Rich and creamy crab bisque made with chunks of freshly cracked Alaskan king crab meat can be on your table in 30 minutes. Use up last night’s leftovers. It’s one of my favorite leftover crab recipes!
It’s not very often we have leftovers from a crab crack. But when we do we can’t toss that sweet meat. It’s too precious and too delicious.
Crab bisque certainly gives clam chowder a run for its money.
This soup a perfect way to warm up in the winter as well as serve as a starter for a summer dinner. This is a great recipe that will please any seafood lover.
Is crab bisque easy to make?
Hearty and easy to make, this creamy crab bisque recipe will remind you of summers at the beach.
Simply made with onions and carrots, this chowder is enhanced by the sweet meat of Alaskan King crab.
Once you try it, you’ll definitely be making it again.
What does crab bisque taste like?
This creamy soup is delicious, rich and creamy and made with fresh lump crab meat, cream or whole milk and a bit of sherry for that umami flavor. It’s better than any seafood chowder.
What you’ll need to make this creamy crab bisque
Fresh Lump Crabmeat. Now this bisque will work with any kind of crab meat, such as Maryland blue crabs or Dungeness crabs. But our crab crack was with Alaskan King crab. My opinion is that it is superior to all other crab meat and it’s always a good thing when you can find a great deal at your wholesale warehouse club.
Onion. I always stick to sweet Vidalia white onion because it’s my favorite.
Carrots. Grab a bag and get chopping.
Broth. I used chicken broth for this recipe because it’s what I had in the pantry, but seafood stock would intensify the flavor.
Cream. You’ll need heavy cream or whole milk for this recipe.
Butter. This is probably already in your fridge. Grab one stick.
Flour. This should already be a pantry staple.
Lemon. Fresh is best. It makes the flavor just pop in this bisque.
Sherry. Cooking sherry or white wine works if you don’t have sherry.
Worcestershire sauce. Lea & Perrins is my go-to.
Cayenne pepper, old bay, hot sauce or creole seasoning. Just a small amount to give this soup a kick of heat.
Love crab? Try these delicious recipes and sides
- Old Bay Crabcake Sandwich with a Chipotle Mayo
- Classic Old Bay Crab Cakes with Roasted Red Peppers
- Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad
- Tomatoes Caprese Salad
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Creamy Crab Bisque (30-Minute Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup medium onion, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or Old Bay seasoning
- 1.5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup cooking sherry
- 12 ounces Alaskan King crabmeat, chopped
Instructions
- Sauté the carrots and the onion in 2 tablespoons of butter in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven on medium heat until soft. Set aside. Next, create a white roux mixing together the remaining flour and butter until cooked through and browned being careful not to burn.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth whisking consistently until smooth. Add the onions and carrots and simmer for 10 minutes. Add in the remaining ingredients including the crab meat and simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh black pepper or white pepper and dried parsley. Store the leftovers in an airtight container.
If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a photo and hashtag it #homeandplate. I’d love to see what you cook!
So creamy and delicious, I love it!
Thanks Erren. Hope you enjoy the recipe:)
This bisque looks and sounds delicious. Who doesn’t like king crab?
Right? I could eat king crab everyday it’s so good. Thanks Dan.
I’ve always wanted to make a crab bisque! Thanks for the recipe. It looks delicious
You are welcome Katrin…hope you like it:)
Ohhh yum! My husband LOVES anything with seafood in it so he’d love this bisque!
Me too…this bisque has become a favorite. Thanks Liz.
There’s nothing better than a big bowl of comforting soup this time of year! This looks delicious, and so well-presented!
Thanks so much. I agree that Lobster bisque is a great bowl to come home to on a cold winter’s day. 🙂
Love the flavor and consistency. Fresh crab from the market. Made cheddar biscuits to go with it..
Me too…I bet the cheddar biscuits were delicious with it. Thanks Alma 🙂
can you use imitation crab?
I never have but I suppose you could try and let us all know how it turns out. 🙂
Try boiling the shells in a cup and a half or 2 of water. Especially the knuckle. Strain then add to stock. Adds an even deeper layer of flavor.
Yes…that is a wonderful idea. Thanks so much for the tip 🙂
Making right now. I added some tomato paste and old bay. I will let you know how it is.
Easy to make and delicious,
Awesome….I love it when a recipe comes together easy and tastes great. Thanks Christine
I made this last night. First time making bisque, and my family’s not crazy about seafood, but they loved this! So easy and fast! Thanks a ton for this recipe! I’ll definitely be making it again. And again.
Also, I made the roux by melting butter in the microwave, then mixing with flour in a mixing cup. And I used 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water in lieu of sherry. Couldn’t tell a difference at all.
Awesome Katie…I will have to keep your substitution in mind when I’m out of sherry. Glad you like the bisque 🙂
Not sure what I did wrong but it was pretty tasteless. The crab had been in the freezer a few months, maybe that was it.
That will do it…next time try using fresh crab meat that hasn’t been frozen. I promise a different experience 🙂
Can I use canned crab meat
Absolutely … just make sure you use canned crab from the seafood department of your grocery store. Lump or jumbo lump would work great in this recipe.
This recipe is so easy and soooooo delicious!! I will make this again and again. I used canned lump crabmeat and it was so good.
Wow, I had leftover king crab legs, so I searched for recipes and found this recipe. Made it last night, and the result was fantastic. Both my wife and daughter (who is nine and somewhat picky) loved the bisque. My daughter loved it so much she licked her bowl clean. I’ll definitely be making this again in the future. Thanks for the recipe.
Very easy recipe…
This Crab Bisque is beyond amazing. WONDERFUL recipe. I had to sign on to tell you. Beyond awesomeness! Thank you for it!
Mine came out soupy, what did I do wrong?
It could be any number of things but the key to a creamy thicker soup is watching your roux closely and slowly add in your liquid. If you use too much its harder to thicken than it is to add more liquid to thin your soup.
Wow. Just what I’ve been looking for. An easy, delicious bisque you can actually come home abs serve for dinner! Outstanding. Had king crab for a special occasion and made this with the leftovers. Split recipe in half and turned out perfect.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe!!! We just made it with some crab we had leftover from last night – I was so full after the first bowl, but HAD to go back for seconds!! We made it with cornbread, which made a fantastic side. I’m writing this down in my recipe book as a keeper. I think I might also try adding potatoes or corn next time. But as the recipe is written, it is fantastic!
Thanks for the love…glad you loved it and yes potatoes or corn would be an amazing addition.
Tasty crab bisque. First time ever making it. Added one potato, some corn and crushed red pepper (we love a little heat). Great way to use leftover king crab legs! #homeandplate