This Chinese Buffet Crab Casserole is low-key one of the best dishes at the Chinese buffet. Itโs not what most people would consider โChinese food,โ but it's popular everywhere for a reason. Inside the casserole is a delicious combination of imitation crab, celery, onions, sour cream, and mayonnaise. The secret is getting the seasoning right.
Can't get enough of buffet food? Try my crispy coconut shrimp next!
I've been on a rampage posting various casserole dishes lately, and since some of my most popular recipes on this blog are Chinese buffet recipes, I felt like it was time to finally post my crab casserole!
In all honesty, I have no idea why this is even a dish at Chinese buffets to begin with. Chinese people do not really eat imitation crab, much less casseroles! But so many Chinese buffets seem to have it, and everyone always seems to enjoy it. I'm super curious about how it came to be.
I did some Googling but I wasn't able to find any answers. My guess is that the Chinese immigrants who ran buffet restaurants realized that Americans liked casseroles, so they invented one of their own. Real crab is expensive, so they decided to use imitation crab!
Key Ingredients
Imitation crab: You can buy this in the seafood section at most grocery stores. There are two types you can get: sticks or flakes. I prefer the flakes because they are the perfect size for eating, and we don't need to chop them up further.
Soy sauce: This is where the Chinese influence is added to the casserole. If you use low-sodium soy sauce, you might need to add a little more salt. Since imitation crab is already cooked, you can taste and adjust the seasoning before you bake it.
Sour cream and mayonnaise: These provide ample creaminess to the dish. I saw some other recipes add cream cheese, but I personally do not like it with cream cheese.
How to make it
STEP 1: In a large skillet with butter, cook the onions and celery until they are softened.
STEP 2: Transfer the onion and celery mixture to a large bowl. Mix it with the remaining ingredients except for the cheddar cheese and ยฝ cup of mozzarella.
STEP 3: Bake until the cheese is melted and the sides are bubbling up. Enjoy
๐ Recipe
Chinese Buffet Crab Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion (halved and thinly sliced)
- 3 stalks celery (diced)
- 1 pound imitation crab meat (flakes preferred; if you use sticks, chop them up beforehand)
- ยผ cup sour cream
- ยฝ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ยพ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375ยฐF.
- In a large nonstick pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and celery and cook for 5-6 minutes until softened. Transfer to a large bowl.
- To the bowl, add the imitation crab, sour cream, mayonnaise, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, and ยฝ cup of the mozzarella cheese. Mix well, then transfer to a 2 qt casserole dish.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned and the sides are bubbly. Enjoy!
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