A homemade sandwich with crab cakes combines the delicate and yummy flavor of crab cakes with a delicious sauce and plenty of veggie toppings. This crab cake sandwich recipe is easy to make and is always an extra special meal for the family or guests.
I love crab cake sandwiches because they're so versatile and another way to enjoy a crispy, freshly cooked crab cake. All you need are some tasty crab cakes, delicious toppings, and a perfectly soft bun for a hearty sandwich meal you can serve up for lunch or dinner.
Crab Cake Sandwich Recipe
This was inspired by another crab cake recipe on this site and pairs well with this amazing asparagus side dish recipe.
If you're a big fan of crab like me, you might also enjoy trying this Smoked Crab Dip or these easy Crab Melts.
Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make a sandwich with your favorite crispy crab cake. Of course, the crab cakes themselves take a few more ingredients, but those are also very simple.
For the Sandwiches
- Crab Cakes or Smoked Crab Cakes
- Lemon Aioli Sauce or Truffle Aioli Sauce
- Artisan buns
For the Toppings
- Arugula, baby spinach, baby romaine
- Tomatoes
- Red, yellow, white or purple onions
- Red or purple cabbage
- Coleslaw
- Bean sprouts
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Sweet peppers, fresh or roasted
- Jalapenos or your favorite hot pepper
- Bacon or back bacon
- Cheese
- Dill
- Chives
- Green onions
- Lemon wedges
See the recipe card further down on the page for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Instructions
Making the sandwiches themselves only takes a couple of steps and a bit of light prep work.
The aioli sauce and crab cakes you choose take a bit more time to prepare if you need to make them fresh. I love making these sandwiches as a meal prep meal or a way to use up leftover crab cakes.
Step 1: Make the Aioli Sauce of Your Choice
Make the lemon aioli sauce or truffle aioli sauce and chill it in the refrigerator while you make the crab cakes.
Step 2: Make the Crab Cakes
Choose between either my Red Lobster crab cakes or smoked crab cakes. Make your favorite and then it's time to construct the sandwiches.
Step 3: Make the Sandwiches
Set the bottom of your bun on a plate and add your preferred greens. Then, add a crab cake. Next, top the crab cake with the aioli sauce you chose. Finally, complete the your sandwich by adding your favorite toppings and the top bun.
Hint: I recommend making the aioli sauce the night before so it has plenty of time for the flavors to meld. You can also save some time by making the crab cakes in advance and then reheating for a quick meal during the week.
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this seafood sandwich recipe.
- Crab cake - You can swap out the crab cake for a fish cake or even salmon cake instead!
- Aioli - Swap out the sauces for tartar sauce, remoulade sauce or even simply mayonnaise, ketchup or mustard. These all work well as a replacement for the aioli sauce.
Variations
Want to personalize making sandwiches with crab cakes? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Spicy - Add chili pepper flakes to the crab cake coating when you make them for a spicy kick. You can also get spiciness from adding a sprinkle of your favorite hot sauce to the finished sandwich.
- Wraps - Serve these in a flour tortilla for a seafood wrap that's delicious.
- Cheesy - Add a slice of your favorite cheese to the top.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these fried pork chop sandwiches.
Equipment
It takes next to nothing to put these sandwiches together.
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Spoon or butter knife
- Plate
Storage
Don't store the sandwiches once they are put together or you'll end up with a soggy, gross bun. The crab cakes can be stored for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, and the aioli can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Tips
I don't have many tips for this recipe. It's really just a simple matter of layering. I do have a couple, however, that can help you make sure you make the best sandwiches possible.
- For the best flavor, serve these sandwiches with warm crab cakes. If you are using crab cakes you made in advance, simply lay them out on a tray and heat at 325° until warmed through.
- Serve the sandwiches immediately to avoid a soggy bun.
- Make the aioli you choose in advance so it has time to chill and the flavors meld together.
More Seafood Recipes
Do you like seafood? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
FAQ
Do you have questions about making sandwiches with crab cakes? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about them.
Never store them as completed sandwiches. Rather, store the ingredients separately. The crab cakes will last for 3 - 4 days in the refrigerator, while the aioli will last for about a week in the refrigerator.
Place the crab cakes on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake them for 10 to 15 minutes at 325 degrees.
You can serve up your favorite burger sides with it! I really love making homemade french fries, coleslaw or even just a simple green salad to pair with it. For more ideas of what sides to serve, check out What to Serve with Crab Cakes.
Crab Cake Sandwich
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Crab Cake Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 crab cakes
- 4 artisan buns brioche or other sandwich bread
- 1 cup aioli
Crab Cake Sandwich Toppings
- arugula, baby spinach, baby romaine
- green, red or purple cabbage
- coleslaw
- bean sprouts
- red, yellow, white or purple onions
- tomatoes
- cucumber
- sweet peppers, fresh or roasted
- avocado
- Jalapenos or your favorite hot pepper
- salsa
- green onions or chives
- dill
- bacon or back bacon
- cheese
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Place the bun on a plate.
- Top the bottom of the bun with your greens of choice and place the crab cake on top of it.
- Top the crab cake with aioli sauce and your toppings of choice.
- Add the top of the bun.
- Serve.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- For the best flavor, serve these sandwiches with warm crab cakes. If you are using crab cakes you made in advance, simply lay them out on a tray and heat at 325° until warmed through.
- Serve the sandwiches immediately to avoid a soggy bun.
- Make the aioli you choose in advance so it has time to chill and the flavors meld together.
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