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This easy Crab Dip recipe is a creamy and delicious appetizer that is a total crowd-pleaser. This dip is perfectly balanced with a creamy filling, lump crab meat, and just the right amount of spice making it the best crab dip ever!
In Maryland there is one recipe that will be at every party – crab dip! And there are two important ingredients found in every Maryland crab dip recipe – crab meat and Old Bay Seasoning. The combination of lump crab meat, cheese, and Old Bay creates the perfect appetizer that everyone loves.
I’ve been making this creamy dip for years and I’m so excited to finally share it here so you all can make it too. If you’re looking for a great dip to serve at your next gathering or party, I highly recommend making this creamy crab dip. And if you want to impress your guests and have everyone ask who made the crab dip, you’re definitely going to want to make this crab dip.
This appetizer is perfect for parties, tailgating, potlucks – pretty much every occasion and I’ll just warn you now – this dip goes fast!. Everyone will also want the recipe so be prepared to share this easy recipe with everyone at the party.
Why You’ll Love This Delicious Crab Dip Recipe
- Super Easy to Make – An easy, no-fuss recipe!
- Simple Ingredients – Ingredients for this dip are easy to find in any grocery store.
- So flavorful – The crab meat paired with cheeses and Old Bay is the perfect combination and creates a flavorful appetizer.
- Always a Crowd-Pleaser – This is a great recipe for every occasion and everyone always loves this creamy dip!
Ingredients Needed to Make Crab Dip
- Cream cheese – this is the base of our dip. It adds creaminess and tanginess and helps give this cream cheese crab dip substance.
- Sour cream – adds a bit more tanginess and helps lighten up the dip.
- Lemon juice – adds acidity and freshness to the dip.
- Old Bay seasoning – is key to any great crab recipe so don’t skip it!
- Hot sauce – a few dashes of hot sauce adds a bit of kick. Feel free to add as much or as little as you like.
- Shredded cheese – I love the combination of Monterey jack and Colby jack cheeses. They pair perfectly with crab and melt into a gooey, cheesy dip.
- Green onions – adds a bit of freshness and onion flavor–it also adds a bit of green color which looks nice in the dip.
- Crab meat – you can’t make crab dip without crab meat.
How to Make This Baked Crab Dip Recipe
- Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Pour the dip into a large baking dish and bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until the dip is bubbly and melted.
- Serve with corn chips, tortilla chips, crackers, or veggies.
Variations and Tips for Making the Best Hot Crab Dip Recipe
- Don’t Skip the Old Bay – I’m going to tell you one thing – You CANNOT make crab dip without Old Bay.
- Heat Level – Add more or less hot sauce to find a spice level you like.
- Add a Crispy Topping – Sprinkle some panko bread crumbs on top before baking for a crunchy topping.
- Heat in Slow Cooker – Use your slow cooker and keep your dip warm for hours. Crockpot crab dip is the perfect way to keep your cheesy crab dip warm while entertaining.
- Cheeses – Swap out the Monterey jack and Colby jack cheeses for sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Also, we recommend shredding the cheese yourself if you can – it will melt easier and more smoothly.
- Greek Yogurt – If you want to cut down on some of the calories in this dip, add Greek yogurt instead of the sour cream. Your crab dip will still taste amazing!
Hot Crab Dip Serving Suggestions
This easy dip is best served hot and kept warm to keep the cheeses melted. Serve with Ritz crackers, toasted French bread, tortilla chips, pita chips or bagel chips. This dip also tastes great with fresh vegetables like carrot sticks and celery.
Storage and Reheating
Storing leftover crab dip is easy – if you have any leftovers. Just add the dip to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, place in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this decadent dip in advance?
Yes, this creamy crab dip can be prepared in advance. Prepare and cover. Then refrigerated until you’re ready to bake.
What is the best way to soften cream cheese to room temperature?
Letting the cream cheese sit out at room temperature for at least 60 minutes is recommended but don’t worry if you forgot to do that. Here are a few ways to soften your cream cheese quickly.
- Cut cream cheese into cubes and place cubes on a plate. Let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Keep cream cheese in foil packaging. Fill a bowl with warm water and place cream cheese in bowl of warm water. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove cream cheese from foil packaging. Place cream cheese on a plate and microwave in 10 second increments. Flip cream cheese block and repeat 3-4 times.
What kind of crab meat should I use when making this cheesy hot crab dip?
We recommend using lump crab meat in this crab dip recipe. A combination of lump crab meat and backfin crab meat can be used if you want to save a little money. Imitation crab meat will technically work but the flavor is very different. It’s important to know that imitation crab meat is not real crab meat and will change the texture and taste of the dip.
Where do I find crab meat in the grocery store?
You can find canned, frozen, and fresh lump crab meat at the grocery store. Canned crab will be in the canned food aisle with the tuna fish. I always purchase my crab meat from the meats section of my local grocery store. We recommend using fresh crab meat because we’ve found the fresher the crab meat, the better the crab dip will taste.
More Delicious Dip Recipes to Try
Hot Crab Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, optional
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
- 8 ounces crab meat (see notes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease an 8” baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, and hot sauce.
- Mix in ½ cup each of the Monterey jack and Colby jack cheeses, as well as the green onions.
- Finally, add in the crab meat and very gently mix to combine.
- Transfer the dip to your prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the dip is hot and bubbling.
- Garnish with more green onions.
I’ve never had a crab dip before but I love anything you can dump into a crock pot & let cook 😀 I’ll definitely have to try this!