Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
These Red Lobster copycat crabby cheese fries are the ultimate seafood appetizer. Crispy golden fries are smothered in creamy cheese sauce, garlic cream sauce and topped with tender crab for a bold, indulgent dish. Inspired by the restaurant favorite, this easy copycat recipe turns simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing snack. Perfect for game day, parties, or a fun dinner side, these loaded fries are rich, cheesy, and packed with flavor.
If a satisfying, crowd pleasing appetizer is what you’re after, look no further than this Red Lobster crabby cheese fries recipe. With easy air fryer French fries, cheddar cheese sauce and tender crabmeat in a luscious garlic cream sauce, this one’s a keeper.
Air fryer French fries on their own are pretty irresistible. And with a crab fries cheese sauce drizzled over top, they’re even more so.
Top that off with a super decadent garlic cream sauce with tender lump crabmeat and you’ll have an unforgettable dish for your next get together or special meal at home.
Plus, the air fryer fries are made with less oil so they’re not packed with the usual amount of calories and fat.
We share our easy copycat crabby fries with a crab fries cheese sauce recipe.
Crabby cheese fries are a perfect game day appetizer on their own or with this amazing Red Lobster crab queso dip!
We love our trips to Red Lobster, but find ourselves with the need to stay at home more often.
That doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice though, of course, since this delicious copycat recipe is more than enough to be extremely satisfied at home.
Who doesn’t love to have seafood restaurant style food made at home with relative ease and for a reasonable price?
So when we can’t go out we stay in and recreate our favorites that are guaranteed to please! Check out these favorite Red Lobster Copycat Recipes.
You’ll be surprised at how easily you can make this. Give it a try!
Content in this Post
- Ingredients in Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
- Optional Variations – Lobster Cheese Fries
- Garlic Cream Sauce For Crab Fries Recipe
- Cheese Sauce For Crab Fries Recipe
- Why You'll Love Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
- Equipment Needed
- How To Make Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
- STEP 1 – Make the Air Fryer French Fries
- STEP 2 – Make The Crab Fries Cheese Sauce
- STEP 3 – Prepare the Garlic Cream Sauce With Crab
- STEP 4 – Assemble the Crabby Cheese Fries
- What To Serve With Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
- RED LOBSTER APPETIZERS:
- RED LOBSTER MAIN COURSES:
- RED LOBSTER SIDE DISHES:
- Preparation and Storage Tips For Crabby Cheese Fries
- Can You Use Homemade Canned Crab?
- More Easy Potato Dishes
- You'll Also Love
Ingredients in Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
There are a few basic ingredients that you may already have at home, plus some lump crabmeat that you’ll likely need to plan ahead for.
- Potatoes — Russet potatoes are preferred in this recipe although other types can be used.
- Oil — we like to use Avocado oil for air frying but you can use another oil if you prefer.
- Salt — Himalayan pink salt is our preference although any salt can be used.
- Seasoning — Old Bay or you can substitute Seasoned Salt if you don’t have Old Bay Seasoning.
- Cheese Sauce — Cheddar cheese sauce, you can use store bought or check out the ingredients and recipe below.
- Garlic Cream Sauce — see ingredients below for garlic cream sauce recipe.
- Crabmeat — fresh lump crabmeat or canned crabmeat. For best results, use the best quality crab you can find. We find that not all canned varieties are created equal, so it’s best to spend a few extra dollars here. Use about half of the crabmeat in the garlic cream sauce and reserve half (the best looking pieces) to garnish the dish.
- Parsley — some fresh, chopped parsley adds flavor and a lovely presentation to the dish.
Optional Variations – Lobster Cheese Fries
Prefer lobster fries? Just substitute bite sized pieces of lobster meat for the crabmeat to make Lobster Cheese Fries.
Garlic Cream Sauce For Crab Fries Recipe
- Butter — Salted or unsalted butter. If using salted, you may need to adjust or omit the additional salt.
- Flour — we use all purpose flour in this recipe.
- Garlic — we find that two cloves of garlic is a good amount in this recipe, but you can always add more or less to your preference.
- Cream — you can use heavy cream or half and half, and after cooking you may need to add a little milk if the mixture is too thick.
- Crab — canned (buy the best quality available) or fresh (cooked) lump crabmeat. Or you can even take the crabmeat from cooked crab legs. Just be sure to remove all of the shell and cartilage.
