Crab Dip

Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor, this crab dip made with lump crab meat is the perfect party dish and ultimate appetizer.

I am a huge fan of appetizers: Corn Dip, 7 Layer Dip, Greek Dip, Caprese Baked Cheese Dip! Doesn’t matter the type, I am a fan. But there is just something extra special about this crab dip!

Crab Dip is an easy crowd pleasing dish that can be enjoyed with friends or with just your family. This crab dip recipe is great for an appetizer, a decadent lunch (think of it like the ultimate grilled cheese, slather this between two slices of toasted bread…yum), or a fun snack for whenever those hunger pains emerge.

This hot crab dip recipe is loaded with all the best goodies. Delicious lump crabmeat accompanied with the classic Old Bay seasonings, cheddar cheese, mayo, sour cream, and hot sauce. A lot like a crab rangoon dip, this hot crab dip recipe is creamy, cheesy goodness with each and every bite.

You don’t have to be a seafood lover to enjoy this Crab Dip. My whole family loves it and it makes for a filling family friendly snack for all.

What To Know About Crab Dip

This Cab Dip is so tasty Friends. I can’t wait for you all to try it. It is really easy to make too.

As always I just want to make sure that you have the best final result, so there are a few things you need to be aware of. Don’t skip this section. It’s worth a read.

How To Select The Best Crab:

The Crab You Use Matters.

Don’t just pick the first crab or imitation crab you find. The type of Crab you use matters.

Use Lump Crab Meat

Lump crab meat offers generous bites of delicious crab meat. It is so much better than skimpy amounts of shredded crab.

This point is not debatable. Go big or go home. Use lump crab meat. The End. You’’ll thank me later.

Fresh is Best. And Pre-Cooked

In a perfect world if you can get fresh crab, do it. Fresh is always better.

Go over to the seafood area or butcher for fresh crab meat and look for crab meat with no cartilage. Take a moment and look at the selection.

You also want to make sure it says “Hand picked” or “Fresh Picked” so that it is already cooked. You definitely want already cooked.

Let’s not make an easy recipe difficult with adding a step of preparing raw seafood to the list. I think you get the point.

If Not Using Fresh, Pick a Good Canned Crab.

You don’t have to use fresh to make a good crab dip. You can use canned.

I was just simply pointing out the obvious that fresh is of course best, but this dip has so many yummy flavors going on that you will be just fine with canned crab too. I like to keep some canned crab on hand for whipping this dip up on the fly for impromptu parties!

What Is The Best Canned Crab:

Refrigerated canned crab is fresher.
Get canned crab with little fat.
Buy canned crab with high protein.

Canned crab is more economical and will still be great with this dip. Just make sure the canned crab you get is lump crab meat with little fat and high protein.

Also if you have the choice, get the canned crab in the refrigerator for a fresher option.

Remember, not all canned crab is equal in quality, so follow these tips.

Note: I would avoid imitation crab meat.

Tips for Great Crab Dip

Make sure to drain your crab meat.
Use a mesh sieve to help with this process.
Don’t eliminate Old Bay Seasonings. It is a Must! Old Bay Seasonings prevents the dish from being bland and it goes hand in hand with crab.

Simple, fast, and tasty this Hot Crap Dip is a dream. Look over these steps and you will see how anyone can make this delightful dish.

But first, make sure you use the best crab dip ingredients.

The Best Crab Dip Ingredients:

Best Crab Meat: Lump crab meat with high protein, little, fat, and as fresh as possible.
Fabulous Seasonings: Old Bay Seasonings, ground mustard, fresh parsley, and hot sauce
Creamy Ingredients: Mayo, sour cream, and cream cheese.
Shredded Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese. Avoid pre-shredded packaged cheese. It does not melt as well.

Get these great ingredients and follow the below steps and you will have an amazing crap dip.

Steps for Making Hot Crab Dip

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix seasonings, cream cheese, mayo, and hot sauce with a hand mixer.
Add crabmeat and gently fold it all in.
Transfer into baking dish and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly and garnish with fresh parsley.

5 simples steps and you have got yourself a beautiful Hot Crab Dip.

Dippers for Hot Crab Dip

Once ready to serve, accompany your crab dip with some yummy crackers or chips.

Ritz Crackers
Baguette Slices
Tortilla Chips
Pita Chips

Choose your favorite mild flavored chip or cracker and enjoy this delicious dip.

Make Ahead and Storage

You can make this Crab Dip recipe a day in advance. Yay!

Make Ahead of Time Crab Dip:

Follow recipe instructions except don’t cook it.
Transfer cold dip into an airtight container and put it into the refrigerator.
When ready to eat, put in the oven and cook until bubbly hot.
Can make up to 3 days ahead, best to only make 1 day ahead.

Can This Be Frozen?

Sorry Friends but I don’t recommend freezing this dip. Freezing cream cheese dishes can be disastrous. The integrity of the dish usually becomes compromised.

Good news is though that this dish is really easy and can be whipped up in a pinch. Plus if you want to make it ahead of time you can always make it up to a few days in advance.

How To Store Crab Dip

As already mentioned this dish is not freezer friendly, but you can store leftovers in the fridge.

Store Crab Dip in the fridge in an airtight container for about 3-5 days.

Reheat when ready to eat.

Get Ready For The Best Crab Dip!

Creamy Crab Dip with melted cheese on top, this hot Crab Dip recipe offers fantastic flavor with each and every bite.

Looking for a yummy crowd pleasing dip? Look no further. You’ve got it with this fabulous hot Crab Dip recipe.

Other Delicious Appetizers

Crab Dip

A classic creamy crab dip, where lump crab meat is mixed with cheese, sour cream, Old Bay seasonings, and more! It is creamy and delicious, and perfect served with chips, baguettes, and other dippers.

4 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Appetizer, crab dip, easy appetizer, party dip

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 40

Servings:

Calories: 284kcal

Author: Rachael

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
2 teaspoons OLD BAY® Seasoning
½ teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1 pound lump crabmeat
1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1 Tbs fresh parsley

Dippers:

Crackers baguette slices, tortilla strips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, Old Bay Seasoning, Hot sauce, and ground mustard until combined well.
Add crabmeat and stir gently to fold it all in.
Spread in a shallow 1 1/2-quart baking dish.
Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.
Bake 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Garnish with fresh parsley.
Serve with assorted crackers or sliced baguette.

Nutrition

Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.

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Crab Dip

Crab Dip