Instant Pot Crab Legs (Crab Boil)

Instant Pot crab legs can be steamed in pressure cooker perfectly. Add potatoes and corn for InstaPot pressure cooker crab boil or in Ninja Foodi for dinner. If you loved our Instant Pot shrimp boil this will be a hit too.

Ninja Foodi Crab Legs

I will say it again. It doesn’t matter what pressure cooker brand you have at home, as long as it has a high pressure function this can be made. Crockpot Express is fine and makes an easy Ninja Foodi recipe with the lid not attached too. Whether you have fresh, defrosted or frozen crab legs we will share all the cook times you need.

If you live on the coast you might be able to go to the local fish market and get fresh babies. We aren’t that lucky in Idaho and have to grab them at the store when they are in stock, or in the freezer section year round. Luckily it tastes great either way. We share How to Cook Frozen Crab Legs if you need that info.

Instant Pot Crab Boil

It doesn’t matter whether you want to just steam crab in pressure cooker or if you want to add other items to make a crab boil. The cook time is the same either way for just the meat. You would just skip the first 5 minutes for the Instant Pot corn and taters.

When it comes to boiling potatoes in Instant Pot, with or without meat, you need some sort of liquid. For plain and boring just go with water. Broth will add more flavor of course, and you could even use a can of beer (or part thereof) for real goodness. I prefer a light lager personally but go with what you have.

Pressure Cooker Crab Boil

When it comes to seasonings you may have a few of your own favorites. This is definitely one of my favorite Old Bay recipes for sure. It is a Southern must and adds a ton of flavor with even just a bit of it. You’ll likely want garlic butter to dip your pieces in when it’s done, we have instructions for that too.

• Snow crab legs, fresh or frozen
• 1 onion diced or sliced
• 2 cups of water, broth or beer
• Old bay
• If you want it a bit spicy you can add hot sauce, optional
• Mixed or baby red potatoes
• Sausage like precooked kielbasa could be added with them cut into 2″ chunks
• Corn cobs broke in half, optional

Garlic Butter Sauce Ingredients

How can I make a butter sauce for crab legs? That is quite easy. Obviously you want to melt butter but garlic and some seasonings whisked in there does the trick to dunk each piece of crab meat in before devouring them.

1. 1/4 c butter
2. 2 tbsp minced roasted air fryer garlic (or out of a jar)
3. A fresh squeeze of lemon juice
4. Dash of chopped parsley or dill if you prefer is great

How to Cook Instant Pot Crab Legs

Ok so if you only wanted to cook the meat and not the veggies that would be okay as well. If yours are fresh or defrosted it would take just 5 minutes start to finish. You would skip the first 5 minutes which is just to get the vegetables nice and tender (but not entirely done).

How long does it take to cook frozen crab legs in Instant Pot?

If you are cooking frozen fish, or crab legs in this matter, you would need to increase the cook time by 2 minutes, not bad. So instead of the 5 minutes you would need about 7 instead.

How do you steam crabs in the Instant Pot?

You will want a trivet for this so the food doesn’t sit in the liquid below. Have everything prepped and ready to go. Broth will give you a bit more flavor than water but that is all you need to get the meat tender. If you just use snow crab legs you could decrease the time to 3 min. King crab or with the larger joint attached, stick to 5.

Instant Pot crab legs potatoes corn recipe

If you are using regular size taters you will want to cut into very large chunks beforehand. Think about the size of small bagged potatoes at the store, you want it about that size.

• Put rinsed baby potatoes, onion and corn in your pot (can skip this veggies step if you only want the crab).
  • Sprinkle Old Bay and any other seasonings you want on top. Then add the water or beer.
• Secure the lid on your IP and set to manual for 5 minutes. Do a quick release. Add the crab, and optional hot sauce.
  • The legs should sit on top of the vegetables and not be submerged in the liquid.
  • If you didn’t add veggies use a trivet on the bottom at this time with liquid at bottom.
• Secure the lid on your IP and set to pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Quick release.
• For the optional garlic butter, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
• Add the lemon juice and chopped parsley.

Serve with a king crab leg cracker so you can get the crab meat out. Enjoy with your dip or sauce on the side to dip all the things in and enjoy. You can print recipe below and get going!

What is the best way to reheat leftover crab legs?

You would want to steam them again if left in the shells. You can do the same in your IP but for just 1 minute on top of a trivet with a cup of water inside. Or you could use your oven but it will take longer. Put into a preheated oven at 350 F for about 15 minutes. You’ll need 1/2 inch of liquid in the bottom of a casserole dish with legs inside. Cover with foil with a few holes poked into the top. Depending on how many you have 15 min. should do it.