This Cajun Crab Stuffed Salmon is stuffed with an irresistible creole-spiced crab bread crumb filling then topped with a delicious decadent lemon butter sauce. This is an easy and elegant recipe that is a crowd favorite!
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I’ve expressed my love for the city of New Orleans many times on this blog (the obsession is real). Exploring Cajun and Creole cuisine while strolling through the rugged streets to the tune of jazz is my happy place! On my last trip, I visited a local seafood joint that blew my mind. Wanna take a guess at what I ordered? I’ll just tell ya: Crab Stuffed Salmon!
The experience was other-worldly. The salmon meat was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned, while the crab meat was luscious, spicy, and packed with Cajun spice. I walked away from that meal more satisfied and full than I’d been in a while.
You might think crab stuffed fish is a “restaurant-only” dinner, but this stuffed salmon recipe is simple and delicious. In just about 30 minutes, you’ve got a dish destined to become one of your favorite meals!
Perks and Highlights for The Best Crab Stuffed Salmon
Cuisine Inspiration: Seafood Fusion Crab Stuffed Salmon is where the ocean meets the dinner table in a delightful fusion of flavors. Inspired by both American and seafood cuisines, this dish brings a wave of culinary decadence to your palette.
Primary Cooking Method: Baking Slide this beauty into the oven and let it bake its way into perfection. This method allows the salmon to retain its moisture and the crab stuffing to meld harmoniously with the fish’s natural flavors.
Dietary Info: High-Protein, Gluten-Optional Packed with high-quality protein and brimming with omega-3 fatty acids, this dish is a powerhouse of nutrition. For those navigating the gluten-free seas, you can easily modify the recipe by using gluten-free breadcrumbs in the stuffing.
Key Flavor: Rich and Succulent The key to this dish’s heart? A rich and succulent taste profile. The fatty tenderness of the salmon combined with the sweet, meaty texture of crab creates a flavor explosion that’s nothing short of exquisite.
Skill Level: Intermediate Fear not, home chefs! While this dish might sound fancy, with a bit of patience and love for the process, those at an intermediate cooking level can pull it off with aplomb.
Special Perks:
- Impress the Guests: This dish is a showstopper, perfect for wowing guests at dinner parties or special family gatherings.
- Versatility: Serve it as a main course with a side of asparagus or atop a vibrant arugula salad; this dish is adaptable to various dining experiences.
- Make Ahead: Busy schedule? Prepare the crab stuffing in advance and refrigerate, making the actual cooking process a breeze.
- Healthy Indulgence: Satisfy your gourmet cravings without derailing your health goals. It’s a win-win situation!
- Date Night Delight: Nothing says romance like a home-cooked, fancy dinner. Crab Stuffed Salmon could be your love language!
Join us on this culinary voyage and experience the deep, briny flavors of the sea, elegantly presented in this Crab Stuffed Salmon recipe. It’s not just food; it’s an adventure on a plate!
Ingredients
Don’t be alarmed by the hefty ingredient list, I promise this recipe is much simpler than it seems. This recipe combines 3 elements to create a spicy, buttery, decadent, and downright dirty (in a good way) hunk of fish!
Cajun-Spiced Crab Filling- A combination of butter, crisp crackers, succulent crab meat, bright shallots, and plenty of Cajun seasoning, this filling is the definition of indulgence. We’re talking an explosion of garlicky, zesty, and sweet flavor with every bite. I highly recommend splurging on good quality lump crab meat, it makes all the difference.
Salmon Fillets- Subtle and refreshing, salmon is the perfect canvas for bold, intense flavor. If you don’t care for salmon, this recipe can also be made with Chilean Sea Bass, Red Snapper, Rainbow Trout, or even Flounder.
Lemon Butter- This lemon butter sauce is what takes this whole recipe to a new level. A drizzle of this sauce and you’re gonna see stars in your eyes.
How to Make Crab Stuffed Salmon
For the Salmon:
- Start your seafood symphony by preheating your oven to a toasty 425°F. This perfect heat promises a beautifully cooked salmon with a tender, flaky texture.
- In a medium saucepan, heat that golden tablespoon of butter along with some olive oil over medium-high heat. It’s time to sauté the crab, crushed crackers, shallot, and minced garlic until everything is golden and fragrant. Once done, set it aside to cool, as it’s about to play a starring role!
- Grab a medium bowl and get ready to mix! Add mayo (or yogurt for a tangy twist), hot sauce for a bit of zing, parsley, a teaspoon of Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, Old Bay for that classic seafood flavor, cumin, and lemon juice. Whisk it until it’s smoother than a jazz tune.
- Now, let’s get crabby! Fold in your previously prepared crab and cracker mixture until it’s all happily combined.
