Crab cakes are a delicious way to enjoy one of the finest delicacies of seafood cuisine. Creating your crab cake entrée, complete with side dishes, will have your dinner guests “ooh-ing” and “ah-ing” over your crustacean refection.
The tender shreds of crab meat with a mixture of herbs and breading, cooked to perfection, beg for not just any side dish but a side dish “fit for a King” crab. Whether you’re serving Alaska Snow Crab Cakes or Creole King Crab Cakes, or any crab cake in between, choosing the perfect side dishes for crab cakes will please your appetite and your dinner guests.
To help you create a beautiful presentation and a delicious meal, we have compiled a list of delightful side dishes for crab cakes to make your next meal your best!
Grilled Vegetables
For lighter fare, try pairing grilled vegetables with your crab cake entrée. Smoky from the grill, summer vegetables, such as tender asparagus, summer squash, portabella mushrooms, onions, and colorful peppers, are sure to make your veggie-loving dinner guests beg for seconds.
Barefoot Contessa’s Fresh Corn Salad Recipe
Look no further than fresh corn salad made by the Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa for a simple and often summery side dish. This recipe can be served warm or at room temperature with a mixture of corn kernels, onion, and fresh basil leaves.
Cranked-Up Corn Chowder
A more robust recipe may be in order if you’re serving crab cakes in the cooler months. This hearty corn chowder will warm the coldest heart. Cooked in a base of chicken broth, corn kernels, plus cream-style corn make, this delicious soup a fall and winter favorite.
Amazingly Delicious Classic Creamy Southern Coleslaw
Hailing from the southern part of the United States, this creamy coleslaw will complement your crab cakes like perfection. And it’s so simple!
Plus, you may already have needed ingredients on hand. Start with a bag of coleslaw mix, adding mayo, vinegar, lemon juice, and sour cream to dress it. A little sugar, salt, and black pepper to taste make it amazingly delicious!
Jiffy Corn Casserole
For a savory and sweet side dish, you can’t beat this corn casserole. Made with Jiffy cornbread mix, add butter, eggs, corn, and sour cream to complete the ensemble. It’s simple and delicious and may quickly become a family favorite.
Crispy Southern Fried Okra
Just like Grandma used to make, this old-fashioned recipe for fried okra will tantalize your taste buds and is one of the favorite side dishes for crab cakes. A mixed all-purpose flour with cornmeal mixture is used to coat the okra making it just crispy enough when fried. Cajun seasoning, creole kicks it up a notch!
Pasta Al Limone
To fancy your dinner up a bit, try serving this creamy Pasta Al Limone as a side dish. Time spent is minimal, so that you can have dinner on the table in a hurry.
Heavy cream and butter paired with grated parmesan cheese add to the creaminess of the dish. Add some lemon, salt, and pepper, and you’re ready to take a seat at the table.
Alton Brown Makes a Perfect Baked Potato
The crunchy skin of this perfectly baked potato will have your guests raving! Alton Brown of the Food Network says the key to making this oven-baked potato perfect is to generously poke holes in them and forego the foil. Simply cook the potato naked. (But you can keep your clothes on!)
Avocado Quinoa Salad
This flavorful, nutritious salad brings a fresh and slightly tangy flavor to the table. Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a grain rich in protein and fiber.
The flavors become vibrant when paired with avocado, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Top it off with feta cheese and a dressing based in red wine and Dijon mustard to complement your crab cake entrée.
Potatoes Romanoff
Starting with large Russet potatoes wrapped in foil, baked, then cooled in the ‘fridge, this potato dish pairs perfectly with crab cakes. Onions or shallots punch up the flavor a bit; white pepper and cayenne punch it up even more.
A white cheddar cheese and sour cream adding the delicious creaminess that will have your guests coming back for more.
Delicious Herbed Hasselback Potatoes
Crisp on the outside and tender on the inside is what makes these potatoes a side dish delight. Minimal ingredients, including garlic, butter, and rosemary, make it easy to put together.
Double or triple the recipe if you plan to have guests over, or make it as is for just one serving. It’s always a good time to treat yourself!
Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Bacon
This is an easy-to-make side dish that brings your bacon addiction to bear while giving you flavors of onions and garlic that make these oven-roasted Brussel sprouts “to die for.” Seasoned with bay seasoning, it brings a perfect flavor to the table to pair with your crab cakes.
Pan Fried Asparagus with Parmesan
Yum! Parmesan and ground almonds make this crunchy asparagus dish cheesy and flavorful. Plus, it is easy to put together and takes little time from the frying pan to the table. Perfect for a tasty side to your crab cakes, this dish will have you coming back for more.
The Absolute Best Italian Pasta Salad
Tender corkscrew-shaped pasta with lots of flavor, paired with fresh mozzarella, salami, and so much more, makes the perfect side for crab cakes. Once it is cooked past al dente, cool it down, and then add arugula, succulent sun-dried tomatoes, and kalamata olives.
The warm mixture of aromatic flavors that make up the base includes olive oil infused with red pepper flakes for warmth, anchovies for saltiness, and garlic. Your taste buds will thank you for this light but filling dish.
Healthy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with these healthy mashed sweet potatoes when searching for the perfect sides for crab cakes. Butter, butternut squash, and just a taste of maple syrup make this a hearty, savory, and sweet dish. You and your dinner guests may find this to be a new favorite sweet potato dish.
Easy Cucumber Tomato Salad
Creating tasty side dishes for crab cakes does not get any easier than this. For such a simple side, this cucumber and tomato salad is a complete flavor fest with onions and a delightful lemon dill dressing.
Make ahead and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to blend all the wonderful flavors together and “wow” your family and friends.
Mexican Bean Salad
If you’re looking for a side with a bit of kick, this bean salad is spicy and filling and surprisingly easy to put together. High in protein and low in calories make it a healthy choice that won’t leave you hungry.
Black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and bell peppers smothered in a mix of chili powder, cilantro, and other spices, with a splash of lime, bring a bit of Mexican cuisine to your meal.
Garlic Green Beans
In just 10 minutes, you can have a garlicky green bean recipe that rivals other side dishes for crab cakes. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity; the flavors will make your taste buds happy. Optional chili flakes give it some kick. And butter makes it better all day long.
Shaved Vegetable Spring Salad
Simplicity at its best and most delicious. This mixture of asparagus, radishes, cauliflower, avocado, and carrots tossed in a light vinaigrette makes this a great choice when searching for side dishes for crab cakes.
Most of the veggies can be prepared a few hours in advance with the exception of avocado, making this an easy-to-assemble dish just before or as your dinner guests arrive.
15 Minute Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Angel Hair
With generous amounts of fresh basil and parsley, this is a perfect combination of spinach and angel hair in a flavorful white sauce. Creaminess plus garlic will pair well with your crab cakes for a memorable dinner fit for the most finicky tastes.
Summary
While crab cakes have enough flavor on their own to please any palate, they’re best when paired with a side dish or two to fully satiate a hearty appetite.
No matter which side dish or side dishes for crab cakes you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of these delightful dishes whether you’re entertaining friends or ringing the dinner bell for your family.
Raelyn Fuller has been known as a food and wine enthusiast for her entire life. She is a Food Nutritionist student who works as a journalist for their university in their school newspaper. Right after creating her excellent blog, she was recruited by Birch Restaurant, where she gives her strong opinions about restaurants! Her favorite cuisines are Japanese, Mexican, and Korean!
