Gluten-Free Keto Crab Cakes Recipe

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Golden and crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful inside, with generous lumps of crab dispersed throughout… these keto crab cakes are SO good. And there’s no need to be intimidated by low carb crab recipes, I promise these gluten-free crab cakes are easy to make! Just 10 ingredients and you’ve got low carb crab cakes that make a fantastic appetizer OR quick and light dinner.

So obviously there’s a lot to love about these paleo crab cakes, but one more thing! They are supportive of all kinds of food allergies. They are keto, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and have a nut-free alternative – all without sacrificing flavor or texture. They look and taste just like restaurant crab cakes, without all the negative aspects. So everyone will gobble them up, no matter what their dietary needs are. I love that!

Sometimes I wish I could find gluten-free crab cakes without weird fillers even when I go out to eat… but it seems like they’re often more breadcrumbs than crab. No, thanks! I’ll keep searching, but until then, I’m completely happy to make my own. I think you’ll agree. 🙂

How To Make Keto Crab Cakes

This gluten free crab cake recipe is so crazy easy. Just a few simple steps and you’ll be eating rich and buttery paleo crab cakes. You just mix most of the ingredients together, fold in the sauteed onions and lump crab meat, form patties, and fry them up… voila! Because crab cake seasoning tends to be a complex combination of many spices, I used Old Bay seasoning to save time.

• Saute aromatics. Lightly saute some diced onion until translucent and lightly browned.

• Mix together gluten-free crab cakes base. Stir together almond flour, egg white, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, dried parsley, old bay seasoning, and olive oil.

• Mix together the low carb crab cakes. Stir in the sauteed onions into the almond flour mixture. When it’s combined, gently fold in the crab meat.

TIP: Don’t over mix. We want to incorporate the crab without smashing it in and breaking up the lumps of crab.

• Make patties. With your hands, form 8 patties and place onto a lined baking sheet.

TIP: If possible, refrigerate before cooking. This step will help the keto crab cakes stay together when you cook them.

• Cook the gluten free crab cakes. Fry crab cakes on a skillet over medium heat, in two batches of four, for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

And now you know how to make keto crab cakes! Serve them up with some keto appetizer dipping sauce and lemon wedges.

How Many Carbs In Crab Cakes?

These low carb crab cakes have just 1.6 grams net carbs each! YESSSS!

Many packaged crab cakes have closer to 6-10 grams carbs in just one crab cake, which often isn’t enough for a whole meal, so you’re eating 2-3 times that if you have several as a main dish. The nutrition info on the recipe card below is per crab cake, but you can easily have 2-4 crab cakes for your main dish for dinner, and they’ll still be keto friendly.

And as for restaurants? Your guess is as good as mine. Flour or breadcrumbs are almost always used as a binder and filler, but the amount used will vary based on recipe and quality. Higher quality crab cakes will have more crab and less filler.

Are Crab Cakes Keto?

My keto crab cake recipe is definitely keto! With just 2 grams total carbs per crab cake, it fits well as an appetizer, salad topper, or main course.

And trust me, there is no bad time for keto crab recipes like this one. 😉

Is Imitation Crab Keto?

Imitation crab is not considered keto as it usually contains wheat flour AND sugar.

One serving of imitation crab has 11 grams carbs, for just 1/2 cup of crab, which is on the high side for such a small portion.

How To Store Gluten Free Crab Cakes

Store cooked crab cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Gently reheat in a hot skillet, just until heated through.

You can also freeze this low carb crab recipe.

How To Freeze Paleo Crab Cakes

Freezing extra paleo crab cakes is such a great idea, in fact I like to double the batch just so I can freeze a batch. After you form them into patties, place them onto a lined baking dish and freeze until solid. Once they are frozen, wrap individually with plastic wrap and store in a freezer bag.

Thaw the gluten-free crab cakes overnight in the refrigerator and then pan fry according to instructions.

More Low Carb Crab Recipes

If you love this recipe for crab cakes, you might also enjoy some of these other low carb crab recipes: