Studded with pieces of sweet crabmeat, this cheesy, creamy crab dip recipe is the versatile party appetizer we turn to whenever we’re entertaining. Perennially favorite game-day potluck recipes like this also feel fancy enough to impress guests over the holidays (which happen to overlap with crab season).
Hot crab dip is typically a decadent mixture of cream cheese, mayo, lump crabmeat and cheese. It’s seasoned with spices, seafood seasoning, and a spritz of lemon. No shortage of flavor here. This Maryland crab dip ranks among our top dip recipes for a crowd, takes almost no time to assemble, and is easy to double or triple.
Ingredients for Crab Dip
- Cream cheese: Cream cheese is responsible for the lusciously creamy texture and hint of tang in the dip.
- Mayonnaise: Mayo serves a few purposes here. It helps thin out the cream cheese and enhance the texture while adding loads of flavor.
- Crab: There’s no hot crab dip without crab, and the best crab for crab dip is fresh crab—especially when it’s in season. This recipe features lump crabmeat, which comes from the body of the crab. Use canned or frozen depending on what’s available; you can generally purchase lump crabmeat from supermarkets, fishmongers or online food specialists. Most crab recipes call for real crab, but you can also use imitation crabmeat. It’s great when you’re on a budget. Your dip won’t have the same texture, but it will still be tasty and delicious.
- Seafood seasoning: Old Bay is the piquant, flavor-packed seafood seasoning that’s considered the gold standard for hot crab dip—after all, both come from Maryland. You can also make homemade fish seasoning using the herbs and spices in your pantry.
- Other seasonings: Garlic powder, black pepper and a dash of Worcestershire sauce help round out the flavors in your crab dip. Worcestershire sauce brings an rich layer of umami flavor to the dip.
- Cheddar cheese: Use sharp cheddar for extra bite, or stick with mild cheddar for a mellower flavor.
Directions
Step 1: Combine the dip ingredients
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, seafood seasoning, chives, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and pepper until the mixture is smooth.
Step 2: Add the crab
Gently fold in the crab meat and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Grease a 9-inch pie pan. Transfer the dip to the prepared pan and spread it out. Top with the remaining cheese.
Step 3: Bake the crab dip
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the dip is bubbly. For a green garnish, sprinkle with additional chives.
Crab Dip Variations
- Make it spicy: Chopped chile peppers, like jalapenos or serranos, will put the heat in your hot crab dip. If you’ve run out of chiles, grab a bottle of your favorite hot sauce.
- Try different cheeses: Mozzarella, provolone, Swiss, Gouda and Colby are a few types of cheeses that work well in crab dip.
- Mix in sour cream: If you love the tanginess that cream cheese brings to the dip, try adding a few spoonfuls of sour cream to the mixture before baking.
- Add other proteins: Crumble cooked bacon, pancetta or Italian sausage over the top of your Maryland crab dip. They add a smoky flavor that pairs well with the crab’s sweetness and the cheese’s sharp bite.
- Sprinkle your crab dip with toppings: Finish your crab dip with a flourish and add chopped fresh herbs like chives, rosemary or parsley. Panko can add a bit of crunch to the dip. French-fried onions, green onions and Parmesan cheese are a few other excellent options.
- Whip up artichoke, spinach and crab dip: Stir crab meat into your favorite hot artichoke spinach dip recipe—the combo is unbelievably tasty.
How to Store Crab Dip
If you have leftover crab dip, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can reheat it in the microwave until completely warmed through. Freezing is not a good option for this dip, since the texture will be negatively affected.
Crab Dip Tips
What do you serve with crab dip?
Anything you serve with crab dip should be robust enough to scoop up plenty of the dip. Make a spread featuring flatbread, sliced crusty sourdough bread, buttery crackers like Ritz, crostini recipes, pita wedges or pretzels. You can also put together a crudite platter with veggies like carrots, celery and bell pepper.
What else can you do with crab dip?
Once you know how to make crab dip, you can turn it into a filling for stuffed peppers, zucchini boats, airy crab pastry puffs, homemade ravioli or next-level quesadillas. Crab dip can also work as a spread on sandwiches like grilled cheese and po’boys or as a substitute for tuna salad in a tuna melt. Try it as a topping for loaded French fries or baked potatoes.
