Did Someone say HOT Crab Dip ????
Listen up, friends—this is the crab dip that turns “just a little bite” into “I’ll have one more… okay, 👌 Yeah – try stopping there…. and then it’s five more… Creamy, cheesy, a little hint of spicy, and loaded with sweet lump crab meat that tastes like you shucked it yourself five minutes ago. I’ve been making this hot crab dip for years, tweaking it until it was perfect, and now it’s your turn to wow the crowd.
True story: a friend made this crab dip for a party (Kudos to Sam – who I met while cooking in Italy ! 🇮🇹 💙) and his uncle, who used to own restaurants, cornered him for the recipe. That’s the level of deliciousness we’re talking about here!
Originally this recipe was on my first, pseudo attempt, at blogging – A girl and her tomato Pie FB page…. and I have just resurrected it from the depths of FB for all of our enjoyment!
Check out the pic below – do you wish you had a cracker or a piece of baguette and a nice glass of wine just now????? Reminder – my easy peasy baguette recipe is here. Of course if you bring this dip and one or two fresh, homemade baguettes, to a party – you’ll be a hero! Nobody has to know how easy it all was !!!!
Why you need this in your life right now:
- An appetizer – Ready in about 30 minutes flat (If you’ve remembered to put the cream cheese on the counter…. 😋)
- Travels like a dream (bake at home, serve hot when you arrive – reheat if necessary ! )
- Fancy enough for Christmas Eve, yet sassy and easy enough for a date night Tuesday….
- That lemon zest + Old Bay combo? Pure sunshine in every bite.
Where to get the “Fresh” Crab ????
Well….ughm, yeah. Maybe, just maybe, I don’t use fresh / recently shucked crab. My secret (shhhhhh 🤫) is the tub / plastic can of crab you get at Costco. Costco’s refrigerated crab is my ride-or-die; yes, it’s now $25+, but you’re worth it! (At my Costco, it’s in the refrigerated section with the cheese.) And your friends will love you and thank you. (The can used to be like $17.99 but it keeps going up ! You better buy 2…ha )
Is there anything else in your bag of Tricks?
YES there is !!!! If you are having a smallish dinner party, or making this on a weekday, use the handy dandy 1/2 recipe button / option below – and make less. Still creamy and dreamy and your people will love you and thank you – but you’ll have 1/2 LB of crab left. What to do with it ?
MAKE CRAB CAKES. I happen to have a recipe ! Then it becomes a Two-Fer. (Unless you have 5 kids, who all happen to be boys. Then you’ll need several cans of crab. Ha. You know who you are…)
What should I do now?!
Make it !!! Stop reading and go ! This dip disappears faster than you can say “Costco run.” Make it once and it will be requested every single holiday, game day, and random Tuesday from now until eternity.
You’re welcome. 😘
Pin it, print it, make it tonight. Your people deserve this crab dip in their lives.
Hot Crab Dip
Equipment
- Small Shallow Casserole Dish
Ingredients
Crab
- 16 oz Crab – Can of Crab (Costco)
Topping
- ½ C Panko
- 1 Lemon – Zest of the Lemon
Dip Base Mixture
- ¾ C Mayonaise
- 8 oz Cream Cheese – Softened
- 1 Red Pepper – Chopped Small
- 4 Cloves Garlic – Minced
- ½ C Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley – Finely Chopped
- 3+ Tbl Fresh Chives – Don't USE DRIED !!!!
- 1 Lemon (only 1 lemon!) – Juice of Lemon
Seasonings
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- ½ tsp Tabasco – Optional
Instructions
- Organize your ingredients – Make sure cream cheese is softened
- Preheat oven to 425℉
- Rinse the crab / drain in a small colander
- Prepare and chop the vegetables (red pepper / garlic) and fresh herbs. (I know it seems like a LOT of parsley but go with it…)
- Combine Panko and Lemon Zest in a small bowl
- Thoroughly Mix mayo, cream cheese, lemon juice, seasonings, vegetables and herbs in a medium / large bowl. (Note I made 1/2 the recipe for a small group – if you make a full recipe you'll need a larger bowl & casserole pan)
- After base mixture is thoroughly combined – add the drained crab and fold it into the base mixture.
- Place base mixture + crab into a baking / casserole dish. The baking dish should be wider than deep. (shallow baking dish)
- Cover base + crab mixture with panko / lemon mixture
- Bake for about 12 minutes – watch so that you don't burn the breadcrumbs.
- Serve with crackers or fresh Baguettes