- Salt and Pepper — to taste
Cheese Sauce For Crab Fries Recipe
- Butter — Salted or unsalted butter can be used.
- Flour — All purpose flour
- Milk — we use whole milk in this recipe.
- Cheddar Cheese — shredded cheddar cheese from a block is recommended for the smoothest texture.
- Hot Sauce — optional – a little Frank’s Red Hot for an extra kick!
- Old Bay Seasoning — optional but recommended for that seafood restaurant inspired flavor.
Why You’ll Love Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries are easy to adapt for home when you use a simple recipe for air fryer French fries.
Not to mention, the fries are better for you when prepared this way as opposed to traditional deep frying.
If you have a deep fryer you can use that method for your fries if you prefer. The sauces are easy to whip up on the stove top and the addition of crab meat adds to the wow factor of this impressive appetizer.
Your guests will love the combination of French fries, cheese and garlic sauces with sweet crabmeat on top.
Plus, you can save a few bucks by dining in.
Equipment Needed
How To Make Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
It’s quite easy to make Red Lobster crabby cheese fries at home.
Essentially, the steps are to make the air fryer French fries, and while the French fries are cooking in the air fryer, make your cheese sauce and garlic cream sauce on the stove top.
Once fries and sauces are complete, just assemble and serve warm!
STEP 1 – Make the Air Fryer French Fries
First you’ll need to peel your potatoes. Then, you can cut them into matchsticks by hand or use a mandoline slicer on a thick setting (approx. thickness 1/2 inch).
We find that the fries turn out better in the air fryer when they are a little on the thicker side.
Next, you’ll add them to a mixing bowl with oil and seasoning (Old Bay or seasoned salt).
When they are well mixed with seasoning and oil, you can add them in batches to the air fryer.
Cook for 10 minutes, then turn the fries over with a spatula. Cook another 10 minutes.
Turn them again and finish with 5 more minutes of cooking.
Set aside and cover to keep warm. Add remaining fries and repeat the process.
Chef’s TIP: To save time, while the fries are in the air fryer is a perfect time to make the stove top sauces.
STEP 2 – Make The Crab Fries Cheese Sauce
In a small sauce pan on the stove top (on low to medium heat), add butter and melt.
Next add in the flour and whisk until smooth.
Add milk a little at a time and continue to whisk, keeping the mixture smooth.
When all of the milk is incorporated, use a cheese grater to grate the cheese. You can add in the cheese a handful at a time and mix until a smooth cheese sauce is obtained.
Remove from heat, set aside and cover to keep warm until ready.
STEP 3 – Prepare the Garlic Cream Sauce With Crab
Begin by melting the butter in a small or medium sauce pan on the stove top using low to medium heat.
Add the crushed garlic cloves and saute for a minute.
Add the flour and whisk until smooth.
Pour in the cream and heat until it reaches a boil. It will thicken and you can lower the heat after the sauce boils.
Add in the crabmeat. Season with salt and pepper.
Remove from heat and keep warm until ready to use.
STEP 4 – Assemble the Crabby Cheese Fries
When you’ve got your air fryer French fries done, as well as your two sauces, you are off to the races.
Place the fries onto a serving bowl or platter.
Next, ladle the cheese sauce over the fries. Similarly, go ahead and ladle the garlic cream sauce with crab over top!
Garnish with the reserved crab pieces and top with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley for a lovely presentation.
Now you’re ready to enjoy!
What To Serve With Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
Red Lobster crabby cheese fries are splendid as part of a game day menu and are the perfect starter with an epic homemade seafood dinner menu.
We especially love them with crab legs and crab based recipes as part of a homemade Red Lobster inspired Crab Fest.
RED LOBSTER APPETIZERS:
Serve crabby cheese fries with a variety of appetizers for the ultimate party menu. We love the following:
RED LOBSTER MAIN COURSES:
Treat yourself to a seafood restaurant style dinner at home with crabby cheese fries and any of these main dishes that are perfect anytime:
- Salmon New Orleans With Shrimp
- Pappardelle With Lobster
- Crab Alfredo Linguine
- Oven Baked Lobster Tails
- Maple Glazed Salmon
- Shrimp Scampi
RED LOBSTER SIDE DISHES:
Crabby cheese fries are the perfect appetizer for a seafood restaurant inspired dinner with any of these classic side dishes:
- Creamy Lobster Mashed Potatoes
- Lobster Mac and Cheese
- Roasted Asparagus
- Wild Rice Pilaf
- Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Garlic Green Beans
Preparation and Storage Tips For Crabby Cheese Fries
Crabby Cheese fries are best served immediately after air frying. After a while, the fries will lose their texture. Don’t worry, the dish will stay fresh for at least an hour or so and probably longer (although we’ve never had it last that long).
