Easy Crab Stuffed Salmon Recipe with Lemon Butter

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Crab stuffed salmon with lemon butter is a decadent dinner that is surprisingly easy to make, very healthy, and utterly delicious.

You may have had crab stuffed fish in a restaurant before and relegated it to a special “restaurant only” dinner, but this stuffed salmon recipe is simple and delicious made right in your kitchen. With less than a dozen healthy ingredients and only 20 minutes of cooking time, this stuffed salmon with crab meat is going to become one of your favorite meals.

It’s not only a fantastic choice for a low carb seafood recipe, it’s an easy way to enjoy crab stuffed fish. This is a meal that can be prepped ahead of time and just baked when you’re ready to eat it. You can even “wow” your company with it; no one would ever guess how easy it is to make lemon butter salmon.

Inspiration for a Crab Stuffed Salmon Recipe

Do you remember your first date with your husband? You can probably remember all the details: what you wore, where he took you, what you enjoyed for dinner…

For us, it was more than a decade ago and I can remember it like it was yesterday. Even though it wasn’t our actual first date, it was the first one after we decided we would “officially” be a couple.

We went to a restaurant called Vic’s, which sat nestled along the river in Minneapolis. The name of the restaurant was quite fitting, because it was my cousin, Vic, who first introduced us.

Oleg and I sat across one another over plates of walleye with crab stuffing and began our love story. We sat by the window looking out onto the glistening lights of the Minneapolis skyline, enjoying a wonderful bottle of wine and talking up a storm. We both ordered the same crab stuffed fish plate, which was the inspiration for this stuffed salmon recipe.

It would later become a regular choice for us at every visit to this amazing restaurant for years to come. It should come as no surprise that this sparkling memory brought on the urge for me to recreate a healthier version of the dish that accompanied it.

If you’ve ever enjoyed lemon butter salmon, you know why. Mmm.

This romantic memory inspired the creation of this lemon butter salmon recipe; after all, a dinner so delicious should be able to be enjoyed whenever the mood strikes (and not just when you happen to be in Minneapolis).

Now you can enjoy crab stuffed salmon from the comfort of your own kitchen any time you want (but you’ll have to find your own handsome date!).

Ingredients for Lemon Butter Stuffed Salmon with Crab Meat

Crab stuffed fish is a pretty popular meal. My husband and I enjoyed walleye on our first date and other restaurants may use their house specialty. This recipe calls for salmon because it’s easy to find, affordable, and is a good option for any low carb fish meal.

You could, of course, use walleye (Vic’s does!) or any fish you choose. Another tweak to the original inspiration is the lemon butter drizzled on top. Don’t skip this step! It’s the perfect addition to crab stuffed fish.

If you’ve never tried lemon butter salmon (or lemon butter on any fish), you’ll know what a tantalizing difference it makes as soon as you take your first bite.

Unlike typical crab stuffing, this one has no fillers (not even almond or coconut flour!). They are completely unnecessary and without them, the crab meat flavor really shines. The great part about this is that it allows your crab stuffed fish to stay keto, paleo, whole30, and low carb. And, you can find the ingredients easily in grocery stores without buying any special flours.

The flavors of this crab stuffed salmon are enhanced only by an array of spices, a little mayonnaise, a splash of lemon juice, and lightly sweet, almost caramelized onion.

Seriously, stuffed salmon with crab meat is already perfect without adding fillers! That means that this recipe is not only paleo and low carb, it’s also gluten-free. It contains no nuts, coconut, or any other flour substitutes. Sometimes simple is truly the best way to go!

So what’s in this stuffed salmon recipe? Salmon, crab, mayonnaise, butter, and a few spices to add an irresistible flavor. Here’s the list:

• Salmon fillet (wider is better)
• Lemon zest
• Butter
• Sea salt
• Pepper
• Lump crabmeat
• Onion
• Mayonnaise
• Fresh parsley
• Garlic
• Lemon juice
• Old Bay seasoning

If you’re looking for a keto seafood recipe for a busy weeknight, you’ve found a winner in this easy stuffed salmon recipe. And it’s one that everyone will love with it’s light, buttery flavor and savory stuffing.

What are you waiting for? Let’s get dinner cooking! You’re going to love this stuffed salmon with crab meat.

