Farmers’ market mix of hearty vegetables, smell of Old Bay seasoning, and lumps of fresh crab meat. This bowl of Maryland crab soup practically cooks itself and is a must in the summertime!

overhead Maryland Crab Soup in a bowl. this recipe
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Love crab recipes? Try our Chicken Chesapeake paired with Old Bay fries.

We are in the final stretch of lazy summer days before school, sports, and everything else that the fall season has to offer.

In the fall, we tend to do more easy, quick, and one-pot meals. Also more soups than usual.  

Maryland crab soup is a delicious summertime favorite around our house but also a perfect bowl of comfort food for the early days of fall.

It’s a tomato-based soup that is loaded with farmers’ market-style veggies, like corn, green beans, carrots, potatoes, and peas. 

old bay seasoning in a box.

Why Crab Soup is So Good

What makes this soup so special though is the lump crab meat and Old Bay seasoning. Lump crab meat is like the gem of this soup. You definitely want the fresh stuff. 

I usually get fresh crab meat at my local grocery store or the seafood market. I do not recommend canned crab meat.

Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can always steam fresh crabs and pick the meat yourself. Around my neck of the woods, that’s a common practice. And don’t throw away those crab shells, make crab stock out of them!

Secret Ingredient

Then the Old Bay Seasoning – a must in Maryland crab soup! It’s loaded with different spices, like mustard, paprika, crushed red pepper, and ginger, just to name a few.

It’s got a really good kick to it and is delicious in any type of seafood, but especially crab soup. If you can’t find Old Bay at your local store, look for J.O. Crab Seasoning. It’s an alternative to Old Bay.

Ingredients

ingredients for maryland crab soup recipe.
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • Corn
  • Green beans
  • Lima beans
  • Green peas
  • Parsley
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Old Bay seasoning
  • Ground mustard
  • Bay leaves
  • Canned whole tomatoes
  • Water
  • Potatoes
  • Crab meat

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Maryland Crab Soup

The soup comes together fairly easily. You’ll be adding ingredients gradually to the same pot and then simmering until tender. 

  • Step 1: Cook the carrots, celery, and onions in a heavy-duty dutch-oven or soup pot until soft. About 5-8 minutes.
  • Step 2: Add corn kernels, green beans, lima beans, green peas, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, dry mustard, bay leaves, canned tomatoes, and water. You can substitute water with beef broth. To taste, season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
  • Step 3: Stir in crab meat and potatoes. Simmer partially covered for 30-40 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
  • Step 4: Discard bay leaves. Taste the soup for salt and pepper before removing off heat. 

Maryland crab soup is delicious with oyster or saltine crackers. For extra heat, add a sprinkle of Old Bay or red pepper flakes before serving.

how to make crab soup - step by step.

Storing Crab Soup

  • In the Refrigerator – leftover soup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat over a gentle heat until warmed through.

You can also freeze crab soup for up to 3 months. Make sure the soup is completely cooled before sticking it in the freezer though.

  • In the Freezer – ladle cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, such as these. Leave about an inch of space between the soup and the container’s lid when filling it. That will give the liquid enough room to expand.

When ready to eat, reheat the soup over medium heat until warmed through. You can thaw the soup overnight in the refrigerator first or reheat the soup frozen. Either way works. Just make sure to use gentle heat when reheating the soup. 

side view crab soup in a bowl.

What to Serve with Maryland Crab Soup

Most of the time simple saltine or oyster crackers are all you need to serve this veggie-filled crab soup.

But if you’re looking to turn this bowl of soup into a well-rounded dinner, here are some options:

Recipe FAQs

What is Maryland crab soup made of?

It’s a tomato-based soup made with farmers’ market-style veggies, like corn, green beans, carrots, potatoes, peas, and fresh lump crab meat.

Can you freeze Maryland crab soup?

You can freeze cooled crab soup for up to 3 months. Leave about an inch of space between the soup and the container’s lid when filling it. That will give the liquid enough room to expand.

Can I substitute lump crab meat for something else?

To guarantee the taste of this soup, I do not recommend substituting lump crab meat with anything else.

Can I use canned crab meat for this recipe?

It’s best to use fresh lump crab meat and avoid using canned crab.

Video: How to Make Maryland Crab Soup

You May Also Like

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Crab and Corn Chowder

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Crab Bites with Spicy Aioli

If you try Maryland Crab Soup, please leave a star rating and let me know how you like the recipe in the comments below.

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Maryland Crab Soup - hearty farmers market vegetables, lumps of crab meat, and spicy Old Bay seasoning | littlebroken.com @littlebroken

Maryland Crab Soup Recipe

★★★★★ 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Farmers market mix of hearty vegetables, smell of Old Bay seasoning, and lumps of fresh crab meat. This bowl of Maryland crab soup practically cooks itself and is a must in the summer time!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped (1 1/2 cups)
  • 5 ribs celery, chopped (2 cups)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh corn (from about 2 ears)
  • 1/2 pound fresh green beans, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup frozen lima beans
  • 1/2 cup frozen green peas
  • 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, chopped (1 cup)
  • 4 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. Old Bay seasoning, plus extra for serving
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. ground mustard
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 (28 oz.) can whole tomatoes
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 medium (3/4 pound) russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 lb. fresh lump crab meat
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • Oyster crackers or saltine crackers, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a 6-quart heavy duty stock pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion; sauté for 5-8 minutes or until slightly soft.
  2. Add corn, green beans, lima beans, green peas, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, ground mustard, bay leaves, canned tomatoes, and water. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Raise the heat to high and bring to a gentle boil.
  3. Add crab meat and potatoes. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, for 30-40 minutes or until the vegetable are completely tender. Use a large spoon to break down any large chunks of tomatoes.
  4. Discard bay leaves. Taste for salt and pepper. Serve with oyster crackers and sprinkle of Old Bay, if desired.

Notes

  • Crab Meat: I recommend good-quality fresh crab meat for this recipe. Do not use canned or any type of imitation meat.
  • Old Bay Seasoning: Found near the seafood department at most supermarkets. It can also be ordered online or made from scratch.
  • Leftovers: Leftover soup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 252
  • Sugar: 7.4 g
  • Sodium: 574.2 mg
  • Fat: 5.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32.5 g
  • Protein: 20.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 40.2 mg

Keywords: seafood, summer, crab soup