King Crab Legs Scampi Style is something you won’t soon forget. This is a fabulous treat and one I save for big occasions. King Crab legs are expensive (very expensive) and they are addictive, so you need at least a pound per person. I usually serve them with another entree (like a steak) or as an appetizer. To really enjoy these, I strongly recommend eating them outside at a BBQ. They can get messy cracking the shells, removing the meat and having all that delicious butter drizzling down your fingertips! Using seafood forks helps get the meat out of the tiny parts of the shell, and good ‘ole lobster bibs come in pretty handy. Have lots of handiwipes on hand for easy clean up and just go for it!!! The first time I had this dish was in a very upscale seafood restaurant and the whole time I thought, ” Why are you serving this at a linen covered table while I’m sitting here in a silk blouse?” LOL This totally belongs on a picnic table where you can really enjoy it and have fun!
To get started, heat your grill to medium high heat. If doing indoors, I’d do these in the oven rather than trying to do it on a grill pan. They are just too big and it will be hard to heat them through.
You’ll want to prep your king crab legs before cooking. This will make them much easier to handle and eat once they are cooked. Using kitchen scissors, I cut long slits in the crab shells. I’ll also break the really long legs at the joints making them more manageable. The breaks at the joints and the cut slits, will also help them heat up on the grill and will give the scampi butter somewhere to go. The meat will get a scampi bath!
Put the prepped crab legs on the grill, or on a baking sheet if heating them in the oven. Just a note here: King Crab Legs come already cooked so you are basically just reheating them and adding that butter sauce. Heating them up will take about 20 minutes.
It’s time to make that scampi butter.
Start by chopping up the garlic. Then, mix the butter, garlic, salt, pepper and Calabrian chili flakes in a bowl or reusable container. (just in case there is any leftover). Use your taste buds to decide how much of the chili flakes you use. If you like it really spicy, add more. Less spicy, add less.
If you are grilling outdoors, I take a large disposable baking sheet and put it on the low heat side of the grill. I put the butter on the baking sheet and let the heat melt it down. Spread it out on the pan. Once the crab legs are heated through, I put them on the buttered baking sheet and roll them all around. Spoon the butter over the legs making sure every leg is drenched in that scampi goodness.
If I’m making these at home, I’ll melt down the butter in the microwave then add it to the baking sheet in the oven. Again, I’ll roll the legs around and spoon the butter over the legs.
If I’m grilling, I’ll put this whole baking sheet right on the picnic table for everyone to dig in. In the house, I’ll pile them in a large bowl or put on a large platter. Serve these with lemon wedges and seafood forks for the most delicious dish ever. If you like this, be sure to share your photos with me on social media. I’d love to see what you are making.
And, if you like this dish, be sure to try some of my other favorite seafood recipes:
Ebi Tempura (Japanese Shrimp Tempura) with Ginger and Lime Dipping Sauce
King Crab Legs Scampi Style
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 Lbs. of King Crab Legs, (they already come cooked in the seafood department)
- 1/2 Cup of unsalted butter
- 3-4 Large garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 Tsp. Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 Tsp. Calabrian Chili Flakes (more or less to taste)
- Zest of lemon for butter, and wedges of lemon to serve
Instructions
- Heat your grill to medium high heater. You can make these in the oven just heat to 350 degrees.
- Using scissors, cut long slits in the crab leg shells and/or break the crab legs at the joints. This allows the heat to penetrate and allows the scampi butter to get into all the nooks and cranies!
- Put crab legs on the grill or on a baking sheet in the oven for about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the scampi butter. Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and put on a large disposable baking sheet on the grill (for easy clean up). Let that butter melt down. In making in the oven, microwave the butter for 20 seconds until melted then add to the baking sheet in the oven. Toss your crab legs in the butter coating everything. Turn several times for another 2-3 minutes.
- If grilling, serve those legs right on the buttery baking sheet. If in the oven, I take the legs off the baking sheet, put them on a platter and drizzle that garlic butter all over the crab legs. Serve with lemon wedges and seafood forks and bibs! The forks get all the meat and the bibs will save your shirt!!!! LOL Enjoy.
