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Juicy Crab Sauce Recipe

Jeremy Williams We Want The Sauce Founder and Editor In Chief
Written By: Jeremy Williams
Published Date:
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Made famous by the restaurant of the same name, Juicy Crab sauce is a delicious New Orleans-style butter sauce loaded with Cajun spices.

This robust sauce pairs well with the subtle sweetness of practically any seafood dish.

And now you can make this great-tasting sauce in the comfort of your kitchen.

Loaded with Cajun flavor, I’ve put together a version that’s easy to make and tastes just like the original.

Enjoy this sauce anytime you want to add some Cajun kick to your meal.

So if you’re ready to spice up your life, read on to learn how to make a delicious Juicy Crab sauce that will leave your guests clamoring for more.

What Do You Need To Make Juicy Crab Sauce

Ingredients

Unsalted Butter

I always recommend using unsalted butter when making sauces. Unsalted butter has a higher fat content than salted butter: more fat means more flavor.

Cajun Seasoning

Cajun spice is the key to making a delicious Juicy Crab sauce. Use the recipe provided below or substitute your favorite store-bought blend.

Fresh Garlic 

Feel free to add more as the fresh garlic intensifies the sauce’s flavor.

White Onion

Deepens the flavor. You can substitute a red onion for more flavor.

Lemon Juice

The lemon juice cuts through the fat in the butter to balance out the sauce.

If at all possible, use fresh lemon.

If you don’t have access to fresh lemons, you can use two tbsp of bottled lemon juice instead.

For more zing, you can add some lemon rind.

Spices 

The other spices round out the flavors of the sauce. Feel free to adjust any amounts to suit your taste.

Brown Sugar

A little sweet to balance the heat!

Hot Sauce

Use your favorite brand.

Adding hot sauce will give you a spicier sauce and is entirely optional.

Salt and Pepper

I recommend using coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Add as much or as little as you like.

Equipment

  • Small mixing bowl for the spice mixture
  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Blender or Food Processor
  • Saucepan
  • Spoon or spatula
  • Stove top or electric burner

How To Make Juicy Crab Sauce

Step One: Mix all the dry spices together in a small bowl and set aside.

Step Two: Peel the garlic and onion and add them with the butter to a blender or food processor. Blend until the butter mixture is smooth.

Step Three: Heat a saucepan on medium heat. When hot, add the butter mixture.

Step Four: Reduce heat to low once the butter is melted. Add the spice mixture, lemon juice, and brown sugar. Continue simmering the sauce until it begins to darken, but don’t let it burn.

Step Five: Add the chicken broth. Continue to simmer over low heat for 20-25 minutes. Make sure you keep it at low heat to avoid burning the sauce.

Step Six: After 20 minutes, taste the sauce. Adjust any of the spices and season with salt and pepper.

Step Seven: Serve hot, and enjoy!

Optional Extras:

  • For a thicker sauce, use a cornstarch slurry—mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water to thicken 1 cup of sauce. Add the slurry slowly and wait before adding more so you don’t over-thicken your sauce. Continue simmering until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
  • Add 1-2 tablespoons of hot sauce for a spicier sauce.

Other Things To Consider When Making Juicy Crab Sauce

What Can I Eat With Juicy Crab Sauce?

Juicy Crab sauce will be a big hit at your next seafood boil—the juicy sweetness of boiled crab, shrimp, and crawfish pairs well with the Cajun spice.

  • Serve as a delicious dipping sauce for clams and mussels.
  • Drizzle over grilled or boiled corn on the cob as an alternative to plain butter.
  • Toss with grilled or roasted red potatoes for a delicious, spicy side.
  • Mix with grilled vegetables to give them some Cajun flair.
  • Goes great with grilled chicken and meat.
  • Makes a great New Orleans-style dipping sauce for crusty French bread.
  • The robust flavors of Juicy Crab dipping sauce pair well with a glass of bold red wine or ice-cold IPA.

Juicy Crab Sauce Keeps Well!

You can keep your leftover Juicy Crab sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Or you can freeze it for up to three months. I like to pour my extra sauce into ice-cube trays.

That way, I can just pop out a couple of cubes, heat them up, and have a delicious Cajun sauce to spice up my midweek meals in minutes.

Yield: 4 cups of sauce (approx 8-10 servings)

Juicy Crab Sauce Recipe

Juicy Crab Sauce

This Juicy Crab sauce is a delicious butter sauce loaded with Cajun spices. It pairs deliciously with almost any seafood dish.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 sticks of unsalted butter
  • 10 Cloves minced garlic
  • 1 White onion
  • Juice from one lemon
  • 4 cups Chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp Brown sugar
  • 6 tbsps Cajun seasoning. See recipe below
  • 1 tbsp Lemon pepper
  • 1 tbsp Chili powder
  • ½ tbsp Old Bay seasoning
  • ½ tbsp powdered ginger
  • ½ tbsp celery seed
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1-2 tbsp of Hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix all dry spices together in a small bowl. Set aside.
  2. Peel garlic and onion. Using a blender or food processor, blend the garlic, onion, and butter until it's smooth.
  3. Heat a saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the butter mixture.
  4. When butter is completely melted, reduce heat to low. Add the spice mixture, lemon juice, and brown sugar. Continue simmering until the sauce darkens, but don't let the butter burn.
  5. Add the chicken broth. Continue to simmer over low heat for 20-25 minutes. Ensure the heat stays low, so you don't burn your sauce.
  6. After 20 minutes, check the sauce and adjust any ingredients to suit your taste. For a thicker sauce, use a cornstarch slurry—mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water to thicken 1 cup of sauce. Add slowly and wait before adding more. Continue simmering until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
  7. Season with salt and pepper
  8. Add 1-2 tablespoons of hot sauce for a spicier sauce.
  9. Serve hot, and enjoy.

Notes

Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe

  • 6 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp coarse sea salt
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp ground mustard
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tsp dried cayenne pepper
  1. Combine all the spices for the Cajun seasoning.
  2. Note: this recipe makes more Cajun seasoning than you'll need for the Juicy Crab sauce. Store it in an airtight container and use it to spice up grilled meats, chicken, fish, and vegetables

Variations

  • Add bay leaves and fresh ginger for more Louisiana flavor.
  • You can use your favorite store-bought Cajun seasoning instead of the homemade recipe.
  • Add some lemon rind to give your sauce more zing.
  • For less fat, you can substitute ½ cup of olive oil for one stick of butter.
  • Add a few drops of liquid smoke for a smokier, more intense flavor.
  • To give your sauce more color, add 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
  • And if you want more heat, add some ground cayenne or red pepper flakes.

Nutrition Information:


Amount Per Serving: Calories: 110Total Fat: 5gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 30mgCarbohydrates: 7.4gProtein: 4.6g
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