Description
Spicy Maryland Crab Dip is a rich and flavorful seafood appetizer combining cream cheese, sharp cheddar, Old Bay seasoning, and lump blue crab meat. Baked until hot and bubbly, then broiled with extra cheese, this dip offers a perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and savory flavors, making it ideal for parties or game day snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 8 ounces (226 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 5 ounces (142 g) grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/4 cups), divided
- 1/4 cup (60 g) sour cream
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) mayonnaise
Seasonings & Aromatics
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts (from about 2 scallions)
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) hot sauce, such as Crystal, or more to taste
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (6 g) Old Bay Seasoning, plus more for sprinkling on top
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
Seafood
- 1 pound (454 g) lump blue crab meat, picked over for shells
Serving
- Crackers or toasts, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Mix Base: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, half of the grated sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, scallions, mayonnaise, hot sauce, Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Taste the mixture and adjust seasonings as needed, keeping in mind the richness and saltiness the crab will add.
- Fold in Crab Meat: Gently fold in the lump blue crab meat using a silicone spatula. Be careful to preserve the lumps of crab without breaking them apart too much, ensuring the texture remains chunky.
- Bake the Dip: Transfer the mixture into a 1-quart baking dish, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the dip is hot and bubbling all over.
- Broil with Cheese Topping: Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and set your oven to broil. Lightly sprinkle the remaining sharp cheddar cheese and an additional dash of Old Bay seasoning on top of the dip. Place the dish under the broiler about 4 to 6 inches from the heating element and broil until the cheese melts, bubbles, and turns golden—about 2 to 4 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Transfer the hot and bubbly crab dip to a serving platter. Serve immediately with crackers or toasted bread slices for dipping and enjoying.
Notes
- This dip combines creamy, spicy, and savory flavors making it perfect for game days or parties.
- Use lump crab meat picked clean of shells for best texture and taste.
- Adjust the hot sauce and cayenne pepper to your preferred spice level.
- Old Bay seasoning adds both spiciness and salt, so be cautious with additional salt.
- Serve warm for the best flavor and texture experience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe (about 120 g)
- 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
