignets

Beignets, those tasty French doughnuts, are usually dusted with powdered sugar, but this savory version is a game-changer. The beignet batter perfectly coats a warm, creamy crab filling with a crispy, light crust. The batter might be a bit tricky to handle at first, but don’t stress—practice makes perfect. These bad boys are best eaten super hot, so whip them up while hanging out with friends and enjoying some pre-dinner drinks in the kitchen.

The recipe calls for blue crab, but any type of crab works, like Maryland crab or Alaskan king crab.

Mini Deviled Crab Cornbread Muffins

This one-bite appetizer is always a hit. Picture kind of like a mini crab cake, but with cornbread instead of the typical breading. As with all of these recipes, it is recommended to use fresh, real crab meat over imitation crab!

Crab and Avocado Summer Rolls

This super healthy appetizer always gets people excited because they are so pretty! If you use a punch of colorful vegetables in the clear spring rolls, you get a rainbow in every bite. Plus the veggies are typically raw, meaning you don’t have to do any cooking! This is especially helpful if you are hosting in the middle of summer.

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Crispy on top and juicy in the middle, this one-bite appetizer is always gone before you can blink. It’s a little tedious to clean all of the mushrooms, but it’s definitely worth it.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

If you have never made crab cakes in the air fryer, you’re missing out! They come out super crispy and golden on the outside and perfectly plump on the inside. Serve them with some cocktail sauce or your favorite aioli! Don’t forget the fresh lemon slices for each serving.

Hot Crab and Artichoke Dip

Strangely enough, crab and artichoke go together like peanut butter and jelly. This creamy hot crab dip recipe uses a dash of Old Bay seasoning for added flavor, and multiple cheeses. Feel free to add some paprika and cheddar cheese for extra cheesiness and flavor. Cook it until it’s bubbly to make sure everything is cooked through. Don’t forget the crackers or chips!

Welp, I don’t know about you, but my mouth is watering! I’m actually headed to the store right now to pick up some lump crab meat! If you tried any of these recipes make sure to let us know in the comments!