Description
Comfort meets coastal charm in this delightful Crab Casserole, blending tender seafood with creamy textures and rich flavors. Hearty ingredients and simple preparation make this dish a perfect centerpiece for family gatherings or elegant dinner parties you’ll want to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) lump crab meat (picked over for shells)
- 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (75 g) diced celery
- ¼ cup (25 g) chopped green onions
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup (60 g) breadcrumbs (optional topping)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) melted butter (optional topping)
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and generously coat a baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Mixing Base: Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, shredded cheddar cheese, diced celery, chopped green onions, fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, whisking until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Incorporating Seafood: Tenderly fold delicate crab meat into the creamy mixture, ensuring minimal disruption to the protein’s natural texture and maintaining large, distinctive chunks.
- Assembly and Topping: Transfer the maritime blend into the prepared baking dish, then elegantly distribute buttered breadcrumbs across the surface for a crisp, golden-brown finish.
- Baking: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and roast uncovered for 30-35 minutes, watching for a bubbling perimeter and a richly caramelized top that signals perfect doneness.
- Serving: Allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes, permitting flavors to settle and making portioning easier, then serve warm as a luxurious main course or sophisticated side dish.
Notes
- Handle crab meat gently to maintain delicate chunks and prevent breaking during mixing.
- Drain excess moisture from crab meat before incorporating to ensure a creamy, not runny, consistency.
- Adjust Old Bay and spice levels according to personal taste preference without overwhelming the delicate crab flavor.
- Replace traditional breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond meal or crushed gluten-free crackers for dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 80mg