Fresh crab with butter and lime, a creamy avocado sauce, pico de gallo and a fresh tortilla. This recipe for crab tacos is simple to make and so tasty!
Let's taco bout crab. I created this taco recipe after returning from Alaska having just had some amazing crab tacos! The crab was so fresh and the avocado sauce brought so much flavor to the taco table.
So I had to come home and recreate it!
This crab taco recipe takes just 15 minutes to make. Perfect for a taco night or Cinco de Mayo celebration!
What kind of crab is best for crab tacos?
Fresh jumbo lump Alaskan King crab meat is the best but lump crab or claw meat is more affordable so purchase what works best for you. Any kind of crab meat will work too such as Maryland Blue Crab Dungeness crab, or snow crab, especially if you live close enough to get any of those fresh.
Since this recipe is loaded with other ingredients canned crab meat can be used but just keep in mind you'll sacrifice some of the flavor. I haven't tried imitation crab with this recipe but feel free to experiment and let me know how it turns out!
How to Make Crab Tacos
These crab tacos come together quickly and you can even use store bought salsa to make it even easier.
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe card with exact measurements and recipe instructions.
- Prepare the salsa: All the salsa ingredients can be added together and blended in one step.
- Prepare the avocado sauce: Same with the avocado sauce!
- Combine crab mixture and heat: Add the ingredients to a saucepan and heat until very warm.
- Heat tortillas and prepare tacos: Warm the tortillas on a skillet or griddle and place the crab mixture on the tortillas. Top with salsa, avocado sauce, jalapeno slices, and lettuce or any toppings that you prefer.
Crab Taco Tips
Soft, hard, flour, corn tortillas. Use your favorite!
The key is to use the freshest ingredients possible and sweet, delicate crab meat.
Use the crab mixture to make a tostada, burrito, nachos, bowl, or even a crab taco salad.
Toppings for crab tacos
For texture, a few fresh jalapeno slices make for fabulous spicy crab tacos if you can handle the heat; if not, add some thinly shredded lettuce or cabbage. I like to add both! Here's a list of some crab taco toppings:
- Shredded cabbage or lettuce
- Cabbage slaw
- Crème fraîche or sour cream
- Thinly sliced radish
- Diced red or yellow bell pepper
- Sliced jalapeños or serrano peppers
- Hot sauce
- Tajin seasoning
- Diced poblano peppers
- Avocado
- Shredded cheese or queso
- Pico de Gallo
- Salsa or chopped tomato & onion
- Chopped fresh cilantro
Top it off with an ice-cold beer or margarita or margarita beer and you'll be in crab taco heaven!
Crab Tacos with Avocado Sauce
Crab tacos combine two of my favorite foods into one delicious meal!
Ingredients
Salsa, or use your favorite salsa
- 1 garlic clove
- 4 Roma tomatoes, each cut into six pieces
- ¼ large white onion, chopped into eight large pieces
- 1 med-sized chipotle pepper (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
- ½ cup cilantro leaves
- juice of ½ lime
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Avocado Sauce
- 1 large avocado, skin and pit removed
- ¼ cup plain yogurt (or sour cream)
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Crab Mixture
- 8 oz cooked crab, jumbo lump crab preferred
- 1 tbs unsalted butter, melted
- 2 -3 tbs salsa juice (drained from salsa)
- juice of ¼ lime
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Other
- 4 corn tortillas
- ¼ cup thinly sliced jalapeno
- ½ cup very thinly sliced lettuce or cabbage
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Place garlic clove in a food processor and run until finely minced (it’s a good idea to do this first with any recipe that uses garlic and a food processor; this way you ensure there are no large garlic pieces). Add the rest of the salsa ingredients; pulse until finely chopped (about 10-15 pulses). Place salsa in serving dish and rinse out the food processor.
- Place all ingredients for the avocado sauce into the food processor and run until very smooth. Place in serving dish.
- Drain a few tablespoons of juice from salsa and add to saucepan. Add crab, salt and melted butter; mix thoroughly, being careful to keep crab pieces from falling apart. Heat crab mixture over low heat until very warm.