The sauces will need to be kept warm while waiting for the French fries to cook. Once the sauces cool, they become thicker and more difficult to pour.
You may need to reheat the sauces if they cool down, either on the stove top again or quickly in the microwave.
Plus, you may find you’ll need to add a little milk to make them pourable in the right consistency again.
The fries can be reheated in the oven, although for optimal flavor they are best enjoyed right when made.
Can You Use Homemade Canned Crab?
Yes! If you have an abundance of crabmeat during crab season you can definitely can your own crabmeat for crabby cheese fries and other recipes.
Here’s an article that explains the process of canning your own crab with a commercial pressure canner that is rated for canning meat and seafood.
The University of California posted an article about the crab canning process with a recipe.
More Easy Potato Dishes
- Roasted Potatoes
- Doner Kebab Poutine
- Dill Potatoes
- Doner Kebab Breakfast Skillet
- Creamy Lobster Baked Potatoes
- Creamy Lobster Mashed Potatoes
You’ll Also Love
You’re going to love this Red Lobster Crab Queso Dip that’s big on flavor with loads of crab and Pico de Gallo to put it over the top!
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Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries Recipe
Ingredients
For The Air Fryer French Fries
- 6 Potatoes, large size
- ¼ cup Oil, avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon Salt, we use Himalayan
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
For The Garlic Cream Sauce With Crab
For The Crab Fries Cheese Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 1 tablespoon Flour, all purpose
- ½ cup Milk, 2% or heavier
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning, optional
- ½ teaspoon Hot Sauce, optional, we use Frank's
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Instructions
For The Air Fryer Fries
- Peel potatoes and cut them into French fry strips. It's better to cut the fries a little thicker than too thin. Place the potato strips into a mixing bowl and add oil and Old Bay Seasoning. Optionally, you can add a teaspoon or so of salt. Mix well to ensure the fries are evenly coated with oil and seasoning.
- Transfer the potato strips to the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to run two batches of fries.Time Saving Tip: While the air fryer is running, you can prepare the garlic cream sauce and cheese sauce. To time it correct, make the garlic cream sauce after you turned over the fries the first time, and the cheese sauce after you turn over the fries the last time.
- Set the air fryer temperature to 350 °F and the timer to 10 minutes. After ten minutes have passed, carefully remove basket, turn the fries over and set the timer and cook fries for 10 additional minutes. (Reminder to make the garlic cream sauce now.)Once that is complete, turn the fries once again, set the timer and cook fries for 5-10 more minutes (depending on the thickness of the potato strips). (Reminder to make the cheese sauce now.)After the remaining time have passed, carefully remove the basket from the air fryer and transfer to a serving dish.
For The Crab Fries Garlic Cream Sauce
- In a small sauce pan, melt the butter. When the butter is melted, add the flour.
- Stir the flour until it is completely dissolved.
- Add the cream and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat once it boils.
- Add the salt, pepper and crab meat. Carefully stir to mix the ingredients. Set aside or pour into a bowl (to free up the sauce pan for the cheese sauce if you are reusing the pan).
For The Crab Fries Cheese Sauce
- In a small sauce pan, melt the butter. When the butter is melted, add the flour.
- Stir the flour until it is completely dissolved.
- Add the milk and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat once it boils.
- Add the Old Bay Seasoning, hot sauce and cheese and stir until the cheese is completely melted.
Assemble the Red Lobster Crabby Cheese Fries
- Place the fries onto a large serving platter. Sprinkle some salt over the fries. Drizzle the hot cheese sauce over the fries, then drizzle the garlic cream sauce over the fries. Garnish with the reserved crab meat and some finely chopped parsley. Serve while warm.
Nutrition
Note
This recipe is provided for informational purposes only. The above nutritional values are estimates and should only be used as a guide. Please use proper food safety practices, always use a food thermometer to ensure safe cooking temperature, and consult a professional if you have dietary restrictions or allergies.