- Prep your baking stage by lining a sheet with parchment paper. Then, with the precision of a surgeon, slit a pocket into the center of each salmon fillet, and lovingly fill each with your crabby concoction.
- It’s seasoning time! Sprinkle the remaining Cajun seasoning over the fillets, then crown each piece with a portion of the remaining butter (2 tablespoons, to be exact).
- Pop those beauties in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, during which the magic truly happens.
For the Lemon Butter:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt a tablespoon of butter and sauté the shallots and minced garlic until they’re tender and your kitchen smells like heaven.
- Time for a bit of zest! Add wine, lemon juice, and Cajun seasoning, then bring this fragrant pot of goodness to a boil for a few minutes.
- Turn off the heat and introduce the rest of the butter to the mix. Whisk it all together until it’s emulsified into a saucy sensation.
Serve your masterfully stuffed salmon with a generous drizzle of the lemon butter, and watch the faces of your diners light up with the first bite! This dish isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience that celebrates the very best of seafood indulgence. Bon appétit, fellow foodies!
Tips for the Perfect Salmon
For the best result possible, follow the tips provided below:
- Season the salmon well to get great flavor.
- Be careful when slicing into the fish! You don’t want to cut through the skin at the bottom and risk all that delicious, fatty juice seeping out.
- Make sure you don’t overcook the salmon otherwise it will become tough and dry. About 20 minutes of cooking at 400 degrees should be perfect.
- After baking, don’t smother the salmon in lemon butter! First, take a taste and then drizzle on the butter one small spoonful at a time. Add more as you go along.
How to Store and Reheat
Leftover salmon should be refrigerated within 2 hours of having been cooked. Tuck your leftovers in an airtight container where it will keep for up to 3 days.
Tip: It’s best to reheat salmon in the oven! To do so, preheat the oven to 275 degrees and place the fish on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Heat for 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees.
What to Serve with it
Each one of these fillets is a meal all on its own! Trust me, these bad boys are hefty. But, that shouldn’t stop you from indulging in a few extra fun sides.
A simple salad or roasted veggies are great options! If you need a few more ideas, try out one of Grandbaby Cakes’ signature sides:
Best Salmon Recipes
Salmon makes for the perfect, healthy weeknight meal! Whether ya steam it, bake it, or poach in curry, salmon is guaranteed to be delicious.
Do yourself a favor and taste-test a few more of my flakiest, most flavorful salmon recipes:
- Blackened Salmon
- Maple Glazed Salmon
- Jerk Salmon
- Mango Jerk Salmon Burgers
- Sheet Pan Salmon
- Mexican Crab Cakes
- Crab Cakes
- Salmon Croquettes
Cajun Crab Stuffed Salmon
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Ingredients
For the Salmon
- 3 tbsp salted butter divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz jumbo lump crab
- 10 ritz crackers crushed (a little over 1/2 cup)
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/3 cup mayo or greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
- 2 tsp cajun seasoning divided
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Old Bay
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 4 (8 oz) salmon fillets
For the Lemon Butter (optional)
- 6 tbsp cold unsalted butter sliced and divided
- 1 tbsp finely chopped shallots
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 3 tbsp dry white wine
- 1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp cajun seasoning
Instructions
For the Salmon
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Heat 1 tbsp of butter along with olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat then saute crab, crushed crackers, shallot and minced garlic until there is some color then set aside.
- Add mayo (or yogurt), hot sauce, parsley, 1 tsp of cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, Old Bay, cumin and lemon juice to a medium bowl and whisk until completely combined.
- Next fold in crab cracker mixture until combined.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper then using a paring knife, slit a pocket into the center of each salmon fillet and fill with crab filling.
- Sprinkle the remaining cajun seasoning on top of the fillets then divide 2tbsp remaining butter and add to the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
For the Lemon Butter
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add 1 tbsp of butter then add shallots and minced garlic clove and saute until tender and fragrant.
- Next add wine, lemon juice along with cajun seasoning and bring to a boil for a few minutes then turn off the heat and add the rest of the butter and whisk together and serve with salmon.
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Absolutely thrilled with this crab-stuffed salmon recipe! As a novice chef, I was hesitant, but the step-by-step instructions made it foolproof. Even with a small seasoning tweak, the result was perfection. My husband, a tough critic, gave it a solid 5 stars, declaring it better than store-bought alternatives. I’m now confident in my cooking skills and won’t be reaching for Costco’s stuffed crab salmon again. Highly recommend!
Thanks so much, doll!
This recipe was easy to follow and ift taste amazing! It looks amazing plated! My family loved it!!!
Seriously wonderful! I’m so so happy you enjoyed this.