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A stack of three golden-brown Copycat Joe’s Crab Shack Crab Cakes, garnished with chives, served with dipping sauces.

Copycat Joe’s Crab Shack Crab Cakes

These copycat Joe’s Crab Shack crab cakes are golden, crispy, and loaded with sweet crab meat and savory seasonings. Served with a creamy dipping sauce, this easy seafood recipe brings restaurant style flavor right to your kitchen in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 crab cakes
Course: Dinner, Seafood
Cuisine: American
Calories: 240
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Crab Cakes
  • 1 pound lump crab meat picked over for shells
  • 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons green onions finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Dipping Sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Plate
  • Small bowl
  • Large skillet
  • serving plate

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl combine the crab meat, breadcrumbs, egg, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, green onions, parsley, and lemon juice.
  2. Gently mix until just combined while keeping the crab meat as intact as possible.
  3. Form the mixture into 6 equal crab cakes.
  4. Place the crab cakes on a plate and refrigerate for 10 minutes to help them hold their shape.
  5. In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, and hot sauce for the dipping sauce. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  6. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  7. Cook the crab cakes for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and heated through.
  8. Transfer to a serving plate and serve warm with the dipping sauce.

Notes

Lump crab meat creates the best texture and flavor for restaurant style crab cakes. Chilling the patties before cooking helps prevent them from falling apart in the skillet.