Authentic Maryland Crab Dip Recipe (2024)

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This Maryland-style hot crab dip recipe is one of my favorite appetizers. I've been eating Chesapeake Bay Maryland blue crab all my life, and this was an experiment I'm so glad I tried!

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This simple recipe takes minutes to put together, 30 minutes in the oven, and it's scrumptious. Whenever we take this to a party, it is hands-down the favorite dish there!

If you love crabs and haven't had our Old Bay Crab Cakes recipe, it's one of the most popular recipes on this site. Everyone loves them! You also must try this Hot Butter Crab. I found the recipe in an old cookbook from Maryland and it's to die for!

You may know I've only been in Florida for a little over 12 years. I hail from Maryland, just outside our nation's capital. In fact, I was born in Washington, DC, but lived in Maryland all my life until we moved to Central Florida.

I share this to say I've been eating blue crabs since I was a young kid. We used to go crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay every summer. With that leftover crab meat, we made crab cakes and crab soup.

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If you're a seafood lover, check out this recipe for Drunken Mussels and this clam and mussels recipe known as Cioppino. I'm betting you'll love this lemon and herb shrimp, too. They are all so good!

Why You'll Love this Crab Dip

We made this dip with lump blue crab meat, cream cheese, and the perfect blend of spices. You can make this to serve at home or easily put plastic wrap over it and take it to a party.

It can be served warm but is just as good at room temperature. It pairs well with a toasted sliced baguette or crackers. It's the perfect easy appetizer!

For more delicious party foods, you've got to check out my simple charcuterie board, this spinach dip from my list of cream cheese appetizers, or something from this list of appetizers for a crowd. All are perfect for holiday parties or football season!

What Goes in This Recipe

You'll only need seven ingredients to make this easy crab meat dip.

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Key Ingredients

Fresh lump crab meat - you can usually find canned crab meat at the seafood counter at your local grocery store. Fresh crab meat is best, picked from the blue crab, but most refrigerated varieties are also good.

Old Bay Seasoning - this is our favorite seafood seasoning and the only one we use for crab recipes, including crab cakes and crab soup. We also steam shrimp in Old Bay and beer.

You could probably switch up the other ingredients, but you must have those two. I use a recipe that goes way back and could never make this delicious crab dip any other way!

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full printable ingredients list and directions.

How to Make this Hot Crab Dip Recipe

Preheat oven to 350º.

Mix softened cream cheese with mayonnaise, Old Bay Seasoning, and dry mustard in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.

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Gently fold lump crab meat into the mixing bowl being careful not to break up the lumps.

Spoon mixture into an 18 ounce oven safe baking dish.

Sprinkle with cheeses.

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Sprinkle with extra Old Bay Seasoning.

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Bake for 30 minutes. Brown slightly under the broiler on low.

As the dish will be hot, use a trivet when serving.

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Serve the creamy dip with crackers, tortilla chips, or toasted sliced baguettes.

An added bonus to this recipe is that it works for crab-stuffed mushrooms or served in phyllo cups as a pretty appetizer.

Variations

Some people add sour cream to their crab dip recipes. Many also add Worcestershire sauce. I've also seen fresh lemon juice and fresh parsley added. I don't personally think it needs another thing other than what I've listed in the recipe.

For a little heat, you could increase the Old Bay Seasoning or add a couple of dashes of hot sauce.

To crisp the top, you could add crushed crackers or bread crumbs. I'd probably use Panko to do that.

The only thing I add on occasion is sliced green onions. It makes the dish more festive and it does add a nice flavor boost. Maryland friends - don't judge me too harshly for that!

Top Tips

Lump crab meat can be pricey, but it really does make a difference in the flavor of this creamy crab dip. If you can't pay that much for crab meat, the regular variety will work. Don't use imitation crab meat.

Make sure to use a block of cream cheese and not a spread, and allow it to come to room temperature before mixing.

FAQ

Can I serve this Maryland crab dip recipe cold?

You can serve this as a cold crab dip. We like it warm, but it's delicious either way.

How long does this crab dip keep?

If it isn't gone the first day, I would eat it by the third day. Store it in an airtight container. You can also freeze it before or after it's baked for up to two months. If freezing after baking, make sure to let it cool before freezing.

What can I use if I can't find Old Bay seasoning?

You should be able to find Old Bay easily, but if you can't, Phillips Seafood Seasoning is a pretty good substitute.

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More Delicious Appetizers

  • Scallop and Shrimp Seafood Salad Recipe
  • Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Dipping Sauce
  • Savory Mini Tart Recipes

Authentic Maryland Crab Dip Recipe (14)

Crab Dip Recipe

This Maryland crab dip recipe is one of my favorite appetizers. I've been eating blue crabs all my life, and this is a recipe from years of eating crab dip!

5 from 43 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 14

Calories: 69kcal

Author: Kelly Stilwell

Equipment

  • 18 ounce oven safe baking dish.

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces Cream Cheese ½ package, softened. I used Neufchatel light cream cheese.
  • ½ Cup Mayonnaise I used Kraft light version
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay plus more for topping
  • ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
  • 8 oz crab meat lump
  • 1 Tablespoon Gouda cheese shredded
  • 1 Tablespoon cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350º.

