Description
Maryland Crab Dip is a creamy, flavorful seafood appetizer that combines rich cream cheese and sharp cheddar with succulent lump crab meat, seasoned perfectly with Old Bay and lemon juice. Baked until bubbly and golden, this dip is perfect for parties and gatherings served warm with baguette slices, crackers, or celery sticks.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Cheese & Crab
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound lump crab meat, picked over for shells
Garnish & Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and mixture: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Mix until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Add cheeses and herbs: Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley, ensuring they are evenly incorporated into the creamy base.
- Fold in crab meat: Gently fold the lump crab meat into the mixture, being careful not to break up the crab meat pieces to maintain their texture.
- Season and transfer: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the crab dip mixture into a small baking dish or an oven-safe skillet, smoothing the top evenly.
- Bake the dip: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the dip is hot, bubbly, and golden around the edges.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with additional chopped parsley. Serve warm alongside sliced baguette, crackers, or celery sticks for dipping.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
- This dip can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake; if baking from chilled, add 5 extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Make sure to pick over the crab meat carefully to remove any shell fragments.
- Use fresh lump crab meat for the best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of dip
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
