This easy Crab Dip with Cream Cheese is a simple, flavor-packed recipe that guests will ask for again and again! It's delightfully creamy and cheesy, with plenty of recognizable crab flavor that pairs well with the garlic, lemon, and mustard. It's so balanced and tasty!
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Appetizer
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 20 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 6
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Rich, creamy, and savory with sweet crab meat balanced by garlic, herbs, and a subtle tang from cream cheese.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Warm baguette slices, crackers, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies like celery and bell peppers.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, prepare up to a day in advance, refrigerate, and bake or reheat just before serving.
Summarize and Save This Content On
Philadelphia cream cheese crab dip is perfectly rich, and the cream cheese and crab meat are definitely the stars of the show. They play well together without one overpowering the other. Combined with the other elements, you get a delectable, mouthwatering dip that I make on repeat for gatherings or just because.
Some more tasty crab recipes include Red Lobster crab cakes and tomato tuna or crab melts.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's an easy recipe: There are quite a few ingredients in this hot crab dip, but it's so simple to make. The prep and cooking only take 30 minutes total!
- It's a party favorite: Everyone is impressed with this creamy crab dip. So much so that people are lining up for a copy of the recipe.
- It's customizable: You can make several tweaks to this dip recipe to make it more your own.
Ingredients
Below are the most important ingredients needed to make a successful crab dip.
- Cream cheese: This is the key ingredient to make this dip perfectly rich and creamy. Ensure that you soften it ahead of time to make it easier to mix and lump-free.
- Dijon mustard: The tangy, slightly spicy flavor of Dijon mustard helps balance the richness of the cheeses. You can use yellow mustard in a pinch, but the flavor will change slightly.
- Lemon juice: Citrus and seafood work so well together, so it's no surprise that lemon juice is added here to brighten up the flavors in the crab dip.
- Spices: A combination of red pepper flakes and Old Bay lends plenty of flavor, while salt and pepper ensure that it doesn't taste bland.
- Worcestershire sauce: This adds a lovely umami punch to the dip.
- Roasted garlic: You can buy roasted garlic or roast it in the oven yourself. It provides an amazing depth of flavor.
- Crab meat: I use real lump crabmeat in this recipe for authenticity. I haven't made it with imitation, but feel free to try it!
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Jalapeno: Stir in some diced jalapenos to add a kick. You may use a teaspoon or two of this hot pepper vinegar instead.
- Caper and dill: A couple of tablespoons of capers and some chopped fresh dill for brightness.
- Artichoke: Add in a small can of chopped artichokes for more texture.
How to Make Crab Dip With Cream Cheese
To get started, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and spray any 8x8 square or 8-inch oval baking dish with cooking spray. Then, you can get to work on your crab dip recipe with cream cheese!
Step 1: Combine the dip ingredients. Add all ingredients, except the crab meat and 1 cup of shredded cheese, to a mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
Step 2: Add the crab. Then, fold in the crabmeat.
Step 3: Sprinkle cheese on top. Next, transfer the dip to a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
Step 4: Bake and garnish. Pop it into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, then garnish with chives before enjoying with a dipper like these air fryer pasta chips!
Recipe Tips
- Let it rest after baking: Allow the dip some time to rest after it comes out of the oven to ensure it thickens up the right amount. This will also prevent you from burning yourself on super-hot crab dip!
- Use a shallow baking dish: I like to use a shallow baking dish to ensure that all the dip warms all the way through.
- Fold the crab in gently: When you add the crab, fold it into the cheese mixture gently to prevent it from breaking up too much.
If you like this warm crab dip, then you'll love this smoked crab dip.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Extra crab dip should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing leftovers, as the texture and consistency will not be enjoyable.
- Reheating: Pop the dip in the oven at 350 for 8-10 minutes or place a portion in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway.
- Make Ahead: Feel free to prepare this crab dip up to 24 hours ahead and keep it tightly covered in the fridge until you're ready to bake and serve it.
Serving Suggestions
- You can use so many dippers, like baked pita chips, air fryer bagel chips, or toasted baguette slices for crunch.
- I also sliced veggies like celery and bell peppers to dip, too.
- Enjoy this as part of an appetizer spread alongside other easy recipes like cocktail seafood salad and deviled potatoes.
Recipe FAQs
Prepare a cold crab dip by skipping the baking part of the recipe and eating it as soon as it's mixed up.
Drain the crab meat of any excess moisture to prevent the dip from becoming watery.
If you find that the consistency is too thick for your liking, you can add a splash or two of milk to make it thinner.
More Delicious Dip Recipes
Do you like dips? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Crab Dip With Cream Cheese
Equipment
- 1 8-inch oval, round, or square dish -you can use any shape, but 8 inches gives the dip just the right amount of depth for heat throughout.
- 1 Spoon or spatula to stir
Ingredients
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 1 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups Cheddar cheese shredded, divided or Colby Jack
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced roasted garlic
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 lb lump crab meat cooked
- 2 tablespoons sliced chives
- Great served with Crackers and baguettes for dipping.
Instructions
- If you are serving a hot dip. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 8-inch oval, round, or square dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine the flavors.
- In a large bowl, add cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, ½ cup shredded cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Old Bay, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, minced roasted garlic, and red pepper flakes. Combine well until all ingredients are smooth and creamy.
- Add the crab.
- Combine the crab meat with your cheese mixture and fold in until the crab is well incorporated into the dip. Add crab mixture to prepared dish and make it as level as possible.
- Top it off.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly over the top of the crab dip. If you are serving this dip cold.
- You can add the sliced chives to the top of the dish and serve this crab dip chilled.
- If you are serving hot dip.
- Bake in the preheated oven uncovered for 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and thbe slightly browned with ubbly edges.
- Garnish with sliced chives and enjoy with your favorite dippers. Crackers, sliced baguettes, pretzels, and tortilla chips are some favorites.
Notes
- Add a splash or two of milk to your crab dip if the consistency is thicker than you would like.
- I don't recommend freezing leftover dip as the texture and consistency won't be the same when it thaws.
- Fold the crab meat gently into the dip mixture to prevent it from breaking up too much and getting lost.
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