What to Serve With Crab Cakes (Ideas + Recipes)

Crab cakes are a great seafood entrée you can make any time of the year so it’s no wonder so many people wonder what to serve with crab cakes.

Think of your favorite fried foods and fried seafood. What would you normally serve with fried fish or fried shrimp, for example? Maybe some coleslaw, French fries, a salad, and even potato salad. All of these things and more can be served with crab cakes. And crab cakes are more elegant.

You can have almost any flavor you want on your sides for crab cakes. Whether you want something savory or something light, you’ll find it below in this list of side dishes for crab cakes.

Cast iron skillet of roasted autumn vegetables

Crab cakes are a delicious and versatile dish, perfect for any occasion. Whether you are hosting a dinner party or simply looking for a tasty meal to enjoy at home, crab cakes are always a great choice. However, deciding what to serve alongside these delightful morsels can be a bit of a dilemma. Fear not, as we have some outstanding side dishes to make your meal even more memorable.

When pairing sides with crab cakes, consider the flavors and textures that will complement and enhance the dish rather than overpower it. Opt for lighter, fresh options that balance the richness of the crab cakes and create a harmonious dining experience.

As you embark on your culinary adventure, keep in mind that choosing the right accompaniments will elevate your meal from good to great. We will guide you through some fantastic side dish options that will pair wonderfully with crab cakes, creating a flavorful and enjoyable feast for you and your guests.

Your crab cake dinner doesn’t have to go without a complimentary side because we’ve gathered 17 different recipes for you to enjoy.

You don’t have to live in the northeast in order to know what to eat with crab cakes, just grab your favorites from below and start cooking.

Instead, you can make an entire crab cake meal when you throw in the best sides for crab cakes.

We have traditional sides like fries but you’ll also find some less popular sides like avocado salad.

So the next time you’re wondering what goes good with crab cakes, just bust out this list of sides.

Source: whiskitrealgud.com

1. Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad goes great with some fresh cakes because the flavors are equally refreshing.

You’ll need some mayonnaise for this recipe but you could also try and make a mustard version.

Serve it cold so it can be the perfect balance with your hot cakes.

Source: dinneratthezoo.com

2. Grilled Veggies

You can’t get any easier than this recipe for grilling veggies which is great to serve with crab meat.

You’ll find this side dish matches perfectly with your next seafood dinner, whether you’re making lobster or shrimp.

Just slice everything up nice and thin so it cooks fast, then grill it up.

What’s great about grilling your veggies is that they’ll have a smoky flavor that adds some depth to the flavor.

Source: instructables.com

3. Wine

When you want a sophisticated dinner then wine is your only drink of choice.

White wine is what you usually reserve for fish, so bust out your favorite chardonnay or pinot blanc and you’ll have the perfect pairing.

As for wine, you want to get one with lighter flavors, to balance out the heartiness of the crab cake recipe. That’s why champagne makes a fantastic choice. A medium to full-body white wine, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc will complement the dish well.

Source: mayihavethatrecipe.com

4. Roasted Veggies

Roasted veggies are just as good as grilled veggies but they don’t have the deep smoky flavor.

That can be better for people who don’t like the strong savory taste.

Combine some spices together to give your veggies a unique flavor and enjoy them on the side of your crab cakes.

A delicious homemade sauce can even be made to dip your veggies into to make them even more delicious.

Source: shekeepsalovelyhome.com

5. Cocktails

Bloody Mary is going to be your best bet when you make some cocktails for your lump crab meat.

Something about the combination of tomatoes, bell pepper, and even vodka complements the seafood perfectly.

Source: thedinnerbite.com

6. Herbed Potatoes

Balance the texture and flavor of your crab cakes with some great tasting potatoes.

Use your favorite type of potato to make these herbed potatoes because you’ll want to eat them all yourself after you taste how delicious they are.

You could try out a Cajun seasoning too, so that you have a slight spice to it.

You can even cut the potatoes smaller so they don’t take as long to cook which will reduce your cooking time for this side dish.

A spicy remoulade or just some plain sour cream goes great over these herbed potatoes that are sure to be a hit at any mealtime.

Source: grumpyshoneybunch.com

7. Bread Rolls

The best way to eat your crab cakes is to put them in between a dinner roll for a crab cake sandwich.

This fresh baked recipe is one of the best ways to enjoy some homemade crab cakes.

Source: jessicagavin.com

8. Corn Salad

If you’re wondering what goes with crab cakes then this corn salad is right up your alley.

You can add whatever spices you want because it’s all up to you and what tastes good to you.

You’ll probably want the corn salad to be chilled before adding it over your crab cakes because you’ll want to have a nice contrast in temperature here.

Corn salad is just one of those dishes that goes great with everything and everyone loves it, especially in the summertime when corn is in season.

You can make your corn salad healthier by adding cucumbers, peppers, or anything else you want to jazz it up.

This is one of those dishes you can serve up for lunch, dinner, or even at parties when you need to serve a lot of people.

