Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (2024)

by Denise 20 Comments

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These easy keto crab cakes are simply delicious with just a little bit of spice from a jalapeño pepper and a squeeze lime. You can make this tasty keto dinner in just 15 minutes and without any breadcrumbs. Only 1.8g net carbs per crab cake.

You might also like these low carb salmon cakes recipe!

Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (1)

I don’t know about you but I always thought that crab cakes were delicious but complicated and you only got them at a restaurant. Today I have happily proven myself wrong. I saw that Aldi had lump crabmeat at a great price and I decided to give it a try and make these easy keto crab cakes.

Surprisingly my son loved these as much as my husband and I did and each crab cake is only 1.8g net carbs! They were super easy to make and I was done in 15 minutes.Plus I didn’t use traditional breadcrumbs so they are gluten free as well. I don’t use any almond flour, coconut flour or pork rinds either.

Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (2)

Best low carb seafood to eat on a keto diet.

I’m not a huge seafood person seeing as I live in Pittsburgh and fresh seafood is not easily available. However there still are a lot of options open to me. Most seafood has little to no carbs, is quick to prepare and very delicious! Here are the net carbs for 3 oz of the most popular seafood options. Check out this seafood nutritional chart for more types of seafood if you are interested.

  • salmon – og
  • shrimp – 0g
  • crab – 0g
  • tilapia – 0g
  • tuna – 0g
  • scallops – 2g
  • lobster – 1g
  • clams – 4g

NOTE: Seafood is a great source of protein, low in calorie and often takes minutes to cook so I urge you to give it a try.

Recipe ingredients I used.

Below you can see most of the simple ingredients I used for these crab cakes. That is the lump crabmeat that I bought in the refrigerator section of Aldi. Note you can usually find it at the seafood counter at most grocery stores.

It was very good for the price and since it’s a special item I will have to go back and buy some more!

The other ingredients were mayonnaise, egg, jalapeno pepper, fresh lime, fresh cilantro, butter, olive oil and green onion.

Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (3)

How to make these easy keto crab cakes!

These crab cakes are a little messy to handle but trust me they will be delicious.

Step 1: Start by beating an egg in a mixing bowl and then add the diced jalapeno, cilantro, green onions, mayonnaise and lime juice.

Step 2: Next fold in the crabmeat until combined.Try to keep the lumps together as best you can.

Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (4)

Step 3: Get out a nonstick skillet and heat to medium high heat. Add a mixture of butter and olive oil to the pan as this will get them nice and crispy. Then form the crab mixture into 4 patties and carefully place them in the pan.

Step 4: Turn the heat down to medium heat and let them sit there frying for 3-4 minutes until they are nice and golden brown. Carefully flip them and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the other side.

Step 5: Take them off the stove and let rest for a few minutes before serving. Store leftover crab cakes in an airtight container. Serve with roasted garlic aioli or homemade tartar sauce for even more flavor.

Please scroll down to view the printable recipe card.

Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (5)

That’s all there is to it! I had mine after I cleaned up my mess and took pictures so it was cold but I still loved it. So that got me to thinking that these would also be the perfect appetizer for co*cktail parties if you make smaller patties.

Recipe Notes & Tips

  • Fresh crab meat is hard to come by so use the quality crab meat in cans you get at the seafood counter. Not the ones in the canned tuna aisle. You really want the flavor of the crab to come through
  • These are messy and fragile to handle so be gentle when placing them in the pan and flipping them over.
  • When using the jalapeno you want to clean out the seeds and the ribs. It will still have a bit of heat but not much. If you don’t have a jalapeno you can definitely substitute bell pepper. Just make sure to chop it finely because you are not cooking them very long.
  • I used fresh lime juice in this recipe but fresh lemon juice would work just as well.
  • That also goes for the cilantro. You can substitute with fresh parsley if you are not a cilantro person.
  • This recipe only makes 4 crab cakes. If you doubled this recipe and made smaller patties it would be a great low carb appetizer for a party.
Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (6)

As I mentioned above my family loves these gluten free keto crab cakes and I’m going to make sure to buy some more crabmeat before it’s gone. It’s sure to be one of your favorite recipes too!

