Cheesy crab dip is an impressive warm dip made with lumps of crab meat, cream cheese, old bay seasoning, and more. It’s the perfect appetizer to share with friends, take to parties, or bring to holiday events.
This Philadelphia cream cheese crab dip is a favorite recipe of ours for so many reasons but the super simple prep work is definitely a big reason to keep coming back to this recipe. With about 10 minutes of work (or less), you can have a batch of this easy crab dip with cream cheese in the oven and baking until it’s hot and bubbly.
The BEST Crab Dip Recipe
This dip brings together a combination of parmesan cheese, cheddar jack, and cream cheese for a gooey melty experience that you can’t help but enjoy. Taking it up a notch with some tabasco sauce and old bay seasoning we really bring the party and all of those lumps of crab meat scattered around really help bring the dip together to create a seafood experience that you won’t soon forget.
Why Make Hot Cheesy Crab Dip
This savory appetizer is great for any setting from business casual work parties to lounging on the couch in your pajamas while watching the game. There’s no wrong time for a good cheese dip and that’s exactly what you get with this recipe. It’s so versatile it’s always ready for the occasion that you’ll be looking for new reasons to make it. This is one dip that everyone can agree on and look forward to.
- It comes together quickly. The prep alone takes about 10 minutes or less!
- Adaptable seasonings. Want more heat? Add more Tabasco. Don’t want the crispy onions? Omit them.
- Tastes great with everything. Carb load with some fresh bread or stick with crackers for a lighter experience. Fresh cut veggies also taste good with this dip and can help your appetizer to feel more balanced.
Crab Dip Recipe Ingredients
Cream cheese: You will need 4 ounces of softened cream cheese. This is half of one brick.
Mayonnaise: Use 1/2 cup of mayo to make this dip creamy but thin enough that you can dip your crackers without them breaking.
Lemon juice: Adding in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice will add a burst of freshness to this dip making it taste lighter and more refreshing.
Old bay seasoning: You will need 1 teaspoon of old bay seasoning to help accent the crab meat and bring in more of a seafood flavor.
Pepper: Use ½ teaspoon of ground pepper to help season this dip well.
Tabasco sauce: To help kick this dip up a notch go ahead and add in a dash (or more) of Tabasco sauce. Adjust to taste.
Crabmeat: You will need 1 6-ounce can of crab meat so that there is plenty of meat throughout this dip. You’ll find canned crab near the canned tuna and canned shrimp in your grocery store.
Cheeses: Use grated cheddar jack cheese and shredded parmesan cheese (½ cup of each) to make this dip cheesy and have a depth of flavor.
Crispy onions: Adding ¼ cup of crispy fried onions over the top of the crab dip before it bakes will give it a wonderful texture and color.
How to Make Cheesy Crab Dip
Prep
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Make Dip
In a mixing bowl whisk together the cream cheese and mayonnaise until it’s smooth.
Stir in the lemon juice, seasoning, pepper, and hot sauce.
Add in the crab meat and the remaining cheese. Reserve 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese for the topping.
Bake
Bake the dip in the oven for 25 minutes before removing from the oven and topping it with parmesan cheese and crispy onions.
Return to oven and broil for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the onions are slightly browned.
Serve
Serve with cubed fresh bread or crackers.
Eat immediately and store leftovers for later.
What to Serve with Warm Crab Dip
What goes with crab dip? Lots of things! Part of the beauty of this cheesy dip is that the flavors are perfect for just about anything. From cracks to fresh veggies, you’ll never run out of ideas. Some of our favorite things to serve alongside this dip include fresh cubed bread like a baguette or sourdough bread, crackers (Ritz, Wheat thins, Triscuits), Tortilla chips, and fresh-cut veggies like carrots, bell peppers, and celery sticks.
How to Make Crab Dip In a Bread Bowl
For added fun, you can make this dip and bake it right into a bread bowl. This can add to your presentation and since the bowl is edible it can save you some dirty dishes later too. To do this simply hollow out the center of a round loaf of bread but leave a 1-inch thick wall around the inside edges, this will keep the dip from breaking the bread and leaking out as it bakes. Then fill the bread with your dip and bake as directed before serving. Pro Tip: Save the bread you removed as bread to use for dipping.
Enjoy!
CHEESY CRAB DIP
Ingredients
- 4 ounces softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon OLD BAY® Seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 Dash TABASCO® Sauce
- 1 can (6 oz.) crab meat
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar Jack cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup crispy onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Whisk together cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, seasoning, pepper and hot sauce.
- Add in crab meat and remaining cheese, saving 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese to top dip with.
- Bake dip for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and top with remaining Parmesan cheese and crispy onions.
- Return to oven and broil for 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted and onions are slightly browned.
- Serve with cubed fresh bread and/or crackers.
Nutrition
Can crab dip be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this dip up to a day in advance and bake about 30 minutes before you want to have it served. Make sure that it is kept well covered while stored in the fridge.
How long is crab dip good for in the fridge?
You can keep your leftovers stored well covered or in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat again before serving and eating.
Can I make crab dip with imitation crab?
If you can’t find canned crab meat then you can use imitation crab meat or even fresh crab meat instead. Note that the crab flavor in the dip will change slightly depending on what type of crab you use because each one has its own strength of crab flavor.
Check out these other great Appetizer Recipes!
- GREEN CHILE BEAN DIP
- EASY FRIED CHEESE STRAWS
- VELVEETA SAUSAGE QUESO DIP
- CAPRESE POPS
- EASY RANCH SAUSAGE ROLLS
- CHEESY PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE
- REINDEER CHRISTMAS CHEESEBALL
- CHEESY BISCUIT WREATH
- EASY BIG MAC BITES
- MEATLOAF CUPCAKES
- PEANUT BUTTER APPLE DIP
- RANCH CHICKEN CHEESE DIP
Made with crab meat, old bay seasoning, and 3 types of cheese we get this Cheesy crab dip recipe that everyone will enjoy. Share with friends and family at events, holiday parties, or tailgating parties for the next game.
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