Frozen Crab Cakes in Air Fryer
Description
Crispy on the outside, tender in the middle, and ready in 10 minutes — frozen crab cakes in the air fryer are the easiest seafood weeknight dinner you'll make. No thawing, no flipping required, and works with any brand from Aldi to Phillips. Serve with lemon and tartar sauce.
Ingredients
- 4 frozen crab cakes, about 3 oz each — any brand
- Olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray, optional, for extra crisp tops
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving
- ¼ cup tartar sauce or remoulade, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes.
- Place the frozen crab cakes in the air fryer basket in a single layer with a little space between each one. Do not thaw.
- Lightly spray the tops of the crab cakes with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes, flipping the crab cakes halfway through at the 6-minute mark.
- Check that the internal temperature has reached 165°F. If not, cook for 1–2 additional minutes.
- Carefully remove the crab cakes from the basket and serve hot with lemon wedges and tartar sauce or remoulade.
Equipment
- Air fryer (any basket-style 4-quart or larger)
- Instant-read thermometer (recommended for the first batch with a new brand)
- Cooking spray (oil mister preferred over aerosol),
Notes
Recipe Notes
- Mini crab cakes: cook 6–8 minutes at 380°F, no flip needed.
- Jumbo crab cakes: cook 12–14 minutes at 380°F, flipping at 7 minutes.
- Brand notes: Aldi, Phillips, SeaPak, Trader Joe's, Cameron's, Gorton's, and Dockside Classics all work with this method.
- Storage: Refrigerate cooked leftovers up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Air fry at 350°F for 3–4 minutes — they crisp back up beautifully.
- Don't crowd the basket: cook in batches if needed so hot air can circulate.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 210kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 13gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 580mgPotassium: 180mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g