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This crab dip is THE BEST hot seafood dip for parties and gatherings. Filled with flavorful lump crab and cheese, it cooks until it’s hot and bubbly and just right for dipping.
I love making this hot crab dip recipe for parties and get togethers. Everyone loves the rich flavors and fight for the last bite. Even my husband, a man who doesn’t like crab, devours this dip. I always get rave reviews from friends and family who try it! And it’s so simple, honestly! But a little tip I’ll let you in on… don’t go cheap on the mayonnaise and cheese. If you are going to put yourself through the expense of making a nice crab dip with fresh lump crab, get yourself some Best Foods Mayo (or Hellmann’s on the East coast), shred your own cheese, and use quality ingredients in general. It’s touches like these that will pay off in the end when you are enjoying a truly delicious dip.
A note on the crab. As I mentioned, I used fresh lump crab which I purchased from Costco. Any fresh lump crab meat you find is great! Look for sales because it can be pricey. If you want to go the imitation crab meat route, try our Cold Crab Dip recipe instead. You’ll love it!
How to Make Hot Crab Dip
This crab dip is made with fresh lump crab meat, cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese, and is seasoned with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, hot sauce, salt and pepper, and topped with parmesan cheese, and green onion. Here are the steps to make it:
- Combine Ingredients – Mix all the ingredients together except for the crab and parmesan cheese. Once the ingredients are combined, gently fold in the fresh crab meat.
- Bake – Spread your ingredients into an ovenproof baking dish, either a skillet or pie plate, and bake for 22-25 minutes.
- Top with cheese – After it has baked, top with shredded parmesan cheese and bake 2-3 more minutes until the cheese on top is bubbling and golden brown.
- Cool and serve – Cool for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite crackers, bread, and veggies.
What to Dip
This dip is creamy and cheesy and just calls for something crunchy dipped into it. Some ideas: slice up a baguette and toast it, pita chips, bagel chips, tortilla chips, Ritz crackers, carrot sticks, celery sticks.
Tips and Suggestions
Make it spicy – Add extra hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or hot creole seasoning like Tony Chacheres to add more heat.
Storing and reheating – When storing, be sure to tightly seal your container. Crab meat can last 2-4 days in the fridge. Seafood gets a little rubbery in the microwave, so reheat your leftovers in the oven. Place the remaining crab dip on a skillet or pie plate, and place in the oven at 400 for about 15 minutes.
Top with fresh shredded parmesan cheese – Some recipes call for topping crab dip with sharp cheddar cheese. In my experience this makes it too greasy and leaves pools or orange grease over the top. Parmesan gives it a sharper flavor and overall, in my opinion, makes it taste better.
More Crab Recipes
We love crab – fresh, as well as imitation, and maybe you do to! Here are some more of our favorites:
Crab Legs with Garlic Butter Sauce
Cold Crab Dip
Easy Crab Salad
Crab Salad Sandwich
Crab Pasta Salad
Crab Cakes
Crab Boil
Hot Crab Dip
Video
Equipment
- 8 inch oven safe skillet (or pie plate)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces lump crab meat
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup cheddar cheese
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (Tabasco or Crystal)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven for 400℉. In a large bowl combine all ingredients except for the crab meat and parmesan cheese. When the ingredients are mixed together, add the crab meat and stir until well combined.
- Place mixture into 8" oven proof skillet or 9-inch pie plate and spread evenly. Bake for 22-25 minutes.
- After 22-25 minutes, top with parmesan cheese and broil for 2-3 more minutes until the top starts to bubble and turn a light golden brown.
- Let it cool for 5 minutes and serve with your favorite dipping crackers, bread or veggies.
Made this for my grandmother’s birthday celebration and it was a crowd favorite! Keeping this!
What a crowd-pleasing appetizer!! The crab flavor is so good!! We love it with bread & crackers!
this is fantastic thank you
This is a very good recipe. Easy to make and taste great!