Juicy Crab Sauce Recipe: How to Make the Best Crab Sauce

What makes seafood boil the perfect dish for any occasion? It’s true that the dish itself is delicious and classy enough, but without a juicy crab sauce that is buttery and spicy, it’s just not complete. We’re really proud of this recipe, and that is for a good reason. A delightful combination of garlic, onion, and lots of spices; this juicy crab sauce recipe is what you need to up your culinary skills. Admittedly, this one requires some work and know-how in the kitchen, but you’ll be pleased with the results when pouring this beauty all over your seafood boil. You need lots of ingredients to make this one properly, but you can’t really be stingy with the spices when it comes to making this juicy crab butter sauce. You deserve more than melted butter. If you’re wondering how to make juicy crab sauce, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions 
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage and reheating
• Tips
• Juicy Crab Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

• Garlic — 3 cloves, minced.
• Onion — 1 large, diced.
• Butter — 3 tbsp. unsalted.
• Worcestershire sauce — 1 ⅓ tbsp.
• Lemon juice — 1 tbsp.
• Tabasco — 1 tbsp.
• Chicken broth — ⅔ cup.
• Paprika — 1 tbsp.
• Cayenne pepper — ⅓ tbsp.
• Red pepper flakes — 1 tbsp. 
• Onion powder — 2 ½ tbsp. 
• Garlic powder — 2 tbsp.
• Cajun seasoning — 1 tbsp.
• Chili powder — 1 tbsp.

Instructions 

1. Using a food processor, blend together the onion, garlic, and butter. Blend until smooth. 

2. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan, and simmer on low.

3. Add the spices and seasonings and let it simmer. Stir well.

4. Once the mixture thickens and begins to darken, add the lemon juice, chicken broth, tabasco, and Worcestershire sauce.

5. Cook for 20-30 minutes.

Substitutions

• Chicken broth — If you find yourself short on chicken broth, there are a few alternatives that you can substitute for. Obviously, water comes to mind first. Enhance the flavor by adding salt, pepper, and some herbs. However, for those who are looking for something more, white wine might be more suitable. Though the taste will differ a bit, white wine will add another layer of flavor to your juicy crab sauce. Lastly, vegetable broth is another alternative if you want to stay close to the original version.

• Cajun seasoning — The Louisiana version of juicy crab sauce, which happens to be the more common one, includes Cajun seasoning. However, if you’re not that big on Cajun seasoning, you can always swap it with Old Bay. Though the two have their differences and the taste might differ lightly, they can also be used interchangeably.

• Tabasco sauce — Originating from Louisiana also, tabasco sauce is a simple combination of mainly vinegar, salt, and pepper. However, for some, the taste of vinegar might be too dominant. While tabasco sauce could be omitted entirely as the sauce is spicy already, if you’re looking for an alternative, look no further than sriracha. It provides a deeper, more complex flavor compared to tabasco, while omitting the vinegar. 

• Olive oil — If you’re short on olive oil or just don’t prefer to use it, your options range from canola oil, coconut oil, and grapeseed oil.

Variations

• Add sweeteners — Some might find this juicy crab recipe too spicy or savory. If you’re looking to sweeten things a bit, you could start by omitting the tabasco sauce. Honey, maple syrup, and brown sugar all work fine. Pick one and add one cup of it to your sauce. 

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons.

• Medium sized saucepan.

• Medium sized mixing bowl.

• Whisk.

Storage and reheating

• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

• You can reheat using a skillet, or for 1-2 minutes in the microwave.

Tips

• Consistency — If your juicy crab sauce ends up being too thick, all you need to do is dilute it by adding more chicken broth. Is it too thin? You can easily thicken the sauce using cornstarch.

• Adjust the spices — If you’ve taken a look at the ingredients list, you might have realized that this juicy crab sauce recipe utilizes a good amount of spices, not to mention all the savory and umami ingredients that could very well make this sauce untouchable for some, especially for children. Remember to adjust the number of ingredients for your target audience, or omit some completely.

• Sauce — Remember that this sauce is not exclusive to crab, but it’s best when used on seafood.