Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Looking for a simple appetizer any day of the week? These Air Fryer Crab Cakes are the best way to start off any meal! Made with jumbo lump crab meat, mayo, breadcrumbs, bell pepper, and more.

Crab cakes topped with green onion tops ready to eat.

Make certain to check out another easy recipe that is made with fresh crab meat! Hot Crab Dip. It’s a delicious appetizer that’s also made with jumbo lump crab meat.

Out of all my Air Fryer Seafood Recipes, these homemade crab cakes are at the top of the list.

Before we get to that, let’s talk about Air Fryers.

How Does The Air Fryer Work?

Air Fryers have made it easier to eat healthier without submerging your foods in oil.

Air Fryers cook foods by using a heating element and a fan, and that circulating of heat and hot air is what helps cook the food and crisp it. 

Air Fryers can cook with heat as high as 400° Fahrenheit/200° Celcius. Some air fryers may even cook to higher temps. 

Now I know that my air-fryer basket can make crispy crab cakes with less oil AND less time.

I’m all about using breadcrumbs and a light spritz of oil with my crab cake mixture to create that crisp outer layer that a good crab cake needs! I also think that using panko bread crumbs creates less mess to have to deal with as well.

If you’re ready to make your very own delicious crab cakes, print off the recipe card ingredients and steps below to get started!

I think that you’ll find this crab cake recipe perfect for the size of your air fryer! You can even make mini crab cakes as well!

Ingredients

  • jumbo lump crab meat
  • eggs 
  • mayo
  • red bell pepper, diced small
  • breadcrumbs 
  • garlic salt 
  • black pepper 
  • *optional – lemon juice and green onion tops

As you can see, this recipe for low carb crab cakes is so simple to do!

Ingredients needed to make crab cakes.

How to Make Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer

Heat the air fryer to 390 degrees F. Prepare the air fryer basking with cooking spray or parchment paper.

Mix crab meat, mayo, breadcrumbs, egg, bell pepper, and seasonings in a large bowl.

Ingredients needed to make crab cakes in a bowl ready to mix and make into patties.

Measure out the crab mixture into patties with 1/2 cup measuring cup. 

Crab cakes in a measuring cup to make into patties.

Form the patties to be no larger than 1″ thickness. 

Add the patties in a single layer to the prepared air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the patties. Cook for 8 minutes. 

crab cake patties in the air fryer basket ready to cook.

Spray the top of the patties and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. 

Close up photo of cooked crab cakes in the air fryer basket.

Remove the patties and squeeze fresh lemon juice and top with diced green onion.

Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

Crab Cakes FAQs

Can I make crab cakes ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the crab patties up to 48 hours in advance, and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook. 

Can you make frozen crab cakes?

You can make these and put them in the freezer for later! Store them for up to a month. For best results, store them in an airtight container.

How do you reheat crab cakes?

Reheat the crab patties in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. 

Cooked air fryer crab cakes on a white plate ready to serve.

You’re going to love these easy air fryer recipes. This is one of my family’s favorite appetizers and I love how quick and easy these are to make.

If you’re looking for more Air Fryer recipes, we’ve definitely got you covered!

MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES:

I Would Love to Hear From YOU!

Let Me Know What You Think!

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Tag Me In Your Photos! Are you on Facebook? If so, join the Easy Air Fryer Recipes Group (with hundreds of thousands of Air Fryer Fans!) and share your photos! I love to see your creations. If you’re on Instagram, tag me @pinkwhenjen. 

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Jump down to the COMMENT section and let me know! I would love to help and also love feedback on all of my posts. 

Crab cakes on a plate topped with fresh green onion tops.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Jennifer
These Air Fryer Crab Cakes are wonderful and full of flavor! Made with jumbo lump crab meat, mayo, breadcrumbs, bell pepper, seasonings, and more.
4.67 from 6 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 179 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounce jumbo lump crab meat
  • 2 eggs 
  • 3 Tablespoons mayo
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced small
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt 
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 

Instructions
 

  • Heat the air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare the air fryer basking with cooking spray or parchment paper.
  • Mix the crab meat, bell pepper, mayo, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings in a large bowl.
  • Measure out the crab mixture into patties with 1/2 cup measuring cup. 
  • Form the patties to be no larger than 1" thickness. 
  • Add the patties in a single layer to the prepared air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the patties. Cook for 8 minutes. 
  • Spray the top of the patties and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. 
  • Remove the patties and squeeze fresh lemon juice and top with diced green onion.

Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 
Prepare the patties up to 48 hours in advance, and store in the refrigerator until ready to cook. 
Reheat the patties in the air fryer on 350 degrees for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. 

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 9gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 520mgPotassium: 135mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 597IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg

*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you’re using with each recipe.

©PinkWhen 2023

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Crab Cakes in Air Fryer
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4.67 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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4,439 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I am a huge fan of Air Fryer Crab Cakes. They are one of my favorite things to eat! I love the way they taste and how easy it is to make them.