The best ultimate Crab Dip made with three different creamy cheeses and a touch of heat and spice. This scrumptious hot mess is one of our favorite appetizers with a minimal amount of ingredients and effort.
This hot dip is always a favorites at our parties. I love to serve it with Fried Zucchini, Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts and Korean Barbecue Chicken Wings. Are you always in a hurry? Just prepare the uncooked dip a day in advance, remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to baking, and bake up fresh for you and your friends or family to enjoy!
How to make hot Crab Dip
How to make hot Crab DipI like to use fresh cooked king crab but any lump crab meat will work. Make sure it is chopped fairly fine so there is a little bit of crab in every bite. Now using a hand held mixer beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, half of the cheddar cheese, half of the Pepper Jack cheese, Old Bay Seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire Sauce and a few dashes of hot sauce until smooth. Next stir in the crab meat and green onions.
Spoon into a baking dish and top with the remaining cheddar and Pepper Jack. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the dish is heated through. Serve promptly with crostinis, crackers, pretzel crisps or assorted vegetables.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- You can use fresh crab, canned crab or even frozen crab. I like to use fresh king crab that I purchase from Costco but everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to crab meat.
- This recipe can be made up to 2 days in advance however do not bake it. Instead store it well covered in the fridge. Remove it 30 minutes prior to baking to bring it to room temperature. Then bake it up fresh for maximum enjoyment.
- I like to add a few dashes of hot sauce but if you have a sensitive palate reduce the amount or skip it all together.
- Serve with crostini, crackers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, pretzel crisps, cucumber rounds, tortilla chips or bagel chips.
Recipe additions and variations
- Crab and Artichoke Dip: Add a 14 ounce can of artichoke hearts packed in water, drained and chopped.
- Cold Crab Dip: Omit the cheese, chill and serve cold. Just as delicious albeit a little different.
- Crab Rangoon Dip: Omit the Old Bay seasoning, Pepper Jack Cheese, and hot sauce. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and serve with crispy homemade Baked Wonton Chips.
- Hot Shrimp Dip: Substitute cooked chopped shrimp for the crab meat.
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PrintBest Hot Crab Dip
An easy to make hot crab dip filled with creamy cheese, cooked lump crab meat and a perfect blend of spices. All baked to golden perfection and served warm. Can you say delicious?
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: appetizer
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese
- 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 3–4 dashes hot sauce
- 16 ounce crab meat cooked and finely chopped (see notes)
- 3 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Using a hand held mixer beat cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Pepper Jack cheese, Old Bay Seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire Sauce and hot sauce until smooth. Stir in crab meat and green onions.
- Spoon into a baking dish and top with remaining cheddar and Pepper Jack. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the dish is bubbly and heated through.
Notes
- You can use fresh crab, canned crab or even frozen crab. I like to use fresh king crab that I purchase from Costco but everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to crab meat.
- This recipe can be made up to 2 days in advance however do not bake it. Instead store it well covered in the fridge. Remove it 30 minutes prior to baking to bring it to room temperature. Then bake it up fresh for maximum enjoyment.
- I like to add a few dashes of hot sauce but if you have a sensitive palate reduce the amount or skip it all together.
- Serve with crostini, crackers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, pretzel crisps, cucumber rounds, tortilla chips or bagel chips.
Keywords: hot crab dip, crab dip with cream cheese, baked crab dip, crab meat dip
Amanda
This has been a huge hit at parties, people couldn’t get enough!
★★★★★
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
I know for sure this Crab Dip would be a huge hit in my house!
★★★★★
Vikki
Beautiful crab dip!
★★★★★
Catalina
This crab dip is exactly what I need right now. Sounds so delicious!
★★★★★
Toni
This is such an amazing dip! My whole family enjoyed this!
★★★★★
Sara Welch
I love when I see crab dip on the menu when I eat out! So excited to try this out; looks better than any restaurant version, indeed!
★★★★★
Lauren Kelly
I made this a few days ago for our cookout and this was the first appetizer that was finished! YUM!
★★★★★
Krystle
This was the crab dip I’ve been craving. So good there is none left me and the family devoured it all!
Toni
We just made this again we loved it so much the first time!
★★★★★
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
We loved the little bit of heat in this!
★★★★★
wilhelmina
So creamy and full of flavor! This dip was the first thing to go, quite a hit!
★★★★★
Courtney
This is such a great dip! Perfectly cheesy and totally snackable. It was loved by all!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Courtney! I hope everyone enjoyed it!
Toni Dash
An all time favorite dip at my house!!
★★★★★
Angela
I am saving this recipe for the upcoming holiday season. I did a test run and it came out great!
★★★★★
Jacque Hastert
I love how cheesy this comes out! I love that you have incorporated crab into a delicious dip. Game days will be here soon and this will be getting served. Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Carolyn
Looks delicious. If serving cold without the cheese do you still bake it?
★★★★
Beth Pierce
You can most certainly serve this cold just make sure the crab has been cooked.
Chris Collins
I love crab dip so much and your version looks incredible! Can’t wait to try the recipe 🙂
★★★★★
Alina
This is so easy, cheesy and delicious. Perfect for a Game Day!
★★★★★
Nathan
Oh wow, I’m getting VERY hungry just looking at this. I love a good hot dip, and I’ll definitely need to whip this out next time I need a people pleaser!
★★★★★
Valerie
I love how nice and easy this sounds to make. I think my Mom will love this, on some bagel chips.
★★★★★
Tara
Oh yum! I can definitely see why this dip is a favorite at parties. Looks absolutely amazing. Would be perfect with fried zucchini.
★★★★★
Deb Pellerin
I’m going to “Go All Out!” this years, it’d been a horrific 4-5 years and my retired/disabled hubby + self are very $$ conscience, not unlike millions of Americans, BUT, since I could get sick and not ever be able to try this, hubby and I actually SAVED EXTRA $$ and went without a couple things to buy ALL the food items we know we’d love,but have been too financially “Wasteful” to us….Yes, we are frugal! But, we didn’t buy “Real Crabmeat”, I’m going to use Imitation Crab meat/Lobster and hope for the best. Wish me luck! It’s our New Years’ gift to each other! I’ll let you know how it goes……..
Beth Pierce
Thanks Deb! I think you will be fine with imitation crab meat.
Marilyn
What an amazing crab dip!! Will definitely make again & again!! Thank You & Happy New Year!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Marilyn! I am so glad that you liked it! It is so yummy!
Kimberly DeStefano
This dip came out so amazing! The only thing I noticed is it was quite oily. I sprayed the baking dish beforehand which might be part of it, but are there any tips for making it less greasey?
Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Lower fat cheese but then you might be sacrificing the creaminess and the wonderful flavor.
Robert Stutzman
try adding horseradish to the crab rangoon that’s what I’m told is traditional Japanese rangoons
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip Robert!