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Homestyle Maryland Crab Soup

Homestyle Maryland Crab Soup

Authentic Homestyle Maryland Crab Soup with Old Bay, veggies, tomatoes, and lump crab
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 5 bowls
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 360
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

For the Soup Base
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion — chopped
  • 2 carrots — sliced
  • 2 celery stalks — chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic — minced
  • 1 cup diced potatoes
  • 1 cup chopped green beans
  • ¾ cup peas
  • ¾ cup corn
  • 1 can 14–15 oz diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups beef broth yes… beef — very Maryland
  • 1 –2 cups water adjust thickness + vibe
  • Beef broth might sound unusual if you’re used to seafood soups… but trust me — it gives depth and backbone without heaviness.
The Star — Crab
  • 1 lb lump crab meat blue crab if possible
  • Take a moment… pick out stray shells.
  • Nobody wants a crunchy surprise mid-bite. Been there. Not fun.
Seasoning — Where The Character Lives
  • 2 –3 tsp Old Bay seasoning
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • small splash Worcestershire sauce
  • salt — to taste
  • optional tiny dash hot sauce

Equipment

  • one large heavy pot or Dutch oven
  • A cutting board
  • a “good enough” knife
  • A wooden spoon
  • A ladle
  • Measuring cups/spoons
  • a small bowl for seasoning mix
  • a long tasting spoon
  • kitchen towel you keep wiping your hands on
  • a playlist humming in the background

Method
 

Step 1 — Build That Aromatic Base
  1. Add:
  2. onion
  3. carrot
  4. celery
  5. Let them soften.
  6. Not fully wilted. Just relaxed.
  7. You’ll smell that cozy beginning — like the kitchen waking up a little.
  8. Then garlic goes in.
  9. I always hover for a second… because garlic burns fast… and burned garlic ruins moods and memories in one second flat.
  10. Sprinkle in just a whisper of Old Bay early.
  11. Pause.
  12. Yep… that smell?
  13. Feels like a bay breeze drifting into the kitchen.
Step 2 — The Broth + Veggies Join The Party
  1. Pour in:
  2. tomatoes
  3. beef broth
  4. a bit of water
  5. Give it one lazy stir.
  6. Add:
  7. potatoes
  8. peas
  9. corn
  10. green beans
  11. It already looks colorful — like soup that means business.
  12. Let it simmer. Do not boil aggressively. Just a slow… thoughtful bubble.
  13. I sometimes lean on the counter here… spoon in hand… staring at the pot like it’s therapy.
  14. Season gently:
  15. Black pepper
  16. A bit more Old Bay
  17. Tiny splash Worcestershire
  18. Sounds weird — but trust me — that tiny umami nudge deepens everything.
  19. Let it cook for 20–25 minutes.
  20. Veggies soften… but don’t fall apart.
  21. That balance matters.
Step 3 — Crab Time (Gentle… Respectful… No Wild Stirring)
  1. Lower heat slightly.
  2. Add crab in softly.
  3. Don’t dump it — like you’re tossing gravel into cement.
  4. Scatter. Let it float.
  5. And most importantly —
  6. don’t over-stir
  7. Crab deserves tenderness.
  8. We want:
  9. soft chunks
  10. delicate flakes
  11. not shredded crab confetti
  12. Taste.
  13. Think for a second.
  14. Then… maybe…
  15. …just one more pinch at Old Bay.
  16. Let it settle for another 8–10 minutes.
  17. Flavors start getting to know each other. Like friends easing into conversation.
  18. And when you lift that ladle… broth glowing… vegetables drifting… crab lounging casually through the bowl…
  19. Yeah — that’s the moment.