Description
This Spicy Maryland Crab Dip is a rich and flavorful appetizer combining cream cheese, sharp cheddar, crab meat, and a blend of spices including Old Bay and cayenne pepper. Perfectly baked and finished under the broiler for a golden cheesy top, this dip is ideal for game day gatherings or casual parties, served hot with crackers or toasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Mixture
- 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
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts (from about 2 scallions)
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) hot sauce, such as Crystal, or more to taste
- 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
Seafood
- 1 pound (454 g) lump blue crab meat, picked over for shells
Serving
- Crackers or toasts, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the crab dip.
- Mix Base Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together the 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. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings as needed, keeping in mind the crab will mellow the flavors—add more hot sauce or cayenne for extra spice but be cautious with salt due to the salty nature of Old Bay and crab.
- Add Crab Meat: Gently fold in the lump blue crab meat using a silicone spatula to keep the crab lumps intact while evenly distributing it through the mixture.
- Bake Dip: Scrape the crab mixture into a 1-quart baking dish and bake it in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the dip is hot and bubbling.
- Broil Topping: Remove the baking dish from the oven and switch the oven setting to broil. Lightly sprinkle the remaining grated cheddar cheese and a dusting of Old Bay seasoning over the top. Place the dish about 4 to 6 inches from the broiler element and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Serve: Transfer the hot crab dip to a serving platter and serve immediately with crackers or toasts for dipping.
Notes
- The combination of cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, and Old Bay seasoning with sweet lump crab creates a perfect balance of creamy, spicy, and savory flavors.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper according to your preferred spice level.
- Be careful with additional salt as both Old Bay seasoning and crab meat are naturally salty.
- Serve the dip warm for the best texture and flavor.
- This dip makes a fantastic appetizer for game day, parties, or casual get-togethers.
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: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 98 mg
