Crab Imperial Stuffed Butternut Squash

Winter is peak comfort-food season, and few things warm you up like rich, sweet blue crab baked into golden, decadent Crab Imperial. While Maryland blue crab season winds down at the end of November, winter is the perfect time to enjoy premium pre-picked jumbo lump crab meat—expertly flash frozen at peak freshness, so you can enjoy premium blue crab all winter long.

It also happens to be the height of winter squash season, making this pairing of roasted butternut squash and creamy Crab Imperial recipe especially fitting. The combination is a cozy, indulgent, and wonderfully seasonal seafood stuffed butternut squash—exactly what winter cooking is all about.

What is Crab Imperial?

Crab Imperial is a classic mid-Atlantic dish made by folding tender jumbo lump crab meat into a rich mixture of mayonnaise, egg, and savory seasonings (your “imperial sauce”). When baked, it becomes perfectly golden, creamy, and lightly sweet from the blue crab.

It’s a timeless Eastern Shore favorite—simple to prepare, visually impressive, and absolutely delicious.

Crab Imperial Stuffed Butternut Squash

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Servings

4-6

Make this creamy Crab Imperial Stuffed Butternut Squash—an easy winter seafood recipe made with jumbo lump blue crab, roasted squash, and simple pantry seasonings.

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Whatsapp

Ingredients

Butternut Squash

• 2 medium butternut squashes, halved lengthwise and seeds removed

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika
• Pinch nutmeg
• Pinch dried sage

Crab Imperial

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 pound Cameron’s Jumbo Lump Crab Meat

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment.
2. Brush the squash with olive oil and season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, nutmeg, and sage.
3. Place the squash halves cut-side down on the sheet and roast for 30 minutes, or until beginning to soften.
4. Meanwhile, make the Crab Imperial: whisk together the mayonnaise, Old Bay, Worcestershire, mustard, lemon juice, egg, and parsley. Add the crab gently, folding to keep the lumps intact.
5. Remove the squash from the oven and flip them cut-side up. Spoon the Crab Imperial into the seed cavities, mounding slightly.
6. Return to the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
7. Switch the oven to low broil and broil for 2–3 minutes, or until the top is golden and the squash is fully tender.
8. Plate and serve warm.

Perfect Side Dishes for Winter

To round out this comforting dish, pair your seafood stuffed butternut squash with seasonal winter sides such as:

• Sautéed garlicky greens (spinach, kale, or Swiss chard)
• A bright winter salad featuring citrus, dried cranberries, nuts, or pomegranate
• Roasted Brussels sprouts or carrots for extra warmth and sweetness

These fresh, crisp flavors contrast beautifully with the creamy, rich Crab Imperial.

Winter Comfort Starts with Authentic Maryland Blue Crab

At Cameron’s, we don’t take shortcuts with our crabs. We use only premium Chesapeake Bay blue crab for our crab cakes, jumbo lump crab meat, and whole crabs. Everything is packed the same day it ships and delivered fast—so you can spend more time enjoying cozy winter meals and less time shopping.

Seafood comfort food doesn’t get more convenient than that.

Cooking Something Delicious This Winter?

We’d love to see your creations! Share your winter crab dishes with us on Instagram or Facebook and tag @cameronsseafoodonline.