Description
A rich and spicy Maryland Crab Dip featuring cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and lump blue crab meat, seasoned with Old Bay and hot sauce. Perfect for a flavorful appetizer served hot with crackers or toasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 5 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/4 cups), divided
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts (from about 2 scallions)
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Crystal, or more to taste
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning, plus more for sprinkling on top
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
- 1 pound 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 dip.
- 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 very thoroughly until smooth and fully mixed. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired, considering the crab will mellow the flavor.
- Fold in Crab Meat: Gently fold in the lump blue crab meat using a silicone spatula, being careful not to break up the crab lumps too much to retain their texture.
- Transfer and Bake: Scrape the crab mixture into a 1-quart baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the dip is hot and bubbling.
- Broil with Cheese: After baking, remove the dish from the oven and turn on the broiler. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheddar cheese and a light dusting of Old Bay seasoning over the dip. Place the dish about 4 to 6 inches from the broiler heat and broil until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Serve Hot: Transfer the crab dip to a serving platter and serve immediately with crackers or toasts for dipping.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper to control the spice level.
- Pick over the crab meat carefully to remove any shells for a pleasant eating experience.
- Use a 1-quart baking dish to ensure the dip cooks evenly.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the dip hot and bubbly with melted cheese on top.
- Old Bay seasoning adds signature Maryland flavor but be mindful of its saltiness when seasoning the dip.
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
