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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes

    Instant Pot Crab Legs

    Published: Feb 23, 2019 · Modified: Dec 12, 2022 by Lauren Cardona This post may contain affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no cost to you. As an Amazon affiliate, I may receive a percentage of qualifying purchases. For more details, please read the full disclaimer.

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    Instant Pot Crab Legs

    Check out my recipe to make Instant Pot Crab Legs using the pressure cook function!

    I love just about any and all kinds of shellfish.  I'm not sure if it's the actual shellfish or the butter that you dip it in that I love more!  When Luis and I met he wasn't big on any shellfish....no shrimp, no lobster and no crab.  He has since come around on this and actually requests Instant Pot crab legs!  Woo hoo!  That's a huge win for me and my shellfish cravings!

    Instant Pot Duo Crisp

    This recipe was made using the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker 11 in 1, 8 Qt with Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and More

    Years ago I bought crab legs to make at home for the first time and wasn't sure how to heat them.  The fish counter employee told me that the best thing to do is place them on a baking sheet with about half of an inch of water in the pan and then bake them for just a couple of minutes.  

    The purpose of this was to create steam to warm the crab without immersing the crab in water.  Since the crab is already cooked, when you immerse it in water you risk losing some of the flavor that is already there into the water.  I have been cooking crab legs this way for years...until now!

    Ninja Foodi, Ninja Foodi Crab Legs, Instant Pot Crab Legs, Seafood, Crab, Shellfish, The Tasty Travelers

    I decided to give it a try in the Instant Pot.  After all, you can cook ANYTHING in the Instant Pot!  I will NEVER cook crab legs in the oven again...never again!  I can't even begin to tell you how much better, juicier, more flavorful the crab legs turned out in the Instant Pot.  Seriously, this was a great decision!  :). They turned out great.  

    I am pretty sure that Luis was getting annoyed with me as I continued to say "this is so good!, right?  Isn't this so good?" after every bite.   Give it a try- I think you'll be as impressed as I was!

    Ninja Foodi, Ninja Foodi Crab Legs, Instant Pot Crab Legs, Seafood, Crab, Shellfish, The Tasty Travelers

    Tips for this recipe:

    1.Adjust the garlic and seasoning to your liking.  This recipe creates a mild flavor.  If you are looking for more of a cajun experience then double or triple the seasoning and garlic.

    2.Keep the cooking liquid until you have finished eating.  I found myself dipping my crab in the seasoning, garlic, lemon for added flavor.

    3.Buy crab crackers and splitters.  I bought mine on Amazon and they are a life saver.

    4.Eat the knuckle meat.  Ok, so I'll be the first to admit that the legs are the best part and the knuckle often gets left until there are no more legs.  Don't forget about the knuckle.  There is so much crab meat in their, it's crazy.  I have started pulling the knuckle meat out and putting it in the butter to hang out until I have finished the legs.

    5.Be sure to take the trash out after dinner.  If you leave the crab leg scraps in the trash overnight, you will regret it.  The smell....it's not good the next day!

    How to make Instant Pot Crab Legs:

    1.Place trivet in Instant Pot

    2.Pour water into pot

    3.Add garlic to pot

    4.Add Tony Chachere's seasoning

    5.Place sliced lemons on trivet

    6.Add crab legs to pot

    7.Close lid and move valve to "seal" position

    8.Cook on manual high for 2 minutes

    9.When timer beeps move seal to "release" and quick release all pressure

    10.Once pressure is released take off the lid

    11.Let Crab Legs continue to steam in the Instant Pot for up to 5 minutes

    12.Serve with melted butter or the best ever compound butter!

    Instant-Pot-Crab-Legs-in-2-minutes-poster

    Ingredients for making Instant Pot Crab Legs:

    • 4 Crab Leg clusters
    • 2 Tablespoons garlic-minced or chopped
    • 1 Tablespoon Tony Chachere's seasoning
    • 1 Cup water
    • 1 Lemon-sliced
    • The best compound butter ever!

    Pin for later!!

    Instant Pot Crab Legs

    Instant Pot Crab Legs

    4.64 from 122 votes
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    Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
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    Ingredients

    • 4 Crab Leg clusters
    • 2 Tablespoons garlic-minced or chopped
    • 1 Tablespoon Tony Chachere's seasoning
    • 1 Cup water
    • 1 Lemon-sliced

    Instructions

    • Place trivet in Instant Pot
    • Pour water into pot
    • Add garlic to pot
    • Add Tony Chachere's seasoning
    • Place sliced lemons on trivet
    • Add crab legs to pot
    • Close lid and move valve to "seal" position
    • Cook on manual high for 2 minutes
    • When timer beeps move seal to "release" and quick release all pressure
    • Once pressure is released take off the lid
    • Let Crab Legs continue to steam in the Instant Pot for up to 5 minutes
    • Serve with melted butter

    Notes

    Tips for this recipe:
    1. Adjust the garlic and seasoning to your liking.  This recipe creates a mild flavor.  If you are looking for more of a cajun experience then double or triple the seasoning and garlic.
    2. Keep the cooking liquid until you have finished eating.  I found myself dipping my crab in the seasoning, garlic, lemon for added flavor.
    3. Buy crab crackers and splitters.  I bought mine on Amazon and they are a life saver.
    4. Eat the knuckle meat.  Ok, so I'll be the first to admit that the legs are the best part and the knuckle often gets left until there are no more legs.  Don't forget about the knuckle.  There is so much crab meat in their, it's crazy.  I have started pulling the knuckle meat out and putting it in the butter to hang out until I have finished the legs.
    5. Be sure to take the trash out after dinner.  If you leave the crab leg scraps in the trash overnight, you will regret it.  The smell....it's not good the next day!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2g

    Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only.

    Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how it turned out in a comment below!

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    Lauren

    Lauren Cardona

    Tasty Traveler #1

    Hi I’m Lauren but you can call me Tasty Traveler #1!  I have always had a passion for food, cocktails, and travel. It has become more pronounced over the last several years since I have had the opportunity to do so many of the things that I lo...
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