Baked Cheesy Crab Toasts with Browned Butter and Cheddar
An Update to a Party Classic
Crab toasts absolutely remind me of the holidays and large family get-togethers.. There’s a classic recipe that’s been passed around my family for decades and is a dish my uncle often makes to this day for get-togethers. They’re such an addictive bite that you can’t only eat one, filled with savory, creamy, crab topping and so perfectly delicious.
To update this family-classic appetizer, I’ve added a few extra layers of flavors, from browned butter, a bit of sharpness from a good cheddar cheese, and a few chives and citrus to lift the flavors. The end result is a creamy, crabby, toasty bite jam packed with flavor. Think your favorite crab dip already placed on your toast for you. You and your guests won’t be able to eat only one!
Tips For Making This Crab Toast Recipe
If you plan on making these cheesy crab toasts, here are a few recommendations to make sure it’s successful!
- These are easily made ahead! Make the browned butter crab and cheddar mixture, top the toasts, and then wrap in cling film and refrigerate. Bake at 350°F until the cheese is bubbly, about 13 minutes and then serve.
- For this recipe, it is critical to prepare your ingredients before you begin making the crab and cheese topping. Once the butter has browned, you’ll want to move quickly to remove the pan off the heat and melt in the cheese and other ingredients. The butter can go from browned to burned quickly, and you don’t want to have to start over (especially right before a party).
- To help melt your butter and cream cheese, cut them into smaller pieces before adding them to a pan. I like to cut them down into 1 tablespoon pieces to help make them melt faster.
Recipe Details
The flavors in these crab toast seem advanced, but the beautiful thing is it’s rather simple to bring together! If you can melt better, stir a spoon, and place a tray in the oven, you’re ready to make these browned butter crab and cheese toasts!
To begin, you’ll need to do a bit of prep work. Preheat your oven and line a couple baking trays with parchment paper. Arrange your rye bread slices onto each tray, leaving a bit of space between each toast. Prepare your ingredients by measuring your butter, cream cheese, paprika, and cocktail sauce. Shred your cheese and zest ½ a lemon and then open and drain your can of crab meat. Set everything on a nearby counter so you can easily grab it while you begin cooking your cheesy crab topping.
To make the topping, you’ll begin by browning the butter. Browning the butter gives the topping a deep, nutty base that will immediately make your entire kitchen smell great! Once the butter is browned, take the pan off the heat and and immediately add the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, paprika, and cocktail sauce. Stir with a wooden or silicone spatula to begin incorporating all of the ingredients, using the back of the spoon to encourage the cheeses to melt. Once the cheeses have melted and the ingredients come together (you may still see a slight sheen from the butter, but that’s okay) add in the crab meat and lemon zest. Stir again to combine everything together.
Spoon the cheesy crab mixture onto the slices of bread, about 1 teaspoon on each, using the back of a spoon to spread the mixture across the entire slices of bread. Bake the toasts at 350°F for just under 15 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack. Sprinkle some pieces of chive over your toasts and let cool until they’re easily handled. Place onto a serving platter and let your guests dig in!
If you like the sound of this recipe, you should also check out these:
- Maid Rite Sliders
- Salmon Toast with Cucumber and Roe
- Herb and Caper Vinaigrette with Burrata and Toasts
Be sure to tag @laura.loves.to.cook on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook to let me know how your recipes turn out. I hope you love it as much as I do!
These crab toasts are packed with cheesy, zesty, buttery flavor. An elevated take on a classic family recipe, these toasts are so good you won’t be able to eat just one!
- 12 oz package of cocktail sized rye bread slices
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 6 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp cocktail sauce
- Zest of ½ lemon
- 6 oz jar of lump crab meat
- 2 tbsp chives, chopped for garnish
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
Arrange the cocktail rye slices onto the lined baking trays, leaving a ½ inch between each slice. Set aside until ready to assemble.
Measure out your 4 oz butter, 4 oz cream cheese, 1 teaspoon paprika, and 1 tablespoon cocktail sauce. Shred ½ cup cheddar cheese and zest ½ a lemon. Open the can of crab meat and drain any liquid from the can.
Place a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Add the unsalted butter and let it melt. The butter will begin to bubble and brown slightly. Once melted, let cook until it has a nutty aroma and pale brown color, about 3 minutes, swirling it occasionally to ensure no bits of butter burn to the bottom of the pan.
Once the butter has browned, take off the heat and immediately add the 4 oz cream cheese, ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoon cocktail sauce, and the zest of ½ a lemon. Stir with a silicone or wooden spatula, incorporating the ingredients together, using the residual heat to melt the cream cheese and cheddar.
Once the cheeses have melted and the ingredients have come together, stir in the crab meat and lemon zest.
Spoon about 1 teaspoon onto each slice of cocktail rye bread, using the back of the spoon to spread it from end to end.
Bake the toasts for 12-14 minutes, until the cheesy crab topping begins to bubble and the edges of the cocktail rye have toasted.
Once baked, place the tray on a cooling rack and sprinkle the chopped chives over the top. Let the toasts cool for 5 minutes or until easily handled. Move to a serving platter and enjoy!
