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    Ingredients » Recipes » Seafood

    Grilled Crab Legs

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Mar 9, 2021 by Dee

    Grilled Crab Legs in foil take just 10 minutes to make on the BBQ. This easy recipe is the best way to cook king crab or snow crab at home! via @meamel

    Grilled Crab Legs in foil take just 10 minutes to make on the BBQ. This easy recipe is the best way to cook king crab or snow crab at home!

    Jump to Recipe -
    grilled king crab legs on a white platter with lemon slices and melted butter

    We've been cooking crab legs on the grill for a few years now, and they turn out perfect every time. Add a squirt of lemon juice, dip them in melted butter, and it's pure deliciousness!

    Basically, you're just reheating cooked crab legs, so this is a very quick and easy dinner or appetizer. I usually buy king crab legs from Costco or my local grocery store. If they're frozen, you can let them thaw in the fridge.

    Serve them with Foil Grilled Corn on the Cob and Instant Pot Potato Salad for a simple summer cookout!

    How to Cook Crab Legs on the Grill in Foil

    You can place the crab legs directly on the grill, but we prefer to wrap them in aluminum foil. Here's what you need to make them:

    • Crab legs -- either king or snow
    • Heavy duty aluminum foil
    • Kitchen scissors
    • BBQ tongs
    • Lemon
    • Butter
    • Sea salt, optional
    4 crab legs on a sheet of aluminum foil

    First, rinse the legs and pat dry. You can bend or break them at one of the joints if yours doesn't come this way. It's not necessary, but it's just easier to wrap them in foil.

    Next, place the legs in the center of the foil sheet. You may need to double up on the foil to prevent tearing. We usually do 2 legs, or 4 sections per foil pack.

    foil pack of crab on granite counter

    Next, bring each long end of foil up so that they meet. Fold over once or twice to seal, and fold the shorter edges up to seal them.

    Don't wrap the foil packs too tightly. You want them sealed, but you also need to leave a little room for the air to circulate.

    Then, place the foil packs on a preheated grill -- 450 degrees is good. And grill them for about 10 minutes.

    crab in foil pack on gas grill

    Since you're just reheating the crab legs, you don't have to cook them too long. There's no need to turn the foil packs, but you can if you want.

    The crab legs should be steaming when you open the foil packs. So, be extra careful when you open them! The legs should be dark red, and the meat should be opaque.

    Use kitchen scissors to carefully cut the legs open. Then, pull out the tender meat, using a small fork or your fingers.

    grilled king crab legs  on a white platter with lemon wedges

    You don't need any fancy seasonings here. We just squirt a little lemon juice over the crab meat and dunk it in melted or clarified butter. You can even do garlic butter if you want, but crab meat is so good on it's own!

    Oh, yum. Double yum! Even the kids enjoy eating crab legs, although they prefer Cheesy Hot Crab Dip, Avocado Crab Dip or Shrimp Scampi more -- They just don't enjoy taking the meat out of the shell.

    So, we usually do this part for them. Then, they can just dunk the meat in butter and everybody is happy!

    dunk king crab meat in melted butter
    grilled king crab legs on a white platter with lemon wedges and melted butter

    Grilled Crab Legs

    Published by Dee
    Grilled Crab Legs in foil take just 10 minutes to make on the BBQ. This easy recipe is the best way to cook king crab or snow crab at home!
    5 from 5 votes
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 95 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds king crab legs cooked

    Instructions
     

    • rinse crab legs, pat dry, and place on sheet of aluminum foil
      crab legs on sheet of foil
    • Fold top ends of foil over once or twice, and fold sides over, facing up, to form sealed foil pack
      crab in foil pack
    • Place foil packs on preheated grill on high or medium high, about 450°, and cook for 10 minutes or until crab is steaming. Carefully open foil packets, cut crab open, and serve with melted or clarified butter and lemon wedges
      crab in foil pack on grill

    Notes

    You may have to double the foil to prevent the crab legs from poking through.
    Crab is precooked, but should be reheated until steaming and meat is opaque.
    You can cook multiple foil packs using this method.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 95kcalProtein: 21gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 948mgPotassium: 231mgVitamin A: 27IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!
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    More Seafood

    • Easy Ninja Foodi Grill Salmon Recipe
    • Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole
    • Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • Cheesy Hot Crab Dip

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tooley says

      June 27, 2021 at 12:50 pm

      This is a great summer recipe!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Kelsey says

      April 12, 2021 at 2:28 pm

      I just loved these crab legs! I cannot wait to make these again!5 stars

      Reply
    3. Jim says

      March 20, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Made these last night. Super easy and very tasty.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 21, 2021 at 8:47 pm

        Thanks, Jim! I'm so glad you liked them!

    4. Sandra says

      March 19, 2021 at 2:35 pm

      I loved it! SO tasty and delicious!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 21, 2021 at 8:46 pm

        Thank you so much, Sandra! I'm glad you liked the crab legs!

    5. Beth says

      March 13, 2021 at 11:43 am

      These look amazing and so delicious! My daughter, her boyfriend, and I are going to love this recipe! So excited to make these!

      Reply
    6. katerina @ diethood.com says

      March 11, 2021 at 11:07 am

      I can't wait to try these! They sound amazing!

      Reply
    7. betimicevska @ easyweeknightrecipes.com says

      March 11, 2021 at 11:06 am

      Yes, please!! These Grilled Crab Legs are incredibly delicious!! YUM!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Erin says

      March 11, 2021 at 3:43 am

      I'm excited to give this a try with the weather warming up a bit! It looks so delicious and easy.

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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