Description
This Hot Crab Dip is a creamy, flavorful appetizer perfect for gatherings or cozy nights in. Made with cream cheese, mayonnaise, fresh crab meat, and a blend of tangy and spicy seasonings, it’s baked to bubbly perfection and served warm with crackers or baguette slices.
Ingredients
Dip Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 green onions, sliced, greens included
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, or 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco, or more to taste
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1 cup fresh lump crab meat (or canned crab meat)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the dip.
- Make the crab dip filling: In a mixing bowl, use a stiff spatula or hand mixer to beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, water, sliced green onions, and parsley until the mixture is smooth and blended evenly.
- Add seasonings and crab: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and prepared horseradish to the creamy mixture. Fold in the slivered almonds and lump crab meat gently to combine without breaking up the crab.
- Taste and adjust: Sample the dip and add extra lemon juice or Worcestershire sauce to suit your preferred flavor balance.
- Bake the dip: Transfer the crab mixture into a 2-quart oven-proof casserole dish or a 9-inch pie pan. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until the dip is bubbly and heated through.
- Serve: Serve the hot crab dip immediately with crackers or thinly sliced baguette for dipping and spreading.
Notes
- Use fresh lump crab meat if possible for superior flavor, but canned crab meat works well too.
- Adjust the amount of Tabasco to control the heat level to your liking.
- Slivered almonds add a delightful crunch, but you can omit them for a nut-free version.
- Serve warm for the best texture and flavor experience.
- The dip can be prepared ahead and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dips
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
