Description
This Spicy Maryland Crab Dip is a creamy, flavorful blend of cream cheese, sharp cheddar, sour cream, and lump blue crab meat, seasoned with hot sauce, Old Bay, and other spices. Baked until hot and bubbly, then broiled to a golden finish, it's the perfect savory seafood dip for entertaining or 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
To Serve
- Crackers or toasts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the dip.
- Mix the base: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together the 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. Adjust seasoning to taste, keeping in mind the crab’s saltiness and the spice intensity you prefer.
- Add crab meat: Gently fold in the lump crab meat with a silicone spatula, taking care not to break up the crab lumps more than necessary to maintain texture.
- Transfer and bake: Scrape the mixture into a 1-quart baking dish and bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbling, about 20 minutes.
- Broil with cheese topping: Remove the dip from the oven and switch the oven to broil. Sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese and a light dusting of Old Bay. Broil approximately 4 to 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese melts, bubbles, and turns lightly golden on top.
- Serve: Transfer the dip to a serving platter and serve hot, accompanied by crackers or toasts for dipping.
Notes
- For best flavor, make sure cream cheese is softened to room temperature before mixing.
- Adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the hot sauce and cayenne pepper according to your spice preference.
- Using lump blue crab meat ensures a premium texture and taste.
- Old Bay seasoning adds signature Maryland flavor; if unavailable, substitute with a seafood seasoning blend.
- Serve immediately after broiling for the best warm, gooey texture.
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
