Chinese Buffet Crab Casserole is creamy, crunchy and cheesy! Crab Casserole is my favorite item on the buffet – along with the pink chicken on a stick – and the donuts!
What You Will ❤️ About Crab Casserole
- Creamy – the combo of mayo, sour cream and cream cheese is delicious
- Crunchy – I love the celery and green onion – it adds texture to the casserole
- Cheesy – I would never have thought to add cheese but I’m so glad they did!
Chinese Buffet Crab Casserole Recipe Ingredients
Lots of pantry ingredients here – and I have Imitation crab meat on hand because it’s such a low-cal snack! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Imitation Crab Meat – Look for FLAKE style or CHUNK imitation crab meat.
- Cheeses: Mozzarella & Colby Jack – you can also use cheddar cheese – I like the mild flavor of the cojack
- Dairy: Sour Cream & Cream Cheese – if you’re out of cream cheese, just double up the sour cream. I would NOT go the other way – the half package cream cheese would be too overwhelming to the taste
- Veggies: Celery & Green Onions – these add a nice crunch
- Mayonnaise – any mayo will do but I like Duke’s
- Worcestershire sauce
- Lemon juice
- Garlic Salt – you could also use garlic powder or onion powder
Recipe Variations
- Real Crab – you could get fancy and use real crab meat but it might be overwhelmed by the cheese and cream cheese – so you might want to use a little less of those. It would be a lot pricier casserole as well and the Chinese buffet always uses imitation. 😉
- Shrimp – cooked shrimp would be a good swap for the imitation crab meat as well
- Veggies – you could also add in finely diced green pepper
How to make Chinese Buffet Crab Casserole
This is an easy casserole to make – stir it all together and bake! So delicious!
- Preheat the oven to 325º F.
- In a large mixing bowl – combine crab meat, HALF of the mozzarella cheese, HALF of the Colby jack cheese, celery, sour cream, green onions, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, lemon juice and a pinch garlic salt. Using a spatula, stir well to combine.
- Spoon into a greased casserole dish (8×8 or round) and top with the remaining cheese.
- Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
What is imitation crab meat?
Imitation crab meat is made from minced white fish, like pollock. It’s pressed into shapes that LOOSELY resemble crab legs. I really don’t think it tastes like real crab meat but I do like it! Dipping in cocktail sauce is a very healthy snack!
How do you store & reheat leftover crab casserole?
Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass storage ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Can you freeze Imitation Crab Casserole?
I wouldn’t put this in the freezer. There’s a lot of dairy in this – and it’s much better fresh. You can reheat it though! Since I’m by myself – I actually had this for dinner a couple nights in one week!
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More Chinese Restaurant Recipes
- Pink Chicken on a Stick
- Chinese Buffet Donuts in the Air Fryer
- Benihana Chicken Fried Rice
- Beef & Broccoli
- Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
Seafood & Crab Recipes
Get Heather’s NEW cookbook – Air Fryer Cooking for One today!
Chinese Buffet Crab Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 oz imitation crab meat flake or chunk
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup colby jack cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup celery diced (2 small stalks)
- 1/4 cup green onions thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 oz cream cheese softened, 1/4 package
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325º F.
- In a large mixing bowl – combine crab meat, HALF of the mozzarella cheese, HALF of the Colby jack cheese, celery, sour cream, white ends from green onions, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, lemon zest and juice and a pinch garlic salt. Using a spatula, stir well to combine.8 oz imitation crab meat, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup colby jack cheese, 1/2 cup celery, 1/4 cup green onions, 1/4 cup sour cream, 2 oz cream cheese, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp Lemon juice, 1/4 tsp garlic salt
- Spoon into a greased casserole dish (8×8 or round) and top with the remaining cheese.1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup colby jack cheese
- Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
- Sprinkle with green ends of green onions and serve.1/4 cup green onions
Unknown says
Thank you for this recipe
I'm try to make it today.
Ali @ Jamhands.net says
I think there is a typo in the recipe. It calls for lemon zest in the ingredient list, but lemon juice in the directions. Just wanted to let you know 🙂 Ty for the recipe!
Food Hussy says
Thanks – fixed!
Steven Waterfield says
Great recipe Thx!
Jennifer says
I saw this at one our China buffets in our town. I tried some of it and liked it. So today I went on GOOGLE to find the recipe and I found yours. Thank you! So easy to make! Making it for my Husband and I dinner tonight. Going to serve it with rice. YUM!
Christa says
Was searching for crab recipes to try and I found your casserole. Made it today and loved it! I also usually eat imitation crab cold right out of the fridge so this was the first time I have eaten it warm.
Kate says
I found there to be too much Worcestershire sauce and I added a little too much cream cheese. But hey I definitely can adjust it to my taste.
LAMAR BROOKS says
Leave out cream cheese not actually needed. taste of cream cheese to over whelming