Quick answer
For Dungeness crab that is already cooked and cleaned, brush or pour garlic butter over it, then roast it in a 350°F to 400°F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, until it is hot throughout and the butter is bubbling. Live or raw crab needs to be cooked through first, either by briefly boiling it or by baking longer, until the meat is opaque.
Start with the right crab
How long you bake depends on what you bought.
- Cooked and cleaned crab or clusters. The most common form in stores. You are reheating, so oven time is short. If the crab is frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator first.
- Cooked whole crab. Clean it before baking by removing the top shell, the gills and the innards, and break the body into halves or quarters.
- Live crab. One restaurant-style method boils the crab in heavily salted water for about 7 minutes, chills it in ice water, cleans it, then roasts it. Fully cooking before the oven is the safer approach for beginners.
If you want a simpler stovetop approach for packaged clusters, see our guide on cooking Dungeness crab clusters.
What you need
- 2 whole Dungeness crabs, cooked and cleaned, or about 2 to 3 pounds of clusters
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- A few tablespoons of olive oil
- 6 to 10 cloves of garlic, minced
- Lemon juice and lemon slices
- Salt, pepper and optional chili flakes
- Chopped parsley, chives or other soft herbs
- A rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan, and foil
Garlic butter
Combine the melted butter, a splash of olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and chili flakes if you like some heat. For a milder garlic flavor, warm the garlic gently in the butter for a minute or two before spooning it over the crab. Reserve a little to serve on the side for dipping.
Roasting cooked Dungeness crab step by step
- Heat the oven to between 350°F and 400°F. A lower temperature is gentler on the meat; a higher one browns the garlic and shell faster.
- Arrange the crab in a single layer on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan. Lemon slices underneath add aroma.
- Coat generously with the garlic butter, working it into the crevices of the shell.
- Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the crab is heated through and the butter is bubbling. If the crab was frozen and only partly thawed, expect it to need longer.
- Finish with lemon juice and herbs, and serve with bread for the pan juices.
Covering the pan loosely with foil traps steam and protects the meat from drying out; remove it for the last few minutes if you want more browning. For crab legs, a covered bake of around 20 to 25 minutes at 400°F is typical.
Starting from live crab
One chef’s recipe cooks a cleaned crab in boiling salted water for 7 minutes, chills it in ice water, then removes the top shell and gills, breaks the crab into quarters, and roasts it with garlic butter at 450°F for about 8 to 10 minutes. It is done when the shell looks golden and slightly crisp and the meat is opaque. Be careful when handling live crab and use tongs and sturdy gloves.
How to tell it is done
- The meat is opaque and white, not translucent or gray.
- Butter is bubbling around the crab and the shell is hot to the touch.
- An instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the meat reads 165°F (74°C), the common target for reheated cooked food.
Keeping the crab juicy
- Do not bake longer than needed when the crab is pre-cooked.
- Use plenty of butter or a little liquid such as white wine in the pan.
- Cover with foil for most of the bake.
- Thaw frozen crab fully so the outside does not dry before the center is warm.
Serving ideas
Serve with crusty sourdough, roasted potatoes, fennel or a green salad. Keep lemon wedges and extra melted butter on the table. Leftover crab can be picked from the shell and used in omelets or crab cakes. If you do have leftovers, see how to reheat crab in the oven.
FAQ
Can Dungeness crab be eaten raw?
It is not recommended to eat crab raw at home. Raw shellfish can carry bacteria and parasites. Cook it until the meat is opaque and hot.
How do you cook snow crab legs in the oven?
Place them in a baking dish, brush with butter, cover with foil and bake at about 400°F for around 20 to 25 minutes. Snow crab is typically sold pre-cooked, so you are reheating it.
How do you heat up cooked crab in the oven?
Use a moderate oven, add a little liquid or butter, cover tightly, and heat until hot throughout. Our guide to reheating crab in the oven gives timing for different cuts.