Seafood swap series: Crispy chipotle air fryer crab cake sliders

Crabcakes make perfect slider patties in this fun seafood swap. Watch dietitian Noelle Martin mix these up and see how much her kids enjoy them.

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Add some extra fun and flavour to your table with these homemade crab cake sliders. Canadian crabmeat has a beautiful savoury flavour and creamy texture, making it a great option for the whole family. It is also an excellent source of vitamin B12 and folate, which support optimal blood health, zinc, which is important for a strong immune system, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other bone-building nutrients. 

A new way to serve it

While crab is excellent on its own, in this recipe you will mix it with a few simple ingredients to make crab cakes. In just minutes, they will crisp up in the air fryer and then you can serve them with lettuce, pickles and a homemade chipotle sauce to finish them off. Not ready for the extra spice? You can always serve the sauce on the side. And speaking of sides, try adding a few sweet potato fries, a Caesar salad or a few fresh veggies and dip on the side to complete the meal. 

Okay, I know your mouth is watering. Let’s get to the recipe.

Crispy Chipotle Air Fryer Crab Cake Sliders

Frozen crab and a few pantry-friendly add-ins turn into super crispy and delicious crab cakes with the help of an air-fryer. No air fryer? No problem! You can make these patties in the oven, too. Have them on their own, or try them our favourite way by serving them on slider buns with chipotle mayo, shredded lettuce and pickles. 

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 23 minutes
Makes 8 sliders, 4 servings

Ingredients
1 pkg. (227 g) Canadian crab meat
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, pressed or minced
¼ tsp each salt and pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup (250 mL) dry bread crumbs
8 slider buns
¾ cup (175 mL) shredded lettuce
2 dill pickles, sliced into rounds

Chipotle-lime mayo
½ cup (125 mL) mayonnaise
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
¼ tsp (1 mL) grated lime zest
1 tbsp (15 mL) lime juice
¼ tsp (1 mL) Worcestershire sauce

Method

1. Chipotle-Lime Mayo: Combine mayonnaise, chipotle peppers, lime zest and juice and Worcestershire sauce; set aside.
2. Place crab meat in sieve and drain well, pressing to remove excess liquid; pick through to remove any cartilage. Transfer to large bowl. Add 2 tbsp of the chipotle mayo, red and/or green peppers, onions, egg and bread crumbs. Form into 8 ½-inch (1 cm) thick patties.
3. Arrange patties in basket of air-fryer, leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm) between patties. Spritz with cooking spray. Air-fry in preheated 375°F (190°C) air-fryer until golden and firm, about 4 minutes per side.
4. Fill buns with remaining mayo, lettuce, pickles and crab cakes.

Tip: Serve with kale or classic Caesar salad and crinkle-cut fries on the side.

Make seafood a part of your weekly meal plans. Find more simple and delicious seafood recipes at chooseseafood.ca.