Instant Pot Crab Legs

Crab legs in the Instant Pot is as easy as can be! This quick recipe is a seafood lovers dream!

Prep Time5

Cook Time13

Total Time18

Servings: servings

Calories: 259kcal

Add the water, salt, and Old Bay seasoning to the Instant Pot. Place either the steamer basket or trivet inside the inner pot.
Place the frozen crabs, lemon, and garlic on top of the trivet, bending the crab legs as needed to allow the crabs to fit into the inner pot.
Secure the lid, then set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 3 minutes.
Once the cooking time is done, carefully Quick Release the pressure by turning or pressing the steam release valve.
Open the lid, and carefully use tongs to remove the crab legs from the Instant Pot and set them on a platter.
Spoon some of the liquid from the bottom of the pot over the crab legs.
Serve immediately with melted butter and sprinkle a little lemon juice on top, and use a nutcracker, crab cracker, or your hands to break apart the legs to remove the pieces of meat, discarding the shells as you go.

Allow the frozen crab legs to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking to make them easier to bend and fit inside the Instant Pot.
To substitute king crab legs, add 2 minutes of cook time to adjust for their larger size.
If you don't have Old Bay seasoning, substitute 1/2 teaspoon celery salt, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon bay leaves, and a pinch of ground ginger.
An 8 qt. Instant Pot will fit ~2.5-3 pounds of snow crab legs (about 8 clusters), and a 6 qt. Instant Pot will fit ~2 pounds of crab legs (about 6 clusters).
Use crab crackers or nutcrackers to make getting all the meat out of each leg and knuckle a lot easier!