This simple Crab Cake Sauce recipe levels up store-bought tartar sauce with just a few fresh flavor-boosting ingredients stirred in. In minutes you'll have a tangy, creamy sauce ready to complement golden crab cakes.
When developing my Maryland crab cake recipe, I knew I wanted a sauce with more flavor than plain tartar without venturing into complex remoulade territory. The fresh crab meat needed to shine!
So I crafted this sauce by adding just a few complementary flavors to amplify the tartar without overcomplicating things. This Chesapeake-style aioli infuses the classic flavors of Old Bay spice blend, freshly squeezed lemon juice, rich tartar sauce, Worcestershire, and a little sour cream into the best sauce for crab cakes.
It is such an easy sauce to make - it literally takes 3 minutes! With a blend of spice, brightness, and creaminess that balances beautifully with crispy crab cakes.
Ingredients
Looking for the full recipe? The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
Tartar Sauce - Use your favorite homemade or store-bought sauce. This provides the base flavor and foundation of our sauce. For a much milder flavor you can substitute mayonnaise.
Old Bay Seasoning - This classic Chesapeake spice subtly enhances the crab flavor in the cakes.
Worcestershire Sauce - Just 1 teaspoon boosts savory umami notes and richness without overpowering the crab.
Lemon - Fresh lemon juice adds acidity and brightness. Bottled real lemon juice can be used if you do not want to squeeze them fresh.
Parsley - Using fresh parsley amplifies the vibrant flavor of this sauce. For a fun twist that adds more of a pickled flavor, replace the parsley with fresh dill.
Sour Cream - This adds richness and a little bit of tanginess to the sauce. Full or low-fat sour cream can be used, or even Greek yogurt!
How to Make the Best Crab Cake Sauce
It's pretty simple to make this recipe! You just put all of the ingredients in a small bowl, and whisk until everything is mixed together!
For even more flavor, try these ingredient additions:
- 1-2 tablespoons of pickle relish or capers
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Other Ways to Use Crab Cake Sauce
The balanced flavors of this versatile sauce pair amazingly with other seafood beyond Maryland crab cakes.
- This makes a perfect dipping sauce for fried shrimp, scallops, crab legs, or calamari
- Use as a dressing base for seafood pasta salads
- Top grilled or blackened fish or salmon cakes
- Use it as the sauce on a po'boy sandwich
- Serve as a dipping sauce for handheld foods like fish tacos and seafood rolls
- It's also a tasty condiment for French fries
Recipe FAQ
This sauce will keep fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tartar sauce has a mayonnaise base along with pickles, capers, onions, and herbs for a tangy flavor. Southern Remoulade sauce contains similar ingredients but also includes mustard, hot sauce, and creole seasoning for a spicier, more complex flavor profile.
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Recipe
Crab Cake Sauce
Recipe by:Ingredients
- ½ cup (118 ml) tartar sauce
- 1 tablespoon (12 grams) sour cream
- 2 teaspoons (10 grams) lemon juice about half a lemon
- ½ tablespoon (2 grams) parsley finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon (6 grams) Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Place the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.½ cup tartar sauce, 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon sour cream
- Cover with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
Notes
- 1-2 tablespoons of pickle relish or capers
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of finely minced fresh fresh parsley or fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon paprika or ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Nutrition
The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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