The nutritional information for 1 crab cake is: 182 cals / 15.6g fat / 2.2g carbs / 0.4g fiber / 9g protein = 1.8g net carbs

Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (7)

Easy Keto Crab Cakes Recipe

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

These easy low carb crab cakes are simply delicious with just a little bit of spice from a jalapeño pepper and squeeze lime but no bread crumbs. You can make this tasty keto dinner in just 15 minutes and the carb count for 1 cake 1.8g net carbs.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 ounces lump crab meat
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, minced
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, ribs & seeds cleaned out and finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, beat an egg then add the mayo, cilantro, lime juice, green onion and jalapeno. Mix well.
  2. Carefully fold in the lump crab meat until well combined.
  3. Get out a large nonstick pan and heat up to medium high heat. Add the butter and olive oil.
  4. Carefully form the crab mixture into 4 patties and gently place them in the sizzling pan.
  5. Turn down the heat to medium heat and fry crab cakes for 3-4 minutes until browned. Gently flip and cook on the other side for 3-4 minutes.
  6. Let them rest for a few minutes before serve.

Notes

Recipe Notes & Tips

  • These are messy and fragile to handle so be gentle when placing them in the pan and flipping them over.
  • When using the jalapeno you want to clean out the seeds and the ribs. It will still have a bit of heat but not much. If you don't have a jalapeno you can definitely substitute bell pepper. Just make sure to chop it finely because you are not cooking them very long.
  • I used lime juice in this recipe but lemon juice would just as well.
  • That also goes with the cilantro. You can substitute with parsley if you are not a cilantro person.
  • This recipe only makes 4 crab cakes. If you doubled this recipe and made smaller patties it would be a great low carb appetizer for a party.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 182Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (8)

More Easy & Delicious Keto Seafood Recipes

  • Parmesan Couscous and Shrimp
  • Keto Yucatan Shrimp Recipe
  • Beer Battered Cod Nuggets
  • Low Carb Flounder Piccata Recipe

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Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. You should always do your own calculations if you are concerned about the accuracy of this or any recipe. I use the Lose It app for all of my nutritional information because I have for years.

Comments

  1. Kathy

    You can substitute lite Mayo which is much healthier…really cant tell a difference.

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Kathy, that’s good to know! Thanks for coming back to share that tip!

      Reply

  2. Brianna

    Hi! Do you think you can make these in an air fryer? What temp and time would you recommend?

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Brianna, I have never tried it but I don’t see why it won’t. However they are pretty wet and fragile. Hopefully they won’t fall through your basket. If you don’t think they will (or you can use a piece of foil). I would try 375°F for about 10-15 minutes. It’s easy to check them at about 10 minutes and maybe even flip them if you can easily. If they need more time put them in for another 5 – 10 minutes. So 10 – 20 minutes total. I hope that helps. Please let me know how if you do it. Good luck!

      Reply

  3. Sandra

    These crabs cakes are delicious. I look for recipes that does have twenty ingredients to make. This recipe is quick and easy. I added celery salt to the mixture and coated them with almond flour to help hold it together.

    Reply

  4. Lisa

    Could you possibly use greek yogurt rather than mayo with these? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Denise

      Lisa, I’ll be honest, I don’t know. The mayo does add a lot of flavor to the crab cakes because of the fat content. It could work but I can’t say for certain. Sorry I’m not much help. Let me know if you do it and how it turns out. I would be curious to see.

      Reply

  5. Julie

    This was very flavorful and delicious! My husband and I loved these crab cakes. I do admit, we had them with some Remoulade sauce which was so good! Thank you for sharing. We love finding good low carb dishes. I’ll definitely be sharing this one with family and friends.

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Julie, so glad you liked it!

      Reply

  6. SHANIKA

    I love Crab Cakes! These look so well seasoned and so easy to make! But i’m definitely loving it more that it’s low in carbs.

    Reply

  7. GUNJAN C Dudani

    I definitely needed something healthy and low carb with all the baking happening around me. For sure this is on my menu.

    Reply

  8. Aline

    I’m so excited to try this!! Crab cakes are our faves but I’ve never made them before. It’s on the list to make this week!!

    Reply

  9. Jo

    Crab cakes are my absolute favorite. I love your keto crab cake recipe. So full of flavors jut the way I like it. Saving this to try later.

    Reply

  10. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer

    I love crab cakes and I also love the fact that you gave options of other seafood! And the fact that it takes only 15 minutes is perfect! Definitely adding this my meal rotation! These looks scrumptious!

    Reply

  11. Jamie

    I love how simple and easy this recipe is! The crab flavor really comes through and the kick from the jalapenos was perfect!

    Reply

  12. Bernice M Hill

    This is such a great way to enjoy crab…and one of my favourites! I have some crab meat in the freezer and it might be time to use it up in this delicious recipe.

    Reply

  13. Kelly Anthony

    These look delicious and I love that they are not full of high carb ingredients. These crab cakes will be perfect for kicking the year off right!

    Reply

  14. Anna

    Such a beautiful and tasty recipe! I can’t believe it only takes 15 minutes, how great is that?!? Jalapeno and lime sounds like a perfect addition of fresh and zesty flavour that will compliment this dish so well!

    Reply

  15. Kushigalu

    What a lovely and simple recipe. So delicious. I caNt wait to try this over weekend.

    Reply

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Keto Crab Cakes Recipe - easy low carb seafood dinner in 15 minutes! (2024)

FAQs

What seafood has no carbs? ›

Shellfish and fish are excellent keto options. In addition to being practically carb-free, seafood like salmon is also high in potassium, selenium, and B vitamins.

Can you eat crab on low-carb diet? ›

Fish and shellfish are very keto-friendly. Salmon and other fish are not only nearly carb-free but also rich in B vitamins, potassium, and selenium ( 9 ). However, the carb count in shellfish varies by type. While shrimp and most crabs contain no carbs, oysters and octopus do.

Can you do keto with just seafood? ›

Seafood is high in healthy fats

This makes seafood an excellent choice for keto diets. Across the board, it contains extremely low (or zero) carbs, making it naturally keto-friendly. Some types of seafood, like shrimp and crab, are nearly fat-free.

What keeps crab cakes from falling apart? ›

Refrigerate Your Crab Cakes

There's actually a pretty easy fix for this common problem. Simply stick your crab cakes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. The time they spend there will allow the crab cakes to solidify their shape.

What is the best fish to eat on a low carb diet? ›

Salmon – Packed with a high fat content, salmon – particularly wild salmon – serves up a robust, buttery flavor that is versatile across many keto recipes at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cod – Cod makes the cut on our keto list because it's low in carbohydrates – just 2% of your recommended daily value.

What seafood can I eat on keto? ›

Best Seafood to Eat on a Keto Diet
  • Salmon. Salmon not only has a rich flavor, but it's also rich in omega-3 fatty acids (approx. ...
  • Mackerel. Mackerel is salmon's underrated cousin. ...
  • Herring. Herring is a medium-sized fish with a mild flavor that's full of nutrients. ...
  • Oysters. ...
  • Tuna. ...
  • Mahi-Mahi. ...
  • Shrimp & Bay Scallops.

How many carbs a day on keto? ›

The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day—less than the amount found in a medium plain bagel—and can be as low as 20 grams a day. Generally, popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein.

Can I eat peanut butter on keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Can I have a banana on keto? ›

Despite the many health benefits of fruit, there is an issue with some fruits on the keto diet. Grapes and bananas, for instance, contain high quantities of carbs. 1 cup of grapes has approximately 26 grams and a medium banana, 24 grams of carbohydrate. As a rule, these fruits should be avoided.

Can you eat as much as you want on keto? ›

Most people feel more satisfied after eating ketogenic meals and snacks due to the filling effects of fat and protein. However, it's entirely possible to consume too many calories on a ketogenic diet by eating portions that are too large or by snacking on high-calorie foods throughout the day.

What fruit can you have on keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Is it better to cook crab cakes in oil or butter? ›

This method will give your crab cakes some buttery flavor without potentially becoming overwhelming. Ultimately, it is your decision how you choose to fry your crab cakes, as both oil and butter will work equally well depending on your taste and cooking preferences.

What do you put on crab cakes when you eat them? ›

Tartar sauce and co*cktail sauce are tried-and-true, but so many other things are delicious with crab cakes.

Why are my crab cakes mushy? ›

Why are they mushy on the inside? Using canned crab meat that hasn't been fully drained may lead to extra liquid in the mixture, making the cakes mushy. Using low-quality crab meat may also lead to mushy cakes, which is why I recommend using lump crab meat.

Can I eat shrimp on a no carb diet? ›

Definitely. Shrimp has just 0.2 grams of carbs in a 3-ounce serving; although shrimp come in different sizes, this is roughly 3-5 shrimp. Shrimp has less than a gram of fat per serving that comes from omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats that are beneficial to your body.

Is lobster carb free? ›

Lobster Is high in protein and carb-free, which makes it the perfect staple for a Keto meal. You'll also get other nutrients when you eat lobster such as calcium, iron and a hefty dose of selenium. The key to eating lobster on a Keto Diet is to consider how you prepare the lobster.

Is lobster low in carbs? ›

Lobster is very keto-friendly. In fact, the majority of fish and seafood can be eaten while on the keto diet. This is because seafood such as lobster are low in carbs—the exact type of food you want to be eating a low-carb diet. Additionally, many of the foods you pair with lobsters are also keto-friendly.

Is all seafood low-carb? ›

Fish and other seafood tend to provide incredibly nutritious and healthy benefits. They're particularly high in B12, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids — all nutrients many people do not get enough. Like meat, almost all types of fish and seafood contain next to no carbs.

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