Description
This Spicy Maryland Crab Dip features creamy cream cheese and sharp cheddar blended with tangy sour cream, zesty hot sauce, and the distinctive flavor of Old Bay seasoning. Chunky lump blue crab meat is gently folded in for a decadent, flavorful appetizer perfect for parties and game day.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Base
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 1/2 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 5/8 cup), 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
Seafood
- 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 thoroughly until fully blended and season to taste, adjusting spiciness and saltiness as needed.
- Fold in Crab Meat: Gently fold the lump blue crab meat into the seasoned mixture using a silicone spatula, careful not to break up the crab lumps.
- Transfer and Bake: Scrape the crab mixture into a 1-quart baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until hot and bubbling.
- Broil with Cheese Topping: Remove the dip from the oven, turn on the broiler, sprinkle the remaining grated cheddar cheese and a light dusting of Old Bay on top. Broil about 4 to 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese melts, bubbles, and turns lightly golden, approximately 2 to 4 minutes.
- Serve: Transfer the hot dip to a serving platter and accompany with crackers or toasts for scooping.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure a smooth, creamy consistency for the dip.
- Gently folding the crab meat preserves the beautiful lumps and texture in the dip.
- Old Bay seasoning adds a unique salty and spicy flavor typical of Maryland crab dishes; use sparingly if sensitive to salt.
- Adjust hot sauce and cayenne pepper to control the spiciness to your personal preference.
- Serve immediately while hot and bubbly for best texture and taste; leftovers can be reheated gently.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 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
