When I was a child, I HATED seafood. I especially disliked crab legs because it seemed so barbaric to eat the meat out of a carcass. Now I LOVE crab legs; my favorite is this easy seafood crab platter.
Random fact: My family had a cookoff last Christmas. I won with this recipe.
My family can’t get enough of this platter, and on days like this, when I crave seafood soooo bad, I have to make myself a seafood tray featuring my cilantro garlic butter sauce to throw on top of all this deliciousness! Seafood trays can be pricey, so a great way to cut the price is to make it yourself! It’s so easy and so delicious!
I LOVE king crab legs (my favorite… but pricey) but feel free to use whatever crab legs you like, such as snow crab legs (which I sometimes use too). I also add shrimp, potatoes, and corn because I already have a muffin top. I might as well to it. You can also add sausage, which I add occasionally. If you want to eat a vegetable with it, I recommend artichokes.
I like to add lots of seafood seasoning (*cough* ol bay *cough*) to my tray. You can literally throw everything in one pot (minus the crab legs, which I like to steam in a separate pot with beer, lemon, and ol bay seasoning). Again, seafood trays are easy. If it’s hard, you’re doing too much!
Crab Platter Ingredients:
- 4-6 King Crab Legs
- Beer (I use whatever is cheap at the store)
- Old Bay or Seafood Seasoning (to taste)
- 2 Lemons cut in half
- Frozen Corn
- Red Potatoes or any small potatoes
- Shrimp
- Sausage (optional)
Crab Platter Directions:
In one pot, bring 5 quarts of water to a boil. Squeeze lemon juice into the water and then add the lemon halves to the water. Add seafood seasonings (to taste). I, personally, like to add a lot.
Add potatoes and allow to cook until tender (remember, the smaller the potatoes, the quicker they cook!). Once tender, add in frozen corn (5-8 minutes). Reduce heat to medium-low and add shrimp (should be completely submerged) for about 5 minutes. Feel free to add more seafood seasonings as you add each component to the pot. If you’re adding in sausage, you will throw it in the pot right before the shrimp.
Combine beer, seafood seasoning, and lemon halves in a separate pot. Bring to a boil. Turn heat down to medium, add crab legs, and cover the pot. Allow to steam for 10 minutes (crab legs should be red).
Cilantro Butter Garlic Sauce Recipe (for the Crab Platter)
- Two sticks of melted unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp crushed garlic
- 8 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt & Pepper(to taste)
- 1-2 tbsp of lemon juice
Directions: Combine all of the butter sauce ingredients together and whisk together until it’s thick. Pour all over the seafood!
Now be prepared to DEVOUR! If you end up trying this recipe, please let me know!
I usually don’t post food recipes on this blog, but my friends and family rave about this crab platter so much (and ask for the recipe) that I had to share! Why? Because sharing is caring!