  • Mix softened cream cheese with mayonnaise, Old Bay Seasoning, and dry mustard in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.

  • Gently fold in lump crab meat being careful not to break up the lumps.

  • Spoon dip into an oven safe dish.

  • Sprinkle with cheeses.

  • Sprinkle with extra Old Bay Seasoning.

  • Bake for 30 minutes. Brown slightly under broiler on low.

  • Optional: Top with sliced green onions.

  • Serve the crab dip with crackers, tortilla chips, or a baguette sliced and toasted.

Notes

Notes: Lump crab can be pricey, but it really does make a difference in the flavor. If you really can't pay that much for crab meat, the regular variety will work.

Make sure to use a block of cream cheese and not a spread, and allow it to come to room temperature before mixing.

To save calories, you can absolutely use light mayo and Neufchatel (light) cream cheese. I almost always use a lighter version if it's available and the taste is as good!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @kastilwell or tag #FFFP!

Authentic Maryland Crab Dip Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is crab dip made of? ›

Stir in mayo, sour cream, garlic, green onion, Old Bay seasoning, salt, Worcestershire, and lemon juice. Add ¾ cup cheddar cheese and hot sauce and mix until smooth. Stir in crab meat. Spread into a 9″ pie dish or similar size baking pan and sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese on top.

Why is my crab dip runny? ›

If your crab dip is too runny it likely means you didn't drain the crab meat properly. Make sure to remove as much liquid as possible before adding it to the dip.

What is imitation crab dip made of? ›

The main ingredient in this dip is surimi crab, otherwise known as imitation crab. It's typically made from dense white fish such as pollock, and shaped into the form of crab meat. It's mixed with mayonnaise, green onion, celery, and shredded cheese. That's it!

What do you eat with crab dip? ›

Sometimes served on soft pretzels and sometimes baked in a skillet, but always a must-have order. We eat it on chicken (usually called “Chicken Chesapeake”) or in quesadillas, but the best way to serve hot cheesy crab dip is with fresh bread, pita wedges, celery, and/or sturdy crackers.

What is the fancy name for crab dip? ›

Crab dip, sometimes referred to as Maryland crab dip, is a thick, creamy dip that is typically prepared from cream cheese and lump crab meat. Other primary ingredients such as mayonnaise may be used.

What does Old Bay seasoning have in it? ›

CELERY SALT (SALT, CELERY SEED), SPICES (INCLUDING RED PEPPER AND BLACK PEPPER), AND PAPRIKA.

Should crab dip smell fishy? ›

If it smells too strong or fishy, it's not good. Fresh crab should smell like an ocean breeze and lightly sweet.

Why is my crab dip fishy? ›

Maybe her Crab meat was old--and so had a fishy flavor. Fresh crab meat should not have that!

How do you thicken creamy dip? ›

Try adding a cornstarch slurry.

Mix together equal parts cold water and cornstarch, whisking the mixture to create a slurry. Make sure the slurry is completely combined to prevent lumps in your cream sauce.

Is crab dip healthy to eat? ›

Nutritional Snapshot of Crab Dip

Therefore, it can be an excellent addition to a balanced diet. One of its notable health-boosting components is its vitamins. It's rich in Vitamin A (61.0ug), which plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy vision and immune system.

Is there real crab in imitation crab? ›

Just like the name implies, imitation crab contains no crabmeat. Fish is, however, one of the main ingredients. It is made using surimi, which is a paste made of fish and a few other ingredients. Surimi is often made with pollock, which is also used to make fish sticks and breaded fish products.

What is the difference between imitation crab and real crab? ›

The bottom line

Imitation crab is a highly processed food made by combining minced fish with starch, egg whites, sugar, salt, and additives to mimic the flavor, color, and texture of real crab meat. While it's significantly less expensive than real crab, it's also less nutritious.

What kind of crackers to eat with crab dip? ›

Sourdough crackers and buttery crackers are usually the top pick. However, salty, herby and flavorful crackers will always do. Be sure to choose a cracker that is sturdy enough to hold the dense crab dip. Sea salt, sesame seeds, herbed, salty.

What flavors go best with crab? ›

vegetal and green notes. Cooked crab's vegetal aroma is most dominant and best described as being similar to that of cooked potatoes, which makes it a complementary pairing for potatoes (of course), but also eggplant, asparagus, cabbage, chicken, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves and even kimchi.

Why do people dip crab in butter? ›

People who use butter do it because they like the taste of seafood dipped in butter. There's no great mystery here. You can try it to see whether you like it.

What the heck is imitation crab? ›

On restaurant menus, imitation crab may be spelled “krab” to indicate that it's fake. Imitation crab is made from surimi, which is minced fish flesh — often pollock — that has been deboned and washed, then combined with other ingredients, heated, and formed into crab-like cuts.

Is Crab paste real crab? ›

While the exact recipe varies somewhat from region to region and brand to brand, crab paste is usually a mixture of fermented crab guts and roe cut with some kind of acid like vinegar or citrus and oil, which makes it a prime candidate for basting meats while they cook.

Where is crab dip from? ›

Maryland Crab Dip Highlights:

Made with the freshest ingredients and authentic Maryland blue crab, this creamy dip is a delectable combination of rich flavors and irresistible textures. Each bite of our Maryland Crab Dip is a tantalizing experience.

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