This hot crab dip is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. It is the kind of appetizer that disappears fast at any gathering, especially when served bubbling hot straight from a cast-iron skillet. The combination of cheeses, crab, and seasoning creates the perfect balance of savory goodness.
For specifics on the recipe, use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love this Hot Crab Dip Recipe
- Ingredients to make Crab Dip
- Tools to make the Best Hot Crab Dip
- How to make the Best Hot Crab Dip Recipe
- Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips for Crab Dip
- Eileen's Tips for the Best Crab Dip
- Variations for Crab Dip
- FAQs about Hot Crab Dip Recipe
- What to serve with Hot Crab Dip
- More Dip Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why you'll love this Hot Crab Dip Recipe
- It is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with real crab meat.
- It comes together quickly with simple ingredients.
- It is perfect for parties, holidays, or game day snacks.
- It is easily customizable with different cheeses or add-ins.
If you enjoy warm, cheesy appetizers, you might also like skillet pizza dip, jalapeno popper dip, or a classic beer cheese dip. They all have that same crowd-pleasing vibe.
Ingredients to make Crab Dip
- cream cheese
- sour cream
- mayonnaise
- worcestershire sauce
- lemon juice
- garlic powder
- Old Bay seasoning
- mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- green onions
- fresh parsley
- lump crab meat
Tools to make the Best Hot Crab Dip
- mixing bowl
- hand mixer
- rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- cast-iron skillet or baking dish
- measuring cups and spoons
How to make the Best Hot Crab Dip Recipe
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic powder, and Old Bay seasoning. Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese until evenly combined.
- Add chopped green onions and parsley, mixing until incorporated.
- Gently fold in the lump crab meat using a spatula, being careful not to break it up too much.
- Spread the mixture evenly into a cast-iron skillet or baking dish. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and Old Bay seasoning.
- Bake uncovered for 20 to 22 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
- Broil for 1 minute at the end to create a golden top. Remove from the oven and top with lemon juice, green onions, and parsley.
Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips for Crab Dip
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
Make Ahead: Prepare the dip mixture ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Bake just before serving.
Freezing: Freezing is not recommended, as the creamy texture may change once thawed.
Eileen's Tips for the Best Crab Dip
- Be sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so the dip is smooth and creamy
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best melting texture.
- Gently fold in the crab to keep nice chunks intact.
- Do not overbake, or the dip can become oily.
- Broil at the end for a golden, bubbly top.
Variations for Crab Dip
Do you want to change up this recipe?
- Spice: Add a dash of hot sauce or jalapeño for a spicy kick.
- Cheese: Swap mozzarella for cheddar or Monterey Jack.
- Flavor: Sprinkle paprika on top before baking.
FAQs about Hot Crab Dip Recipe
Yes, make sure to well-drain and pick over for any shells.
You can substitute with additional sour cream or Greek yogurt, but the flavor will change slightly.
A cast-iron skillet works great because it holds heat well, but any oven-safe dish will work.
What to serve with Hot Crab Dip
- Serve this dip with toasted French bread slices, crackers, or bagel chips.
- Cucumbers, celery sticks, and carrots are always great to dip, if you want something lower-carb.
- Serve it alongside this Marshmallow Fruit Dip and fruit for a balance of sweet and savory.
I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.
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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.
Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card, you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
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Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F/191°C.
- In a mixing bowl, add 8 ounces cream cheese (softened), ½ cup sour cream, ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning. Use a hand mixer with beaters attached until creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Fold in 1 cup mozzarella cheese and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese .
- Add 2 tablespoons green onions (chopped) and 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped) until combined.
- Gently, using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold in 8 ounces container lump crab meat (ready to eat) until just combined.
- Spread mixture into an oven-safe pie plate, baking dish, or cast-iron pan.
- For the toppings, sprinkle the dip with 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese and ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning .
- Bake uncovered for 20-22 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- Broil for last minute of cook time for a more golden top.
- Top with 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon chopped green onion, and ½ teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
- Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Serve with lemon slices, crostinis, crackers, bagel chips, celery sticks, and cucumber slices.
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