Slow Cooker Creamy Crab Soup

Slow cooker creamy crab soup is an easy yet flavorful soup that will impress any crowd. This easy seafood soup recipe can be served as a starter or main course. Inspired by Maryland crab soup, this creamy version can also be made in the Instant Pot. 

Ingredients For Creamy Crab Soup

• Crab Meat
• Old Bay Seasoning
• Crushed or Diced Tomatoes 
• Beef Broth
• Whipping Cream
• Carrots
• Corn
• Frozen lima beans (or peas)
• Onion

How To Make Creamy Crab Soup 

Slow Cooker

1. Add the tomatoes, beef broth, carrots, onion, corn, and Old Bay seasoning to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours, LOW 4-6.
3. Stir in the whipping cream and frozen lima beans. Fold in the crab meat. Cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Instant Pot

1. Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Add onion & carrots and cook for a 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn off the Instant Pot.
2. Add the broth and water and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, corn, and Old Bay seasoning. 
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook set time for 12 minutes. When cooking time is complete, carefully quick release the pressure. 
5. Stir in the whipping cream & frozen lima beans. Fold in the crab meat. Cook on the warm setting for approximately 5 to 10.

What Type Of Crab To Use

I used a combination of lump crab meat & claw crab meat that I bought in a jar. Canned and of course fresh crab meat also work well with this recipe. I do not suggest using crab claws other than as a garnish like I did here in the pictures.   

Southern Seafood Recipes

• Baked Shrimp Boil Casserole

• Gumbo

• Cajun Shrimp Boil

• Low-Country Boil 

Adding Veggies

Get creative with your vegetables. While this soup is inspired by Maryland crab soup, it’s not a traditional version. Use your preferred veggies whether it’s carrots, corn, lima beans, peas, green beans, zucchini, etc. 

FAQs & Tips

• Store leftover creamy crab soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. 
• To make this dairy-free, simple omit the cream or substitute full-fat coconut milk. 
•  Make this a hearty soup by adding up to 8 ounces of chopped potatoes. 
• Don’t have crushed tomatoes? Use diced tomatoes instead. 
• To make this paleo & Whole30 compatible, omit the corn and lima beans and use coconut-milk in place of the whipping cream. 
• I used my 3.5-quart slow cooker for this recipe. 

Seafood Soups & Stew 

• Italian Fish Stew

• Seafood Cioppino

• Seafood Ramen

• Salmon Stew

Slow Cooker Creamy Crab Soup

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Slow cooker creamy crab soup is an easy yet flavorful soup that will impress any crowd. This easy seafood soup recipe can be served as a starter or main course. Inspired by Maryland crab soup, this creamy version can also be made in the Instant Pot.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound crab meat
• 15 ounces crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup frozen lima beans (or peas)
• 1/3 cup onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 tablespoon oil (for Instant Pot)

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Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. Add the tomatoes, beef broth, carrots, onion, corn, and Old Bay seasonings to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours, LOW 4-6.
3. Stir in the whipping cream & frozen lima beans. Fold in the crab meat. Cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Instant Pot

1. Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Add onion & carrots and cook for a 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn off the Instant Pot.
2. Add the broth and water and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, corn, and Old Bay seasoning.
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook set time for 12 minutes. When cooking time is complete, carefully quick release the pressure.
5. Stir in the whipping cream & frozen lima beans. Fold in the crab meat. Cook on the warm setting for approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

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