I Tried the Popular Air Fryer Crab Bites and Now I’m a Believer

If there’s one thing social media has taught us, it’s that you can cook just about anything in an air fryer. The latest delicacies to go viral on TikTok are air fryer crab bites—imitation crab meat diced, coated in butter and seasonings, and air-fried until crispy and golden.

Not the biggest seafood fan, it had been years since I’d eaten imitation crab when this unique air fryer delight started showing up in my TikTok feed. Still, the concept seemed so strange to me that I wanted to try it out.

What Are Air Fryer Crab Bites?

Air fryer crab bites aren’t technically crab—they’re leg-style imitation crab meat, a blend of white fish and starches that mimics the appearance and flavor of crab. While imitation crab meat also comes in flake form, it’s the legs that work for this particular recipe. Simply chop imitation crab legs into one-inch cubes and toss them with 4 tablespoons of melted butter and seasonings of your choice. (A native Marylander, I chose Old Bay seafood seasoning, but some TikTokers use Cajun seasoning, too.)

Add the buttery, seasoned imitation crab to your air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, flipping the bites once about halfway through cooking. When they’re ready, serve the crispy, golden brown crab bites with more melted butter for dipping.

How Do Air Fryer Crab Bites Taste?

I was skeptical that I’d enjoy air fryer crab bites, but I chopped up some imitation crab legs in my own kitchen, tossed them in melted butter and Old Bay, and put them into my air fryer. I was worried there’d be a powerful fishy smell in my house while they cooked, but the smell was the opposite—the golden, buttery fragrance made my stomach growl.

The taste? Truly decadent. The imitation crab definitely tasted like crab meat, and the buttery, golden air-fried exterior was delicious. While I intended to try just one or two bites and let my husband eat the rest, he and I both stayed put in the kitchecn, dipping crispy crab bites in melted butter until the plate was clean. Neither of us could believe we enjoyed them so much, and we both agreed we’ll be making them again, testing out different variations along the way, like using different seasonings or trying them with a flavorful compound butter.

And I’m not alone. Nearly 50 million TikTokers have viewed videos about the air fryer crab bites trend. The best part? Considering the inexpensive price of imitation crab meat (I paid about $3 for an eight-ounce package) this recipe is definitely one you could make again and again as a snack.