This hot and cheesy Maryland crab dip gets the stamp of approval from locals and out-of-towners alike. To get the best taste and texture, use fresh lump crab meat and the other eight listed ingredients. These include cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Old Bay seasoning, and cream cheese. Slow cooked or baked, this is the most irresistible dip. Draws a crowd every time I make it!.
Walk into pretty much any Maryland restaurant and you’re bound to find hot crab dip on the menu. It’s our staple. Sometimes served on soft pretzels and sometimes baked in a skillet, but always a must-have order. We like to put it on chicken (called “Chicken Chesapeake”) or in quesadillas, but fresh bread, pita wedges, celery, and/or strong crackers are the best things to eat with hot cheesy crab dip.
Crab dip is a popular appetizer that can be served hot or cold. It’s a creamy cheesy dip loaded with crab meat and perfect for scooping up with crackers or vegetables. Crab dip is easy to make at home and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. In this article we’ll walk through the steps on how to make crab dip, as well as provide tips and recipe variations.
Ingredients Needed
To make crab dip you’ll need
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 pound lump crab meat
For serving:
- Crackers
- Bread or baguette
- Tortilla chips
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Soften the Cream Cheese
Start by taking an 8 oz block of cream cheese out of the refrigerator and letting it sit on the counter for 15-30 minutes to soften. You want the cream cheese to be smooth and spreadable.
Step 2: Mix the Filling
In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
Next, stir in the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, green onions, Old Bay seasoning, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. Mix until fully combined.
Step 3: Stir in the Cheeses
Add 3/4 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese and the hot sauce to the filling mixture. Use a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together until uniform and smooth.
Step 4: Gently Fold in the Crab
Carefully fold in 1 pound of lump crab meat, being careful not to break up the chunks of crab too much. The crab is the star of the show, so you want nice big pieces in each bite.
Step 5: Transfer to Baking Dish
Scoop the crab dip into a 9-inch pie plate, small casserole dish, or oven-safe bowl. Spread it evenly across the bottom of the dish.
Step 6: Top with Remaining Cheese
Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup shredded cheddar over the top of the crab dip. This will form a nice golden cheese topping as it bakes.
Step 7: Bake
Bake the crab dip in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown on top.
Step 8: Rest and Serve
Allow the hot crab dip to sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps firm it up. Serve warm with your favorite dippers like crackers, bread, tortilla chips, and raw veggies.
Tips for Making the Best Crab Dip
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Use fresh, high-quality lump crab meat. Canned crab meat works in a pinch but lump crab meat really takes this dip to the next level.
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Don’t overmix the ingredients when folding in the crab. Be gentle so you don’t break up the chunks of crab too much.
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Add more hot sauce if you like things spicy. Tabasco or sriracha work well.
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Garnish with extra chopped green onions and Old Bay seasoning.
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Chill the dip for 1-2 hours before serving cold. Omit baking if serving cold.
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For convenience, the dip can be assembled 1 day in advance then baked right before serving.
Crab Dip Variations
There are lots of ways to customize crab dip to suit your tastes:
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Crab Dip Bread Bowl: Serve the crab dip inside a hollowed-out bread bowl or round loaf of bread.
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Buffalo Crab Dip: Make it spicy by using hot sauce instead of Worcestershire and topping with crumbled blue cheese.
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Cajun Crab Dip: Add Cajun seasoning and top with shredded pepper jack cheese.
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Bacon Crab Dip: Fold in cooked, crumbled bacon along with the crab meat.
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Loaded Baked Potato Crab Dip: Add chopped chives, bacon, and cheddar cheese. Top with sour cream.
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Jalapeño Popper Crab Dip: Mix in diced jalapeños and cheddar cheese. Top with more diced jalapeños.
Serving Suggestions
Crab dip tastes delicious paired with:
- Sliced baguette or bread
- Crackers like Ritz or Club crackers
- Pita chips or tortilla chips
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Bell pepper slices
- Broccoli florets
- Cauliflower florets
- Zucchini slices
- Mushroom caps
Any sturdy cracker or vegetable works well for scooping up the creamy, rich crab dip. Offer a variety of dippable foods when serving crab dip to give your guests options.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Properly stored, leftover crab dip will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To reheat, transfer the dip to an oven-safe dish and bake at 350°F until warmed through, 15-20 minutes. The dip can also be reheated in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring between intervals, until hot and bubbly.
Crab dip also freezes well for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat to serve.
Crab Dip is a Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer
Crab dip is easy to prepare and bakes up creamy, cheesy, and loaded with crab flavor. It’s the perfect appetizer or snack for parties, game day, or potlucks. Experiment with different add-ins and cheeses to customize it to your taste. Serve crab dip alongside a variety of crackers, breads, and fresh vegetables for a filling and delicious appetizer everyone will love.
This Hot Crab Dip Is:
- Made with jumbo lump crab, just like crab pretzels
- Cheesy dip meets crab cakes
- Irresistibly creamy
- Old Bay-seasoned
- Baked or slow cooked, your choice
- Extra quick, no pre-cooking
- Nothing less than a huge hit, guaranteed!
This does Maryland justice!
Search the internet and you’ll find millions of crab dip recipes. They’re all centered around—you guessed it—crab, but the other ingredients can vary. I’ve tasted dozens of crab dips (I’m surrounded by it!) and I know what works, and what doesn’t.
Best Crab Meat for Crab Dip
At the market, you can find canned, frozen, or fresh (refrigerated) crab meat. Unrefrigerated canned crab meat doesn’t have the freshest flavor (obviously). If you need to use canned, look for canned crab meat in the refrigerated section of your market. The fresher the crab meat, the better the crab dip will taste.
At the butcher or seafood counter, crab meat that says “hand-picked” or “fresh-picked” is fully cooked and sold in plastic tubs. This is what I always use for crab cakes and crab soup, and I really think you should do the same here. It’s pricier than canned, but you have a completely different (and fresh) product. Do not worry, the rest of the ingredients are pretty cheap, especially if you buy store-brand or on sale.
Ask your grocer where to find the freshest crab meat in the store. I purchase fresh crab meat sold in a 1-pound tub from the seafood counter.
This DOES NOT disappoint!
The BEST Crab Dip EVER! Ultimate Crab Dip Recipe #MrMakeItHappen #CrabDip
How do you make a crab dip?
This easy Crab Dip recipe is meant to impress, made with fresh lump crab meat in a creamy dip that can be served hot or cold. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cream cheese to a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Stir in mayo, sour cream, garlic, green onion, Old Bay seasoning, salt, Worcestershire, and lemon juice.
How long does it take to make hot crab dip?
Hot Crab Dip recipe with only 10 minutes prep is the ultimate party appetizer! This Hot Crab Dip recipe will be one of the best and easiest dips you ever make-or tasted! It is rich, creamy, cheesy, packed with flavor and did I say 10-minute prep already?
What is crab dip?
This luxurious Crab Dip is a mixture of buttery crab meat, cream cheese, sour cream, cheeses, Old Bay seasoning and a few splashes of Worcestershire, lemon juice and hot sauce all baked together into addicting splendor.
Can you make crab dip with cream cheese?
Yes! You can make baked Crab Dip with full-fat cream cheese or low-fat cream cheese. Full fat cream cheese obviously has more flavor and melts better, but low fat will still be tasty. Make sure you’re using a block of cream cheese, not cream cheese spread. Can I use Greek yogurt?