Southern Living Crab Salad Recipe

Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

The approach of summertime gets us itching for all that the season implies. With our freshly painted porches ready and our pollen-covered cushions a mere memory, we're prepping our menus and lighting up our lanterns in preparation for a long summer of porch suppers. First up on the menu? (Second to sweet tea, of course.) Seafood. No matter if our melamine platters are serving up savory treats by the sea, lake, or backyard sprinkler—we just can't imagine a summertime meal without an impressive spread of flavorful sea creatures. Not to play favorites, but a buttery, savory crab sure does hold a special place in our hearts—and stomachs. And although we're firm believers that every at-home chef should master the art of the perfect crab cake, classic recipes such as that are only the beginning. The newest addition to our summer bucket list? Cooking through each and every one of these next-level crab recipes one at a time.

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Crab Boil with Beer and Old Bay

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Crab Boil with Beer and Old Bay

If you haven't already, it's time to make this a summertime tradition. Andouille sausage, corn, and potatoes make a full meal on one pretty platter.

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Crab Pie

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Crab Pie

Meet the other savory pie you need to make this summer. Step aside, tomatoes.

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Deviled Crab Melts

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Deviled Crab Melts

These open-faced sandwiches have dinner alfresco written all over them. Serve with something iced cold to drink.

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West Indies Crab Salad

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad

This fresh and light salad is simply dressed, but still manages to pack in all the flavor.

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Crab Cake Bites with Old Bay Mayo, Chives, and Lemon

Crab Cake Bites with Old Bay Seasoning

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

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Creamy Crab Dip with Peppadews Recipe

Credit: Southern Living

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Artichoke and Crab Meat Dip

Credit: Jennifer Davick

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Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Kick-up your weeknight summer dinners with this light linguine recipe. It's best served with plenty of crusty bread and white wine.

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She-Crab soup

She Crab Soup

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe : She-Crab Soup

Top off a creamy bowl of this iconic Charleston soup with a spoonful of sherry.

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Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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Crispy Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Crispy Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches

If you've never made homemade remoulade before, you're missing out. Crispy, perfectly fried soft-shell crabs are nestled within a bun and slathered with our top-notch version of the must-have seafood condiment.

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Hot Crab and Shrimp Dip

Recipe: Hot Crab and Shrimp Dip

If one kind of seafood isn't enough, we upped the ante with a crab and shrimp combo that is bound to make you weak in the knees. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve with crostini.

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Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Recipe: Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip

If you're a fan of crab, Old Bay seasoning, and artichokes (who isn't?) this is the dip for you. Bake until it's hot, bubbly, and begging for you to dig right in.

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Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce

Cheesy Mushroom Tartlets

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes with Cajun Sauce

Mini crab cakes are a fan-favorite appetizer that somehow manage to go with just about anything else that happens to be on the menu.

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Deviled Crab

Recipe: Deviled Crab This Lowcountry dish is a true regional classic. If you're fortunate enough to get your hands on fresh, whole blue crabs for use in this recipe, forgo the individual tins and serve Deviled Crab in the shells themselves.

Recipe: Deviled Crab

This Lowcountry dish is a true regional classic. If you're fortunate enough to get your hands on fresh, whole blue crabs for use in this recipe, forgo the individual tins and serve Deviled Crab in the shells themselves.

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Sea Island Crab Fried Rice

Fried Arkansas Black Apples

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sea Island Crab Fried Rice

Crab rice, a popular dish throughout the Lowcountry, but particularly in the Gullah Greechie communities, features a delicious medley of flavors that can work as either a main dish or a side. Bacon, crab meat, onions, and green bell pepper flavor rice with the type of goodness begging for an "mm-hmm.." from the very first bite.

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Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes

Don't overmix this crab cake recipe so you get the most out of your lump crabmeat. Tossing until the ingredients are just combined will give the cake more texture and flavor.

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Crab Imperial

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Crab Imperial

This hot dip turned casserole is a Maryland classic. It takes lump crabmeat and pairs it with an irresistibly creamy sauce that's loaded with flavor. You can make these in individual ramekins or a larger casserole dish. Serve with a side salad to make it a complete meal—oh, and don't forget the white wine.

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Creamy Crab Dip

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip

A creamy cold dip with a hint of nostalgia is just what your table is missing. Gently stir together the ingredients, then serve with celery, crostini, or toast points.

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Crab Cakes with Creamy Fennel-and-Radish Slaw

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

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Seafood Gumbo

Recipe: Seafood Gumbo

This gumbo is packed with seafood, including crabmeat, shrimp, and oysters, too.

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Double Summer Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Double Summer Salad

This congealed salad is made of a citrusy gelatin and adorned with lump crab dip.

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Deviled Crab Dip

Credit: Eva Kolenko

Recipe: Deviled Crab Dip

Garnish this hot crap dip with benne seeds for a little crunch. It's great for serving a crowd.

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Crab Cake Hush Puppies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Crab Cake Hush Puppies

Serve these Crab Cake Hush Puppies with your favorite rémoulade or cocktail sauce for tasty appetizers. Hush puppies, a Southern classic made by deep-frying a cornmeal batter gets a seafood makeover. Served with a creamy, thick dipping sauce, these salty critters are a great option for a meal or an appetizer that aims to impress. Freeze any leftovers and defrost up to 3 months later.

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Lump Crab Mornay

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Lump Crab Mornay

If there was ever a dip that was holiday-worthy, this is it. Gruyère cheese, dry sherry, and lump crabmeat bring the magic to a cream sauce that's perfectly smooth with a little dash of heat. Be sure to keep the dip warm in either a slow cooker or chafing dish.

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Cheesy-Spinach Crab Dip

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Cheesy-Spinach Crab Dip

You can increase the ground red pepper or kick it up another notched by adding crushed red pepper—if you're a fan of heat. Prep is as easy as adding the first 12 ingredients to a slow cooker, stirring, and letting it cook for two hours. Just don't forget to stir in the lemon rind before serving.

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Cornbread Crab Cakes

Recipe: Cornbread Crab Cakes

How to make crab cakes ultra-Southern? Swap the breadcrumbs or panko for cornbread crumbs, of course.

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