What Do You Serve with Crab Cakes? Ideas to Spice Up Your Seafood

Food Info

Have you found the perfect recipe for crab cakes but have no idea what to serve them with? Are you looking for new and tasty ideas to serve with crab cakes? Are you tired of serving crab cakes the same way every time?

I have been making crab cakes for a long time, but I often eat them as an appetizer or on a sandwich. One day, I decided I wanted to spice up my crab cakes by serving them as a main course. To do so, I needed to know what to serve with my crab cakes.

Haven’t found the perfect crab cake recipe? Check out “I Love Crab Cakes!” for more crab cake recipes than you thought were possible.

How to Decide What to Serve with Crab Cakes

Figuring out what to serve with your crab cakes is not as complicated as it seems. There are, however, many different directions you can take your crab cake meal.

Do you want something simple that will save you time in the kitchen?
Do you want home style cooking that will provide “comfort” for you and your guests?
Do you want to keep things light?
Do you want to add a new sauce to your crab cakes?
What bread will you serve with your crab cakes?

Keep in mind that crab cakes usually have a very rich flavor. Be sure only to serve things that will complement the flavors of your crab cakes.

Simple Sides

When choosing simple sides for your crab cakes, look for vegetables that are in season to get the freshest taste possible. If you have a favorite vegetable that is not in season, you can always buy frozen.

Corn, asparagus, zucchini, green and red peppers, and various beans are all good choices to pair with crab cakes. Just sauté the veggies in butter or your favorite oil, add some seasoning (but not too much!), and you have a delicious crab cake meal.
Corn on the cob is a popular option to serve with crab cakes—get it fresh in the summer or frozen year round.
A favorite summertime side to serve with crab cakes is coleslaw. There are many varieties to choose from; just pick you favorite! Check out this Coleslaw Cookbook for recipe ideas.

Home Style Options

Sometimes, you want comfort foods….those that remind you of home or bring warmth to your soul.

You can either pan fry or deep fry your favorite vegetable—potatoes, zucchini, okra, squash—for a delicious comfort side dish.
There are many different varieties of potato salad that pair well with crab cakes. Check out this fun recipe book called “Peace, Love, & Potato Salad Cookbook” for some ideas.
A baked potato is a tasty side that gives your guests a little freedom to add their favorite toppings.

Lighter Options

Many of the sides mentioned above can be modified for someone looking for healthier options—skip the butter or use a healthier oil, look for low-fat substitutions, etc.

Any salad would pair nicely with crab cakes—tossed salad, watercress salad, cucumber salad, or even fruit salad. Get creative! There are endless options when making salads.
Make Southwestern Black Bean and Corn Salsa for a southwestern taste.
Succotash is an excellent way to add variety and color to your meal. There are many ways to prepare succotash. Here is a video to help you make one version of this popular dish.

Sauces

Another way to spice up your crab cakes is to serve them with sauce. Cocktail sauce and tartar sauce are always good options. Try something new with your crab cakes and serve them with a spicy sauce, such as a remoulade or specialty dressing or mayonnaise. Food & Wine has several sauce recipes you may want to try.

Bread Options

If your family is like mine, they prefer to have a bread option with their meals. Homemade biscuits or rolls are always popular choices. Try changing things up a bit with corn bread or hush puppies. Your children will love hush puppies!

What Will You Choose?

I hope you were able to get some ideas. I would love to hear how you decide to change up or add to your next crab cake meal. Please comment below if you have any questions.

For inspiration, be sure to check out the recipes and videos I shared.

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