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Simple Crab Salad Recipe

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updated: 03/12/26

4.94 from 59 votes
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Crab Salad is an easy recipe that works great as a side dish or a filler to make a crab salad sandwich. You will love this delicious and easy side dish recipe!

side view of a bowl of crab salad garnished with fresh dill

Whenever I am getting remade salads from the deli, my eyes are always drawn to the Seafood Salad and the Crab Salad. They are absolutely delicious, but they are so easy to make at home. I love the simplicity of this recipe and it’s generous creamy dressing.

Reader Review

Thank you for this recipe.rnMy friends and family love itrnEverytime I make it I get requests for the recipernMy 22 year old son even asked for the recipe after he polished off a big bowl!!! ♥️

How to Make Crab Salad

This delicious recipe is so simple to make. First combine the main ingredients. Then make the dressing. I like to taste the dressing before then tossing it with the main ingredients. You can eat it right away or refrigerate it for a few hours to let the flavors combine.

overhead of ingredients for crab salad in a bowl

Tips and Tricks

  • Use imitation crab. While I typically get dragged for this on Facebook whenever I share my mom’s Crab Pasta Salad, it is such an affordable option and so delicious.
  • Use real crab. On the other hand, if you can afford to use real lump crab, it will be fantastic in this recipe. I love to sort through it with a fork to pull out any stray pieces of shell that can sometimes pop up.
  • Make your own Old Bay Seasoning. This is a seasoning mix that is very popular in the United States to eat with seafood. If you can’t find it, you can use my recipe for homemade Old Bay Seasoning.
overhead view of imitation crab salad in a bowl

How to Eat Crab Salad

  • As a salad side dish. Eat it with a fork as a side dish.
  • Eat it in lettuce cups. Serve it in lettuce cups for a great low carb option.
  • Make a crab salad sandwich. It makes for a filling lunch that you will really love.
  • Use it as a topping on salad greens. Throw in some other vegetables and make it a really healthy lunch option.

Leftovers

This recipe is best when eaten within twenty-four hours of being made. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and given a stir before serving. I do not recommend freezing this salad.

crab salad sandwich on a cutting board

What to Serve with Crab Salad

If you are putting out a full spread for a get together and this salad is part of it, here are some other great recipes that you will love.

If you make this Crab Salad recipe or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

side view of a bowl of crab salad garnished with fresh dill
4.94 from 59 votes

Crab Salad

Author: Lisa Longley
Serves: 8 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Crab Salad is an easy recipe that works great as a side dish or a filler to make a crab salad sandwich. You will love this delicious and easy side dish recipe!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the crab meat, red onion, and celery.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Old Bay Seasoning, fresh dill, and salt. Taste and add pepper to taste.
  • Stir the dressing into the main ingredients and serve. This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days in an air tight container.

Recipe Video

Serving: 0.5cup Calories: 108kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 7g (2%) Protein: 7g (14%) Fat: 7g (11%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 54mg (18%) Sodium: 660mg (29%) Potassium: 32mg (1%) Sugar: 1g (1%)
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
side view of a bowl of crab salad garnished with fresh dill

did you make this

Crab Salad

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Lisa is the founder of Simple Joy. Lisa, is a self taught cook and avid lover of all things food, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the last 10 years Lisa has been reading cookbooks, experimenting in the kitchen, and learning everything she possibly can about cooking. The result has been the ability to create recipes, both classics and new twists, that readers fall in love with and make with ease. Lisa loves not only providing delicious and easy recipes, but also giving the why behind what we are doing in the kitchen. She gets such great joy in sharing my love for food.

Lisa has been featured in many media outlets. These outlets include Country Living, Real Simple, Today, Parade, Good Housekeeping, Buzzfeed, Delish, Elle, and many others.

Prior to becoming a food creator, Lisa was a social worker. She received her master’s in social work from the University of Milwaukee and worked in child welfare.

Lisa is the mom to four amazing kids: Gavin, Elliot, Quinn, and Piper. Gavin, Quinn, and Piper are happy, amazing kids she loves spending time with.

Her husband, Nathan, is her partner in life and in business. He is her rock in more ways than one and supports all of her crazy dreams.

Lisa and Nathan lost their second child, Elliot, when he was 8 days old. If you want to know more about Elliot, you can read it here. If you want to read more of Lisa’s experience of grief, you can read this post.

Reader Interactions

    4.94 from 59 votes (32 ratings without comment)

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  1. KP says

    5 stars
    This was amazing! I was looking for new ways to eat imitation crab and this is it. I might try using blended cottage cheese next time instead of the Mayo to get additional protein! Thanks for the amazing recipe!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you liked it!

  2. Suzanne says

    This crab salad is delicious! My family loves it! Thank you for sharing it.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you liked it!

  3. Wendy says

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe! I used half crab and half shrimp. It was delicious!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

  4. Rita says

    I didn’t have any dill so I used a grinder of thyme, lemon and salt and it tastes delicious. I also used some shrimp.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m glad you liked it, Rita!

  5. Cynthia says

    5 stars
    Love it I add a yellow pepper, and used 2 green onions instead of red.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

  6. Dorothy Bevelle says

    Love ur seafood recipe thanks

    • Lisa Longley says

      You’re welcome!

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