Delicious Creamy Crab Gratin Recipe For Seafood Lovers

Seafood lovers delight in this luxurious crab gratin that brings oceanic richness to your dinner table.

Tender crab meat nestled in a velvety sauce creates an irresistible harmony of flavors.

Each golden-crusted bite promises a decadent culinary experience that whispers elegance.

The recipe combines simple ingredients with remarkable technique, turning an ordinary meal into something extraordinary.

Delicate crab pieces meld perfectly with a silky, cheese-infused base that melts in your mouth.

Warm and comforting, this gratin serves up pure indulgence with minimal effort.

Dive into this sumptuous dish and savor every heavenly spoonful.

Serving Style for Creamy Crab Gratin

• Coastal Dinner Party Delight: Serve this crab gratin as a show-stopping appetizer at an elegant seafood-themed gathering, paired with crisp white wine and soft bread.
• Brunch Star Companion: Complement the gratin with a light mixed green salad and poached eggs for a luxurious weekend brunch experience that feels restaurant-worthy.
• Seafood Tapas Style: Present in small individual ramekins as part of a tapas spread, allowing guests to enjoy bite-sized portions with toothpicks or small spoons for easy sampling.
• Elegant Side Dish Transformation: Serve alongside grilled fish or roasted chicken as a rich, creamy side that elevates the entire meal with its decadent seafood flavor profile.

Storing Creamy Crab Gratin Properly

• Advance Prep Power: Assemble the entire gratin up to 24 hours before cooking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate, which allows flavors to deepen and blend beautifully.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Wrap the unbaked gratin securely in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking to maintain optimal texture and taste.
• Leftover Love: Store extra servings in an airtight container within the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 350°F to prevent separation and maintain the creamy consistency.
• Quick Portion Control: Divide the gratin into individual ramekins before baking for easy single-serving meals. These smaller portions reheat faster and look elegant when served.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 270 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients in Creamy Crab Gratin

• Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, smooth foundation with delicate flavor that helps bind ingredients together.
• Flour: Provides silky texture and helps thicken the creamy sauce without creating lumps.

• Onion, Celery: Aromatic vegetables that build deep, savory undertones and classic seafood flavor profile.
• Evaporated Milk: Delivers luxurious creaminess with concentrated dairy richness and subtle sweetness.
• Egg Yolk: Adds luxurious texture and helps stabilize sauce with natural emulsifying properties.

• White Crab Meat: Tender, delicate seafood protein that brings oceanic freshness and delicate sweetness.
• Swiss Cheese: Melts beautifully with nutty, mild flavor that complements seafood perfectly.
• Salt, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper: Balanced spice blend that enhances and elevates overall dish complexity.
• Green Onion: Provides bright, sharp accent with mild onion freshness.
• Paprika: Adds subtle warmth and beautiful reddish garnish touch.

Tools for Creamy Crab Gratin Prep

• Heavy Saucepan: Essential for creating the roux and cooking the base sauce smoothly.
• Wooden Spoon or Whisk: Perfect for stirring the butter and flour mixture, preventing lumps.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping onions, celery, and green onions.
• Sharp Knife: Crucial for precise vegetable and ingredient preparation.
• Small Oven-Safe Baking Dish: Ideal for mixing and broiling the gratin.
• Cookie Sheet: Provides stability and catches any potential drips when broiling.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Helps accurately measure ingredients for consistent results.
• Mixing Bowl: Useful for beating egg yolk and preliminary ingredient mixing.

Steps to Make Creamy Crab Gratin

• Flavor Foundation

Create a rich, creamy base by melting butter and blending with flour in a heavy saucepan until it develops a golden, nutty color.

• Vegetable Softening

Gently sauté chopped onion and celery over low heat, allowing them to become tender and release their delicate aromatics.

• Dairy Fusion

Introduce evaporated milk, egg yolk, and most of the Swiss cheese into the mixture. Season with salt, black pepper, and a touch of cayenne for a subtle kick. Stir until the cheese melts into a smooth, luxurious sauce.

• Crab Integration

Carefully fold in delicate crab meat, letting it warm through and absorb the surrounding flavors on low heat.

• Final Preparation

Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese, green onions, and a light dusting of paprika across the top.

• Golden Finish

Slide the dish under the broiler, watching carefully until the surface turns a gorgeous golden brown and the cheese bubbles with irresistible appeal.

Tips for Creamy Crab Gratin Texture and Flavor

• Crab Comfort Tricks: Transform this classic seafood dish with insider cooking wisdom and delightful twists.
• Seafood Selection Savvy: Choose fresh, high-quality lump crab meat for the richest flavor and most tender texture. Look for fresh or pasteurized crab from reputable seafood markets or reliable grocery sections.
• Cheese Melting Magic: Allow Swiss cheese to reach room temperature before adding to the sauce. This helps create smoother, more even melting and prevents unwanted cheese clumping.
• Spice Level Control: Adjust cayenne pepper to match your heat preference. Start with a small pinch for mild warmth, or increase gradually for bolder palates seeking more intense flavor.
• Make-Ahead Marvel: Prepare the gratin mixture up to one day in advance and store covered in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply top with cheese and broil for a quick, impressive meal that tastes freshly made.
• Texture Transformation: For extra crunch, sprinkle panko breadcrumbs over the top before broiling. This adds a delightful golden-brown crispy layer that contrasts beautifully with the creamy crab filling.

Sumptuous Crab Gratin Recipe

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4.5 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Comforting French-inspired crab gratin delivers rich seafood flavors with delicate herb-infused breadcrumb topping. Luxurious ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a memorable dish you’ll savor with pure culinary delight.

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Ingredients

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• 8 oz (226 g) white crab meat
• ¾ cup (90 g) shredded swiss cheese
• 4 tbsps (57 g) unsalted butter
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• ½ cup (75 g) chopped onion
• ¼ cup (40 g) chopped celery
• ¼ cup (25 g) chopped green onion
• 3 tsp (9 g) flour
• 1 (5 oz / 142 ml) can evaporated milk
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• Dash of paprika

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Instructions

1. Roux Creation: Melt butter in a saucepan and whisk flour until achieving a light golden hue, developing a rich, nutty base with deep culinary complexity.
2. Aromatic Infusion: Sauté onions and celery within the roux, allowing vegetables to soften and release their fragrant essence, enhancing the foundational flavor profile.
3. Liquid Harmonization: Gradually blend evaporated milk, tempered egg yolks, and Swiss cheese, seasoning with salt, black pepper, and cayenne to create a sophisticated, creamy texture with balanced, nuanced undertones.
4. Seafood Integration: Gently incorporate crab meat into the velvety mixture, ensuring delicate seafood remains tender while absorbing the surrounding luxurious flavors without disintegrating.
5. Broiler Transformation: Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe dish, distributing evenly and topping with remaining Swiss cheese, chopped green onions, and a subtle dusting of paprika, then position under the broiler for 4-6 minutes until achieving a golden, bubbling surface with caramelized, crisp edges.

Notes

• Roux Mastery: Create a perfect golden roux by whisking butter and flour slowly, ensuring no lumps and developing a rich, nutty flavor foundation.
• Vegetable Softening Technique: Gently sauté onions and celery until translucent, releasing their natural sweetness and creating a flavor-packed base for the sauce.
• Cheese Melting Precision: Temper egg yolks carefully and add cheese gradually to prevent curdling, maintaining a smooth and creamy texture throughout the dish.
• Broiling Brilliance: Watch the dish closely under the broiler, aiming for a golden-brown top with bubbling edges without burning, typically 4-6 minutes for perfect caramelization.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Dinner
• Method: Broiling
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 270
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 16 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg