Healthy Air Fryer Crab Cakes (Easy + No Mayo)

If you're just starting to air fry seafood, you may have tried salmon or shrimp, but have you tried air fryer crab cakes? It's incredible to taste this lump crab cake recipe is even better than if it was pan-fried or baked in the oven!

These air fryer crab cakes are one of the easiest lump crab meat recipes you can serve as a meal along with mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, or green beans.

They are also a delicious crab cake appetizer to serve in mini size as a fun appetizer for your next party, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or holiday gathering. Don't forget to top them with remoulade sauce!

Don't miss our broiled Chilean sea bass recipe or crab cakes with Ritz crackers, which are some of our other favorite fish recipes!

What Makes This Recipe Work

• Restaurant quality and perfect for any season, they are the easy solution for holiday meals or summer parties on top of a salad.
• Simple to make with canned crab. It's a delicious sweet crab with crispy outsides and tender and juicy insides.
• Easy & quick to cook from frozen and take them from the freezer to the table in less than 15 minutes. They don't need to be thawed!
• Made with healthier ingredients (no mayo!) and air-fried, making them less fat and calories than traditional fried versions. Over 15 grams of protein and less than 130 calories per serving.
• It can be made into mini-sized portions, making it the perfect air-fried appetizer.

Ingredients For This Recipe

Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.

• Lump crabmeat: Using canned lump crab (sometimes labeled as jumbo lump), you want to have larger lumps for Maryland-style.
• Greek yogurt: May substitute for sour cream or mayo if desired.
• Panko breadcrumbs: Homemade breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs will also work. Making these using Ritz crackers or Saltine cracker crumbs crushed to breadcrumb size will also be delicious.
• Season salt: You can also use Old Bay seasoning if desired (we love it on this Old Bay salmon recipe!)

How to Make This Recipe

Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. 
2. Mix ingredients very gently using a spatula or wooden spoon. Using a cookie scooper, scoop out 7 to 8 large-size patties.
3. Shape them into patties and place them into the air fryer basket (spray the basket with coconut oil spray to avoid sticking).
4. Cook for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway or until desired crispness. While the cakes are air frying, stir together the remoulade sauce ingredients and set aside until ready. Pre-made chipotle sauce works as a dipping sauce also.

Make Ahead, Storage, Freezer, Serving, & Reheating

• Make-Ahead: Assemble and form patties and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store for up to 1 day prior to making.
• Storage: Store cooked crab cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: To freeze and air fry later, follow recipe instructions until placing them into the basket. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place into the freezer for about 1 hour or until frozen. Store frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
• Serving: Serve with mashed potatoes and a veggie side dish like zucchini or broccoli. It may also serve as an appetizer with mini crab cakes with remoulade for dipping.
• Reheating: Reheat leftovers by air frying at 350F for 3-5 minutes.

Expert Tips

• If patties are having a hard time coming together, refrigerate for an hour rather than over-mixing, and they should be easier to form.
• Do not over-mix when constructing to keep large lumps intact.
• Appetizer Minis: To make mini air fryer crab cakes, use a small cookie scoop or half a large scoop to make approximately 20 appetizer-sized portions. Reduce cook time to 5-7 minutes, depending on the size.
• How to avoid sticking: Spray the basket with coconut oil cooking spray or line with parchment paper or foil to ensure they do not stick.
• Keto or low carb version: To make the recipe keto or low carb friendly swap out Panko breadcrumbs for toasted almond flour.
• I tested this recipe in the Ultrean, but the Ninja Foodi, Phillips, Cosori, Cuisinart, or any other model will have the same directions.

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