Name: Vegan Crab Cakes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 15 ounce can hearts of palm, drained and rinsed; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 large red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced; 1/2 medium sweet onion, finely diced; 3 tablespoons vegan mayo (I use Follow Your Heart brand); 1 teaspoon dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (check ingredients to ensure vegan); 1/4 cup fresh chopped dill or parsley; vegetable oil, for frying; 1/2 cup vegan mayo; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish; salt + pepper, to taste

Made with hearts of palm and chickpeas, these flaky Vegan Crab Cakes take minutes to cook in a skillet, air fryer, or oven. Top them with lemon aioli for an explosion of flavor!

white plate with fried vegan crab cakes next to white dipping sauce and lemon wedges

Start your dinner party with these meaty Vegan Crab Cakes. Herbaceous and moist, these tender and flaky patties look and taste just like the real thing. The best part? The patties come together and cook in no time at all!

Vegan crab cakes with hearts of palm and chickpeas are almost scary similar to traditional crab cakes. Hearts of palm come from the center of the cabbage palm tree and shred easily, resembling the look and feel of white crab meat. They come in a can just like artichokes and are surprisingly easy to find at most grocery stores! Flavored with Old Bay seasoning, onions, peppers, mayonnaise, dill, and dijon, you won’t even realize this appetizer (or meal!) is vegan.

This special treat is easy to make, freezer friendly, and a perfect appetizer for special occasions. Serve them with a vegan “fishy” feast of Vegan Tuna Sandwiches and Vegan Fish Sticks next to Tartar Sauce for dipping. Who needs real seafood when we have these easy alternatives?

fork cutting into a sauce-covered vegan crab cake on a white plate

How to make fried vegan crab cakes

Pulse the chickpeas and hearts of palm together in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Saute the onion and red bell pepper in a skillet on the stove until soft. Add them into the bowl with the chickpeas and hearts of palm.
Mix the crab cake “meat” together with the rest of the ingredients. Use your hands to form 8 half-inch thick patties.
Fry a few patties at a time in a large skillet with a thin layer of oil until golden brown on both sides. Serve with the homemade lemon aioli and enjoy!

4 images showing the steps to making vegan crab cakes

Air fryer instructions

Once the patties are formed, preheat your air fryer to 400ºF. Air fry in batches for about 20 to 25 minutes, flipping each one halfway through. It also helps to spray the air fryer basket with oil as well as the tops of the crab cakes. The air fryer version won’t be as crispy or golden brown, but they still taste darn good!

Baking instructions

Form the patties and brush each one with a little olive oil or spray with olive oil. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 400ºF for about 20 minutes, flipping each one halfway through. Baked crab cakes aren’t as crispy but still taste moist and delicious.

round orange vegan crab cakes on parchment paper

Variations

Instead of hearts of palm – Substitute a can of artichoke hearts instead. I tried this and they were really yummy, but the artichoke flavor definitely came through.
Don’t have sweet pickle relish? Add some finely chopped dill pickles into the aioli instead.
Change the sauce – These crab cakes would be delicious served with my easy Vegan Tartar Sauce!

vegan crab cakes frying in a cast iron skillet

How to store

Fried crab cakes are best served fresh but the leftovers can be stored for later. Just keep the cooked patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer, stove top or oven to crisp them back up.

close up on a pile of fried crab cakes on a white plate

Frequently asked questions

Can they be made gluten free? Yes! Just swap the panko breadcrumbs for gluten free breadcrumbs instead.
Are they freezer friendly? Very much so! All you have to do is form the patties, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze. Once the patties are frozen solid, transfer them to a sealed container or freezer safe bag. Let them thaw in the fridge before cooking.
How do you reheat vegan crab cakes? Maintain their crispiness by reheating the crab cakes in a skillet with a little oil or in an oven/toaster oven/air fryer until warmed through.

2 crab cakes on top of each other topped with white sauce

Want more vegan appetizers?

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