Any Virginia native has likely experienced the delightful taste of Crab Imperial. This traditional dish is made with lump crabmeat, topped with Parmesan cheese, and baked until golden brown. It may seem fancy, but this easy recipe only requires 10 minutes of prep time!

Crab Imperial is a well-known American dish made with crab meat that is mixed with mayonnaise or a white sherry sauce. It is then placed in crab shells, scallop shells, or individual ramekins. The dish is typically topped with Parmesan cheese or breadcrumbs and baked until it turns golden brown.

Crab Imperial is similar to crab cakes, but without the filling. It has a sweet and salty flavor and is made with the same ingredients as a traditional crab cake recipe. However, the dish is baked in a casserole instead of being formed into cakes. Each serving is filled with chunks of crab meat in a delicately seasoned, creamy sauce.

The recipe calls for ingredients such as red bell pepper, onion, butter, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, egg, pepper, Old Bay Seasoning, crab meat, and Parmesan cheese. It is recommended to use giant crab meat for the best texture and flavor.

To make Crab Imperial, you need to sauté the bell pepper and onion, whisk the imperial sauce, and mix the vegetables and crab meat with the sauce. The mixture is then divided among individual ramekins or a baking dish, topped with mayo and Parmesan cheese, and baked until golden and bubbly.

Imperial Crab can be served as an appetizer or as a main dish. It pairs well with side dishes such as green salad, crusty bread, coleslaw, tomato salad, pasta salad, or roasted vegetables. The dish is keto-friendly with low carbs and can be made ahead of time for easy entertaining.

For the best Crab Imperial recipe, it is advised to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of canned grated Parmesan. The dish can also be used as a filling for other seafood such as shrimp, salmon, or flounder. Squeezing fresh lemon juice on top adds a bright, tart flavor, and crackers or crusty bread can be served on the side.

This is just one of many delicious crab meat recipes to try. Some other popular ones include crab cakes, crab salad, and crab bisque.