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Simple Butter Garlic Crab Recipe

Butter Garlic Crab is a rich and indulgent seafood dish made with succulent crab cooked in a fragrant garlic butter sauce with white wine, lemon, and fresh herbs. This restaurant-style recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and is perfect for special dinners or easy entertaining at home.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 2 –3 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Seafood
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 –2.5 lbs Dungeness crab cleaned and cracked
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 10 –12 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Lemon wedges for serving
  • Crusty bread optional for serving

Method
 

  1. Rinse cleaned and cracked crab under cold water and pat dry.
  2. Melt ½ cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat until gently bubbling.
  3. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, not browned.
  4. Pour in white wine and simmer for 2–3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Stir in remaining butter, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, cilantro, red pepper flakes, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  6. Reduce heat and simmer sauce for 5–7 minutes to let flavors combine.
  7. Add crab pieces and gently toss to coat in sauce.
  8. Cover and simmer for 5–7 minutes until crab is heated through.
  9. Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with extra herbs, and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

Use medium heat and avoid boiling to prevent the butter sauce from separating.