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American

Hot Crab Dip

Creamy, bubbling crab dip with a golden parmesan crust - pure indulgence

dipEasyAmerican
Prep15 minCook30 minTotal45 minServes16Temphot
✓ gluten-free
⚠ Contains: 🦐 Shellfish, 🥛 Dairy, 🥚 Egg
Recipe
Ingredients
  • 1 lblump crab meat(picked over for shells)
  • 8 ozcream cheese(softened)
  • 0.5 cupmayonnaise
  • 0.5 cupsour cream
  • 1 cupshredded white cheddar(divided)
  • 0.5 cupparmesan cheese(grated, divided)
  • 2 tspWorcestershire sauce
  • 1 tspOld Bay seasoning
  • 2 tbspfresh chives(for garnish)
  • crackers or crostini(for serving)
Make Ahead

Can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Add 10 minutes to baking time if cold.

Instructions
  1. 1Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. 2Beat cream cheese until smooth
  3. 3Mix in mayonnaise, sour cream, 3/4 cup cheddar, 1/4 cup parmesan
  4. 4Add Worcestershire and Old Bay
  5. 5Gently fold in crab meat, keeping chunks intact
  6. 6Transfer to baking dish and smooth top
  7. 7Sprinkle with remaining cheddar and parmesan
  8. 8Bake 25-30 minutes until bubbling and golden
  9. 9Let cool 5 minutes, then garnish with chives
  10. 10Serve hot with crackers or crostini
Notes
Pro Tips

Quality crab makes the difference - use real lump or jumbo lump crab. Check carefully for shell fragments. Fold gently to preserve crab chunks. The dip will firm as it cools, so serve hot. A bread bowl makes an impressive presentation. Leftovers reheat well at 325°F.

History & Origin

Hot crab dip is a Chesapeake Bay tradition that has spread nationwide as a celebration food. The combination of sweet crab with creamy dairy and Old Bay seasoning represents the essence of Maryland crab cuisine. It appears on holiday tables and special occasions throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Cocktail Pairings
Pairs Well With
champagnewhite-wineproseccovodka
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American◆Easy