Source: whereismyspoon.co

9. Asparagus and Tomatoes

This simple asparagus and tomatoes recipe is one of the most popular and traditional ways to eat with crab cakes.

You want to roast your asparagus and tomatoes in the oven for about 15-20 minutes before serving them up because that brings out all of those great flavors even more.

The longer you roast them the better they taste so if you have some extra time keep them in the oven. You can even throw some lemon juice over top everything for ever more flavor.

Source: themodernproper.com

10. Green Salad

Green salad is exactly what to make with crab cakes.

The bright colors are sure to look appetizing and the lettuce will provide a nice crunchy texture that contrasts well with your crab cakes’ softness.

You can use whatever type of lettuce you want in this salad because it’s all about personal preference here.

Sometimes people like to add in some fruit to their salads to add even more sweetness which goes great with crab cakes.

Feta cheese used as a garnish on top of the salad is a very popular way to serve it up and adds even more flavor.

Source: sundaysuppermovement.com

11. Remoulade

There is no better crab cake sauce for seafood than a remoulade sauce, so go ahead and try out this amazing combo.

This will work with scallops, oysters, or even some fried cod which is a great way to change the cakes too.

If you want something a little bit spicy add in some horseradish and if you want something a little sweeter, add in some honey.

You can make this one of two ways really depending on how much time you have and the number of people you want to serve too.

This is another great dipping sauce for seafood so get rid of the ketchup and tartar sauce once and for all. You could also consider making a lemon aioli sauce for dipping and it’s just as good.

Source: thekitchn.com

12. Tri-Color Slaw

You don’t have to make a boring slaw every time you’re wondering what do you serve with crab cakes.

Try out this amazing tri-color slaw instead and your taste buds will thank you.

You’ll want to use a food processor with the slicing blade in order to get this dish prepped really quickly.

It’s super important to use fresh ingredients here so you can get the best flavors.

You’ll love how refreshing this dish is which makes it perfect for summer or even springtime.

Source: spoonforkbacon.com

13. Mango Salsa

Need a little spice to kick up your crab mixture?

This out this amazing mango salsa recipe and your mouth will thank you.

You can serve it up with some tortilla chips, put it on top of the cakes or even have a little bit for a light snack before dinner too.

It’s super important to use ripe ingredients when making this recipe to make sure you get all of the best flavors.

You don’t have to just use mangoes either. You can use a ton of different fruits and it will still taste delicious.

Source: tastemade.com

14. Grilled Avocados Salad

Instead of having regular avocados in your salad, try grilling them up instead to add even more flavor.

Even though this salad may look super fancy, it’s really easy to make and you’ll impress all of your friends when you take it out at dinner time.

You can top this salad off with some grilled shrimp too if you want to make it a main dish or keep it as a side dish.

You’ll want to use some chopped pepper, onion, fresh cilantro, and garlic in this salad for the best flavors possible.

This is one of those dishes where you can add whatever ingredients you want to make it your own unique creation.

Source: bradleysmoker.com

15. Corn Chowder

Chowder is a warm and perfect combo to go with some cakes because it’s super filling and tasty.

This amazing corn chowder is also really easy to make too because you only need a food processor, some fresh ingredients, and 20 minutes of your time to get it ready for dinner time.

Chowder is great any time of the year but winter is really when it starts to shine.

Source: simplyrecipes.com

16. Chickpea Salad

If you’re wondering what do you serve with crabmeat, try out this colorful and bright salad.

It takes about 20 minutes to make and the ingredients are really simple so you won’t have to spend too much time in the kitchen and can instead enjoy your time with guests or family.

You want to use a food processor when making this dish because it’ll save you a lot of time versus chopping everything by hand which is really hard to do for this dish.

This chickpea salad recipe is the perfect complement to the fresh seafood flavors you’ll get from your cakes.

Source: theoriginaldish.com

17. Gazpacho

Try out something warm with your leftover crab cakes and go with this yummy and tasty gazpacho.

This soup is super easy to make and all you need is a food processor or blender along with some fresh ingredients to make it happen.

It’s one of those dishes that will leave your taste buds feeling satisfied because it has a little bit of everything in there, especially flavor.

You want to use fresh and ripe ingredients because that’s what makes this dish taste really good.

You can serve this up at any time of the year because it’s so versatile and simple.

Soup is a perfect dish to make a big pot of so that you can have some whenever you want something light.

What to Serve With Crab Cakes ( +Tossed Green Salad with Herbs)

These recipes are sure to please. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
5 from 5 votes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 245 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 heads lettuce or salad greens
  • 1/4 cup fresh chives
  • 1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
  • 1/3 cup chopped pistachios
  • 1 diced avocado
  • 2 teaspoons dried onion
  • 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
  • 2 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Serve with dressing.

Notes

Select your favorite recipe.
Organize all the required ingredients.
Enjoy the food.

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcal
Keyword tossed green sald with herbs, what to serve with crab cakes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
Cassie Marshall
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