Why You’ll Love Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados Recipe
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Light, fresh flavors that balance creamy avocado with zesty crab salad.
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No cooking required for the salad — quick prep.
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Versatile: great for lunch, dinner, or party appetizers.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
For the crab salad:
1 pound cooked crab meat
½ red onion, finely chopped
½ red bell pepper, finely diced
½ green bell pepper, finely diced
½ cucumber, finely diced
4 radishes, finely diced
Juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
For the stuffed avocados:
4–5 ripe but firm avocados
½ lime
To garnish:
Lettuce or salad greens
Cilantro leaves, chopped green onions or chives
Radishes
Directions
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In a bowl combine the cooked crab meat with the chopped onions, bell peppers, cucumber, radishes, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, salt and pepper. Mix gently to combine.
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Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits and peel if desired. Sprinkle each half with a little lime (or lemon) juice to slow browning.
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Spoon the crab salad into the hollow center of each avocado half.
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Arrange on a platter over lettuce or greens, then add any extra garnishes like chopped chives, cilantro, or radish slices. Serve right away.
Servings and timing
Serves: about 8–10 as an appetizer, or 4–5 as an entrée-sized salad.
Prep time: about 30 minutes.
Total time: about 30 minutes.
Variations
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Add heat: Include diced jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce in the crab salad.
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Creamier texture: Stir in a spoonful of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt for extra richness.
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Different seafood: Substitute lump crab with shrimp or chopped lobster.
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Citrus twist: Use lemon instead of lime for a slightly different tang.
Storage/Reheating
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Crab salad: Store leftover crab salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
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Avocados: To prevent browning, squeeze lime or lemon over cut avocados and press plastic wrap onto the surface. Best eaten fresh; assembled stuffed avocados are not ideal for long storage.
FAQs
How do I pick ripe avocados?
Choose avocados that yield slightly to gentle pressure but aren’t overly soft or mushy.
Can I use canned crab meat?
Yes, well-drained canned crab meat works fine if fresh isn’t available.
Can I make the crab salad ahead of time?
Yes, make the crab salad several hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, it’s naturally gluten-free as written.
What type of crab meat should I use?
Fresh lump or Dungeness crab meat are great choices for flavor and texture.
Can I add mayo to the crab salad?
Yes, a bit of mayo can make the salad creamier if you prefer.
Can this be a main course?
Yes, when served with greens or as larger portions it makes a satisfying main dish.
How to keep avocados from browning?
Brush cut surfaces with lime or lemon juice and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
Can I substitute another citrus?
Lemon juice can be used instead of lime for similar brightness.
Is this suitable for meal prep?
Prepare the crab salad ahead, but assemble into avocados just before serving for best texture.
Conclusion
Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados are a fresh, vibrant dish that’s simple to prepare yet impressive to serve. With a bright crab salad nestled into creamy avocados, it’s an excellent choice for a light meal, appetizer, or entertaining. Enjoy this versatile recipe any time you want something quick, healthy, and flavorful.
Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
These crab salad stuffed avocados are a fresh and delicious appetizer or light meal, combining creamy avocados with a flavorful crab salad mixture made with red onions, bell peppers, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1/2 to 1 lb cooked crab meat (fresh or imitation)
- 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1–2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Hot sauce or diced hot peppers, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the crab meat, diced red onion, diced red bell pepper, and chopped cilantro.
- Add the lime juice and olive oil to the mixture, and season with salt to taste. Add hot sauce or diced hot peppers if desired.
- Gently mix all the ingredients until well combined.
- Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. Scoop out a small amount of flesh to create more space for the filling.
- Fill each avocado half with the crab salad mixture.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh lump crab meat for the best flavor, but imitation crab works as a budget-friendly alternative.
- Adjust the lime juice and seasoning to taste.
- You can garnish with extra cilantro or a drizzle of hot sauce for added flavor and color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed avocado half
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
