Why You’ll Love This Crab Salad
- Quick and Easy—Just prep the ingredients, mix together, and it’s ready in as little as 10 minutes!
- 4 Ingredients Only—All you need is imitation crab, mayo, celery, and green onion to make this simple crab salad—plus a little salt and pepper, if you’d like.
- Versatile—Make crab salad sandwiches, lettuce wraps, or serve as a dip with crackers!
This crab salad is one of my favorite summer lunches! It’s light, tasty, and requires only four ingredients—imitation crab, mayo, celery, and green onion—so it’s perfect for those hot days when you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. I love it on sandwiches, spooned into crisp lettuce or cabbage leaves for wraps, or simply scooped up with crackers for a quick snack.
Crab Salad Ingredients
1. Imitation Crab: I use imitation crab legs in this salad, shredded and chopped into small pieces. You can also use chunks. Imitation crab is much easier to find than fresh crab meat where I live, and it’s far more affordable. Plus, it works perfectly in cold salads like this one.
One of the biggest benefits of imitation crab is its cost-effectiveness and convenience. The 20 oz. package I use costs around $5, and it’s completely ready to go—no shells, no mess, no waste. This recipe uses 1 pound of crab and makes about 4 cups of salad—plenty for sandwiches, wraps, or snacking on with crackers.
Real crab, on the other hand, can cost $20–$30+ per pound for lump or claw meat. And while it definitely delivers the “real deal” when it comes to flavor, imitation crab still gives you that classic crab salad taste—especially when mixed with mayo, celery, and green onion.
This salad will, of course, work well whether you choose real crab or imitation “crab”. Use what works best for you!
2. Mayonnaise: Mayo makes the salad creamy and binds everything together. Use your favorite brand—I like Hellmann’s.
3. Celery: Minced celery adds crunch and flavor to the salad. I love the flavor of celery, so I use the tender, inner stalks from the celery heart, plus some of the leaves (which are packed with flavor).
4. Green Onion: I use anywhere between 2-4 green onions, thinly sliced, in this salad, depending on their size and strength (flavor-wise).
Plus salt and pepper to taste, if you’d like.
How to Make Crab Salad—Quick and Easy!
1. Prep the ingredients.
- Imitation Crab: If you’re using leg style pieces, shred each “leg” into long pieces/strands (kind of like string cheese). Then chop into bite-size pieces. I like a mix of larger and smaller pieces for texture. If using imitation crab chunks, use them as-is or give them a quick chop if you prefer smaller pieces.
- Celery: Finely mince the celery, including the leaves—they’re packed with flavor! If you’re using some of the outer stalks from the celery heart, you may want to peel away the tougher, stringier parts first. The tender inner stalks can be minced as-is.
- Green Onions: Remove any tough outer layers and dry ends. Then thinly slice the onions—I like a diagonal (bias) cut. When you reach the pale green base, slice it in half lengthwise before continuing to thinly slice.
2. Mix everything together.
In a medium bowl, combine the imitation crab, mayo, celery, and onion. Stir until everything is evenly coated and well mixed. Taste, then add a bit of salt and pepper, if you’d like.
Crab Salad Serving Ideas
Make Crab Salad Sandwiches: Pile the salad onto soft rolls or sandwich bread for a quick, yummy lunch.
Wrap it in Lettuce or Cabbage: Scoop into large lettuce or cabbage leaves for a lighter lunch option. I used napa cabbage in the photo above. I love using it for wraps because it adds extra crunch and holds up well.
Serve as a Dip: Spoon the crab salad into a small bowl and serve with crackers or small slices of bread.
How to Store Crab Salad
Store any leftover crab salad in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge. I do not recommend freezing the salad as it can affect the texture of the imitation crab and the consistency of the salad once thawed.
Read on for the full recipe for this easy imitation crab salad!
Once you’ve tried it, come back here to leave a rating and review—I would love to hear what you think of it!
4-Ingredient Imitation Crab Salad
Equipment (Shop on Amazon)
Ingredients
- 1 lb imitation crab legs shredded and chopped
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup minced celery hearts including some of the leaves for flavor
- 2-4 medium green onions or around 3-4 tbsp thinly sliced
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Shred and roughly chop the imitation crab into pieces. I like a mix of smaller and larger pieces. Mince ½ cup of celery (including the leaves for flavor!). After removing any tough outer layers and dry tops, thinly slice the green onions.1 lb imitation crab legs, ½ cup minced celery hearts, 2-4 medium green onions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the crab, celery, green onion, and mayonnaise.¾ cup mayonnaise
- Add salt and pepper to taste, if you'd like.Salt, Pepper
- Enjoy this crab salad right away or store it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes from the Happy To Be Here Kitchen
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