How To Cook Stuffed Salmon with Crab Meat

If you don’t already know how to cook crab stuffed salmon, you’re in for a delightful surprise; it’s quite easy.

The first step is to sauté the onion; it’s up to you how sweet you want your onion here. While it’s beginning to brown, mix up your crab filling.

And, don’t feel intimidated by the “stuffed” aspect of this recipe; cooking stuffed salmon with crab meat is much easier than you’d think.

Simply mix together the filling, arrange it down the center of the salmon filet, then fold it over. After you do that, just brush melted lemon butter on top, sprinkle with some salt and pepper, and you’re all set to bake it in the oven.

Really, the only trick is to get the stuffed salmon filet to stay folded. This is why a wider filet works best, which makes the process easier. If it really won’t stay, you can use toothpicks to hold it shut, but I’ve never found it necessary.

Who knew making crab stuffed salmon could be so easy?

Make Ahead Crab Stuffed Fish

One awesome thing about this stuffed salmon recipe is that it can be prepped in advance. Gotta love an easy, make-ahead weeknight dinner idea! I do this all the time.

It’s very simple. All you’ll do is make the crab stuffing up ahead of time, fold it into the salmon, and then cover with foil until you’re ready to bake it.

At dinner time, pull out the stuffed salmon with crab meat and put it in the oven. Within 20 minutes you’ll be taking your first mouth-watering bite of lemon butter salmon!

Food prep is the key to eating healthy even when life gets busy. This simple crab stuffed fish recipe is the perfect addition to your keto recipe rotation for busy evenings. And, your family – or company – will never know that you didn’t spend hours making it!

• Saucepan – These nonstick saucepans are my go-to cook ware items to cook on my stove top. Either size would work for sauteing the onion for this recipe.
• Whisk – A whisk is a must have tool to have in your recipe. This classic version is the size you need for making this keto fish recipe.
• Utensils for stirring – These utensils won’t scratch your nonstick cookware and has a variety of different tools included so that you have the perfect size for this low carb salmon recipe.

Crab Stuffed Salmon with Lemon Butter (Paleo, Low Carb):
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Easy Crab Stuffed Salmon Recipe with Lemon Butter

This crab stuffed salmon recipe looks fancy and tastes delicious, but is quick and easy to make with common ingredients. You'll love this simple take on lemon butter salmon and crab stuffed fish. Naturally low carb, gluten-free and paleo, but you'd never guess!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword crab, gluten-free, keto, low carb, nut-free, paleo, salmon, stuffed salmon, sugar-free

Calories 243 kcal

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Author Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings 8 4 oz servings

Recipe Video

Click or tap on the image below to play the video. It's the easiest way to learn how to make this recipe!

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Ingredients

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Salmon

• 2 lb Salmon (wider filet works best)
• 2 tsp Lemon zest
• 2 tbsp Butter (melted)
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Toothpicks

Crab Filling

• 8 oz Lump crab meat
• 1/2 large Onion (chopped)
• 2 tbsp Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped)
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning

Instructions

RECIPE TIPS + VIDEO in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!

Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

2. In a pan over medium heat, saute onion for about 7-10 minutes, until translucent and browned (or cook longer to caramelize if desired).

3. Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, minced garlic, fresh parsley, lemon juice, and Old Bay seasoning.
4. Stir in the sauteed onion. Gently fold in the lump crab meat, without breaking up the lumps.
5. Place the salmon filet on the baking sheet. Arrange the crab mixture lengthwise down the middle of the salmon. Starting from the thinner edge of the filet, fold over the long way.
6. Whisk together the melted butter and lemon zest. Brush the lemon butter over the top of the salmon. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and black pepper.

7. Bake for 16-20 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Sprinkle with additional fresh parsley. Cut cross-wise into individual filets to serve.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 4 oz fish + filling, or 1/8 of entire recipe

Video Showing How To Make Stuffed Salmon:

Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Stuffed Salmon!

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 243

Fat 13g

Protein 29g

Total Carbs 1g

Net Carbs 0.8g

Fiber 0.2g

Sugar 0.5g

Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.

More Low Carb & Keto Support

If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:

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Starter Guide Sweetener Conversion Calculator Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

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