Step 1

If necessary, drain your crabmeat well. If it is very lumpy, break the larger pieces down gently with a fork, or your fingers. Note: while you would never do this for crab cakes, we need to break up any lumps of crab for these small balls.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, put the mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, hot sauce, Old Bay, and salt and whisk together until well combined.

Step 3

Add the crab and breadcrumbs to the bowl and gently fold until everything is evenly incorporated. It will be quite wet and loose.

Step 4

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but you can leave it longer if you like.

Step 5

Preheat oven to 450F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Put the coating crumbs in a bowl and melt the butter.

Step 6

Use a small scoop to portion out rounded tablespoons of the crab mixture and set them on the baking sheets. If your mixture is so wet that you cannot form it into little mounds, then go back and add a bit more crumbs to firm it up. You want a very moist mixture but it should be able to hold together loosely. When you are finished scooping all the crab, go back and roll each little mound into a round ball.

Step 7

Roll each ball in the crumbs to coat thoroughly. I like to use my left hand to move the wet crab balls and keep my right hand dry for coating them with the crumbs. You can re-roll the balls round as you coat them.

Step 8

Place back on the baking sheets. Use a pastry brush to dab some melted butter over the top of each ball.

Step 9

Bake for 15 minutes in the center of the oven. You may need to bake them in batches for best results. If your oven runs hot you may want to turn down the temperature by 25F or so.

Step 10

Serve the crab balls hot, with sauce and lemon wedges. They will be soft and delicate, so move them carefully.