- Heat tortillas in a cast-iron skillet or griddle, overlapping as necessary but ensuring that at least half of each tortilla is touching the pan. Remove when either warmed or leave slightly longer to get a light char.
- Place 1 oz of crab mixture on each tortilla, top with salsa, avocado sauce, jalapeno slices, and lettuce.
Notes
Note: What do you do with the rest of the can of chipotle peppers? I put mine in a plastic, zipped bag in the fridge (double bag it, it likes to leak). They’ll keep a couple of weeks. Or, since your food processor is already out, puree the entire can, put in ice cube trays and, when frozen, put the cubes into a freezer bag. They’ll keep up to 3 months!
I highly suggest doubling the salsa; it’s great on its own and you can munch on some salty chips while you’re working. Also, the avocado sauce is so good you’re going to want to lick the spoon!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 353Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 1138mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 42gSugar: 28gProtein: 15g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
More crab recipes:
- Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Hot Crab and Artichoke Dip
- Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Fresh Crab
- Tarragon Lemon Salad with Fresh Crab & Avocado
- Imitation Crab Ceviche
- Imitation Crab Salad
- Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake (A Make-Ahead Holiday Favorite) - September 29, 2025
- Cucumber and Pineapple Salad with Hot Honey - July 23, 2025
- The Best Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon & Chipotle - July 9, 2025
King Crab says
I have never thought of putting king crab in a tortilla, or had anything like this. It simply works, and works very well. The flavors were phenominal. The avacado sauce really makes it.
Mary@FitandFed says
Both the salsa and the avocado sauce look excellent. Smart idea, draining the salsa and using the extra bit to heat up the crab. I freeze extra chipotle peppers, too. I freeze them individually on a tray and then put them into a freezer bag. Haven't had any problem with them going bad.
the wicked noodle says
Yes, I've heard of freezing them but mine never last that long 😉 It's such a great idea though.
love_yr_coffee says
I am in love..... these tacos look ridiculously delicious.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks so much!!
Glynis Latosky says
These sound so easy to make but the end result looks fantastic! 5 star Mexican restaurant quality! How do you do it??!
the wicked noodle says
awww, thanks Glynis! I guess that's the result of living, breathing and thinking about nothing but food 24 hours a day 😉
TheDeliClerk says
The only time I've had crab tacos was in Baja Mexico and they were delicious. I think Alaskan crab would be even better! Especially with a Corona!
the wicked noodle says
aaaaahhh...Baja brings back so many great memories for me! I lived in SoCal for a long time and we would cross the border for beer and tacos (mostly beer in those days 😉 all the time!
kaycemick says
I do live in Canada luckily, lol. However I have never seen or heard of Alaskan Crab tacos! These look amazing!!!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks!!!
sweetlifebake says
This is the perfect contest for you, very cool!! And with these tacos..delish!! start packing girl, your on your way to Alaska!!
the wicked noodle says
Oh, I hope you're right, my friend!! Thanks for the support!! xoxo
Lindsey says
Your entry looks delicious! I just found your website and am having so much fun looking around. Lovely pictures 🙂
the wicked noodle says
Oh, how sweet, Lindsey!! Thanks so much, I'm so glad you found me!! I'm off to check out your site now 🙂
Andrea Meyers says
Those tacos are a winner, for sure! They look awesome!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, A!! xo
Julia says
My sil lived in North Pole Alaska. No joke, that was the name of the town. The crab tacos look so fresh and delicious!
the wicked noodle says
I thought you were joking! That's too funny! Thanks, Julia 🙂
bridget {bake at 350} says
This must be what is served in heaven. 🙂
the wicked noodle says
HA!! Well, let's hope neither of us find out anytime soon 😉 Thanks for stopping by, Bridget!
CarleneFutureRD says
How have I not seen this before! Crab tacos is genius.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Carlene! They're sooo good!
Joan Nova says
Good luck - your crab taco looks like a prize winner to me.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Joan! xo
Amy says
My sister and I used to be separated by 1800 miles. Stupid huge country. It was CRUEL. Sisters are not meant to be separated! It should be the law.
the wicked noodle says
Agreed. It's NOT right. I'm lucky that my other sister lives about half an hour away, and my parents are seriously considering moving here. But Alaska is just TOO far!!!