Crab Cakes are a New England classic, and I have always loved them. Of course, they are now off limits (ah breadcrumbs!). For a while, I had been thinking about making a gluten free version at home, and when I finally put my mind to it, they turned out great!
Like many of my recipes, this one came about because I was missing an old restaurant favorite from before my Celiac diagnosis. When recreating a recipe, I always aim to get all of the flavor and consistency of the original. In fact, I consider it the biggest compliment when people say they can’t tell something I made is gluten free. But the real advantage of making something from scratch is that you control what goes into it.
My Gluten Free Crab Cakes are not stingy with the crab meat (restaurants take note!). Fresh crab is wonderful, but if like me you are not up for cooking and cleaning a live crab, try using frozen crab meat. It is a very good alternative and worth seeking out. Of course, you can use canned if that is what you have available. Look for Fancy Lump Crab and be sure to check the ingredient label.
If you prep them in advance and refrigerate, you can have this entrée on the table in minutes!
Yield: 5-6 crab cakes (plan for 1 each as an appetizer or 2 as a main course)
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Ingredients:
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp. red bell pepper, minced
- 1 tsp. Canola oil
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp. gluten free mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. gluten free Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried onion flakes
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup mashed potato flakes
- 6 oz. Fancy Lump Crab meat (or use fresh, frozen or canned)
- 4 tbsp. gluten free seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. butter
- Lemon slices, optional for serving
- Fresh chives, optional for garnish

Preparation:
Chop the garlic and red bell pepper into fine mince. Sauté 2 minutes in 1 tsp. canola oil. Set aside and cool to room temperature.
Add the breadcrumbs to a shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, minced veggies, lemon juice and seasonings in a separate bowl. Add the potato flakes and whisk until smooth.
Fold in the crab meat and 2 tbsp. (half) of the breadcrumbs.
Using a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop out the mixture to form 5-6 crab cakes. Handle them gently and they should hold together (they will be wet). Carefully roll each crab cake in the remaining breadcrumbs to coat. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment and refrigerate for 1 hour. This will help retain their shape and hold together while cooking.
Heat a non-stick griddle or large skillet over medium low with 1 tbsp. butter and 1 tbsp. olive oil.
Cook the crab cakes for 5 minutes per side. To get that golden crust, don’t move the crab cakes around until it’s time to flip them over. Transfer to a baking sheet and put them in a 350º oven for a few more minutes to finish, then lower the heat and keep warm until serving.
Friends, they were so delicious! The recipe is easy enough, wouldn’t you say? A lovely appetizer to begin a meal or serve as a main course. Go on and give it a try, surprise your special someone or treat yourself.
Notes ♪♫ Several of my readers have mentioned that Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is not gluten free in Canada, as it contains malt vinegar. (In the US, it is made with distilled white vinegar and is gluten free). Always check labels!
Originally published 5/26/19, Updated and rephotographed 6/16/26





Dry the beef with paper towels, this helps with browning.
Place the beef cubes in a food safe plastic bag with 2 tbsp. rice flour and shake to coat.
Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a
Leave those caramelized brown bits in the bottom of the pan, they are full of flavor! Set the beef aside and keep warm.
Add more olive oil to the pan with the onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Cook for several minutes, stirring frequently, then clear a space in the center for the tomato paste.
Toast the tomato paste for a minute, then stir it into the vegetables. Add the wine, using a spatula to scrape up those browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking until the wine is reduced by half.
Stir in the beef broth and crushed tomatoes, cover and simmer on lowest heat for 2-½ hours.
Stir the sauce frequently to be sure it isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan. A
A sauce like this deserves an extra special pasta. Check out these Gluten Free Paccheri Rigati – OMG what a find! I got them from 
Variations:











The preparation begins with a coating of cornstarch and egg. The wings are then quickly pan fried and drizzled with a sticky sweet syrup and baked in the oven. Yes, it is a bit labor intensive but oh my goodness! I could not stop eating them!
Whisk together the sugar, mirin, ketchup, tamari and chicken broth in a small saucepan. Add a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking frequently then cover and set aside.
Set up 2 breading trays, one with the cornstarch and the other with 2 beaten eggs. Heat a large nonstick skillet with enough canola oil to coat the surface completely.
Dredge the wings in the cornstarch, then dip in the beaten eggs. Add to the hot skillet, leaving space in between (fry them in batches if needed). Turn the wings to get a crust on all sides.

Mist a casserole dish with cooking spray. As the wings finish cooking, arrange them in a single layer. Preheat the oven to 350º.
Spoon the sauce evenly over the wings and bake for one hour, turning halfway through.
Serve hot, spooning a little of the pan juices over the wings.


Ingredients:
After the bacon was poached and drained, I browned it in a 
I added all of the wine, stock, tomato paste and seasonings. Honestly, there was a bit too much liquid and I would cut back next time. Julia did not add carrots in her recipe, but I went rogue and put a few in. Lid on, time to simmer!


I transferred all of the liquid from the sauté pan into a stock pot and whisked in the beurre manié until it was smooth and silky.
I added the onions and mushrooms to the sauce, then poured it over the chicken, bringing to a simmer one last time before serving.
There it is. So many little steps to develop the flavor profile of this famous dish. Yes, it was delicious. Yes, I will take a few shortcuts next time, but I do intend to make this again.
When the pan is hot, add the chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes per side, turning once.

I served it with
Notes ♪♫







The recipe is easy and straightforward; made with common ingredients. Fresh tomatoes and basil are a must here (don’t use canned!). If you grow your own or can get them from a farmer’s market that would be great. But for everyone else, plum tomatoes from the grocery store are the best choice.
Preparation:
Place the diced tomatoes in a small bowl, and toss with 1 tbsp. olive oil, the balsamic vinegar, sea salt and ground pepper. Cut one large basil leaf into thin strips (chiffonade) and stir into the tomatoes. Let the mixture stand for about 30 minutes at room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 350º. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray and arrange the cod with space in between. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.
Top each piece of fish with 1 tbsp. of breadcrumbs, then divide the diced tomatoes evenly over each piece.
Bake for 25 minutes. That’s it! Plate with a garnish of fresh basil leaves.
I served my Bruschetta Cod over risotto, and it was SO delicious. If you don’t know how to make risotto, jump over to
Notes ♪♫



Continue cooking with the cover off, allowing the liquid to bubble up and thicken.
Chicken is finished when it reaches an internal temperature of 165º. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle some of the pan juices over the top.


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Spoon sauce over the veal shanks and garnish with Italian parsley.