Instant Pot Crab Legs (Steamed Fresh or Frozen) -

4.19 from 33 votes

Instant Pot Crab Legs (Steamed Fresh or Frozen)

This Instant Pot Crab Legs recipe delivers perfectly tender, flavorful crab legs in just minutes. Ideal for fresh or frozen crab, this method simplifies seafood cooking for a restaurant quality batch of crab legs in minutes!

Prep Time2

Cook Time4

Total Time6

Course: Holiday Recipes, instant pot, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cooking crab legs in instant pot, crab legs instant pot, easy crab legs recipe, easy instant pot crab recipe, how to cook crab legs, how to cook crab legs in instant pot, Instant pot crab legs, instant pot low country boil, instant pot seafood boil, instant pot steamed crab legs, pressure cooker crab legs, steamed crab legs in pressure cooker

Servings: servings

Calories: 230kcal

Author: Valerie Skinner

Equipment

Instant Pot
trivet
Seafood tongs
Lemon squeezer
Seafood cracker
Scissors

Ingredients

2 pounds Crab Legs Fresh or Frozen
1 tablespoon Seafood Seasoning Old Bay, Tony's, Cajun
1 Lemon sliced into rounds
2 teaspoon Minced Garlic

Instructions

Prepare the Instant Pot with Water and Seasoning: Begin by pouring one cup of water into the bottom of your Instant Pot. This is the base for creating the steam needed to cook your crab legs perfectly. Stir in one tablespoon of your favorite seafood seasoning to enhance the flavor. Popular options include Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, or Zatarain’s. Add a teaspoon of minced garlic.
Set Up the Trivet and Lemon Slices: Place a trivet into the bottom of the Instant Pot to elevate the crab legs above the water. This makes sure they steam properly instead of boiling. Layer lemon slices on top of the trivet for a zesty touch that infuses the crab legs with subtle citrus notes during cooking.
Add the Crab Legs: Arrange fresh or frozen crab leg clusters on top of the lemon slices. Make sure the crab legs are spaced evenly and stay below the MAX line of your Instant Pot to allow proper sealing and pressure cooking. This method works perfectly for a variety of crab types, including king crab and snow crab.
Seal the Lid and Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and ensure the vent is set to “Sealing.” Select the manual HIGH pressure cooking setting. For fresh crab legs, set the timer for 2 minutes. If using frozen crab legs, increase the time to 4 minutes. The pressure cooking process locks in the natural juices, creating tender and flavorful crab meat.
Quick Release and Serve: Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick release by carefully turning the vent to “Venting” to release the pressure. Use tongs to remove the hot crab legs from the Instant Pot. Serve immediately while they are still hot, pairing them with melted butter, garlic aioli, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Video

Nutrition