🦀 Hot Cheesy Crab Dip (Baked)

⭐ A creamy, cheesy, rich crab dip perfect for parties, game nights, or holidays!

🧾 Ingredients

Main Dip

• 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• ½ cup shredded cheddar (or Monterey Jack)

• ¾ cup sour cream

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

• 1 lb lump crab meat (fresh or canned, drained)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 green onions, thinly sliced

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1–2 tsp Old Bay seasoning (or seafood seasoning)

• ½ tsp paprika

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• Optional: 1 tsp hot sauce or ¼ tsp cayenne for heat

• Optional: 2 tbsp chopped parsley

Topping

• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

• A little paprika or Old Bay for dusting

🍽 Instructions

1. Preheat oven

Set oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Mix cheese base

In a medium bowl, combine:

• Cream cheese

• Sour cream

• Mayonnaise

• Garlic

• Lemon juice

• Old Bay

• Pepper

• Paprika

Mix until smooth.

3. Add crab & cheeses

Fold in:

• Crab meat (do NOT break it up too much)

• Mozzarella

• Cheddar

• Green onions

• Parsley (optional)

4. Add to baking dish

Spread mixture evenly into a small casserole or 8×8 dish.
Top with Parmesan and a dusting of paprika or Old Bay.

5. Bake

Bake 20–25 minutes until:

• Hot and bubbly

• Cheese is melted

• Top is lightly golden

6. Serve

Serve warm with:

• Toasted baguette

• Tortilla chips

• Pita chips

• Crackers

• Celery or cucumber slices

🧀 Q&A About Hot Cheesy Crab Dip

Q1: Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes!
Assemble everything, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Bake it when ready—add 5 minutes more to the baking time.

Q2: Can I use imitation crab?

Yes! It won’t taste as delicate or sweet as real crab, but it works well for a budget-friendly version.

Q3: Can this be frozen?

Not recommended.
Cream cheese + sour cream can separate after freezing, making it grainy.

Q4: How do I make it spicier?

Add any of these:

• ½–1 tsp cayenne

• 1–2 tsp hot sauce

• Jalapeños (fresh or pickled)

• Pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar

Q5: What kind of crab works best?

Best to good:

1. Fresh jumbo lump crab

2. Refrigerated lump crab

3. Canned lump crab (drained well)

4. Imitation crab (budget option)

Q6: How do I prevent it from being watery?

• Drain crab well

• Use full-fat cream cheese & sour cream

• Avoid overmixing crab

Q7: Can I add other mix-ins?

Yes! Great additions:

• Roasted red peppers

• Spinach

• Artichoke hearts

• Bacon bits

• Worcestershire sauce (½ tsp for depth)

Q8: Can I serve it in a bread bowl?

Absolutely!
Bake dip separately, then pour into a hollowed sourdough bread bowl for serving.