Description
This Spicy Maryland Crab Dip is a creamy, flavorful appetizer perfect for gatherings and game days. Combining rich cream cheese, sharp cheddar, zesty seasonings, and fresh lump blue crab meat, this dip is baked until hot and bubbly with a golden, cheesy broiled topping. Serve with crackers or toasts for a delicious seafood indulgence with a spicy kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Base
- 8 ounces (226 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 5 ounces (142 g) grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/4 cups), divided
- 1/4 cup (60 g) sour cream
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (6 g) Old Bay Seasoning, plus more for sprinkling on top
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) hot sauce, such as Crystal, or more to taste
Additional Ingredients
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts (from about 2 scallions)
- 1 pound (454 g) lump blue crab meat, picked over for shells
- Crackers or toasts, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the dip later.
- Mix Base Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, half of the grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, scallions, mayonnaise, hot sauce, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is very well mixed and smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference, keeping in mind the crab will mellow the flavors; you can add more hot sauce or cayenne for extra spice, and be cautious with adding salt due to the salty components already present.
- Add Crab Meat: Gently fold in the lump blue crab meat using a silicone spatula. Mix carefully to incorporate the crab without breaking up the lumps too much, preserving texture.
- Bake the Dip: Transfer the mixture into a 1-quart baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the dip is hot and bubbling throughout.
- Broil Topping: Remove the dish from the oven and switch your oven to broil. Lightly sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and a dusting of Old Bay seasoning on top of the dip. Place the dish about 4 to 6 inches from the broiler’s heating element and broil until the cheese melts, bubbles, and turns lightly golden, approximately 2 to 4 minutes but watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Transfer the crab dip to a serving platter if desired and serve hot with crackers or toasts for dipping.
Notes
- This dip is a flavorful blend of creamy cheeses, spicy hot sauce, and classic Maryland Old Bay seasoning paired with fresh lump crab meat, ideal for parties or game day.
- Use fresh lump blue crab meat for the best texture and taste, carefully checking for shells.
- You can adjust the heat level by varying the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper.
- Broiling at the end adds a deliciously golden and bubbly cheese crust.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the dip warm and perfectly melty.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 326 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 842 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 98 mg
