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Get It NowWhenever I’m entertaining, I love to have at least one dip that can work for everyone, no matter if they are gluten-free, low carb, or just eat everything. And that’s this hot crab dip recipe. My 5-minute cold crab dip is always a hit, but when you want a warm, but still easy crab dip, it’s so easy to make that adjustment.
This one is even creamier and cheesier than the cold version. And if you make this crab dip recipe as part of an appetizer spread, it’s sure to be one of the first things to go.
Why You’ll Love This Hot Crab Dip Recipe
- Rich crab flavor with plenty of lump crab meat
- Smooth and creamy dip
- Quick 5-minute prep in one bowl
- Great source of protein (9.6 grams per serving)
- Easy to make ahead
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this crab dip recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Cream Cheese – The base of this hot crab dip recipe. Use full fat cream cheese for best flavor, but light or neufchatel works fine, too. Make sure your cream cheese is softened at room temperature, so that it mixes in well.
- Sour Cream – If you want to lighten it up a bit, substitute Greek yogurt.
- Mayonnaise – Make homemade mayo or use store-bought; either will work in this hot crab dip. You can also use only sour cream or only mayo instead of both, but combining them tastes better in my opinion.
- Lemon Juice – Brightens the flavor. Lemon almost always goes well with seafood dishes like this one. Fresh lemon juice is the most flavorful, but bottled lemon juice can be a convenient time saver.
- Old Bay Seasoning – This classic seafood seasoning makes an easy crab dip without messing with multiple spices individually, and it gives it a delicious, classic flavor.
- Cheddar cheese – We’re using shredded cheese, so buy it shredded to save some time or shred it yourself. Feel free to swap some of the cheddar for others, such as mozzarella or parmesan cheese.
- Crab Meat – If possible, look for jumbo lump crab meat. It will make the best hot crab dip recipe with big crab chunks!
- Backfin crab meat, which is a combination of small pieces of lump crab meat and flakes of white body meat, is a cheaper alternative that is okay to use, but the texture of the dip won’t be as good as using only lump crab.
- Claw meat is the cheapest kind and you won’t get any chunks, but it does have a hearty crab flavor.
- If you have leftover fresh crab meat (such as from making crab legs), this is an excellent choice and tastes even better than the kind from a can.
- Imitation crab meat works from a recipe standpoint, but the flavor is actually quite different.
- Chives – These add delicate flavor and a pop of color. You could also use thinly sliced green onions instead.
How To Make Crab Dip
This section shows how to make hot crab dip, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Mix creamy base. In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and Old Bay seasoning, until smooth. Use a hand mixer to make this easy!
TIP: Soften your cream cheese if you need to.
If your cream cheese doesn’t mix smoothly with the other ingredients, you can microwave the mixture for about 30 seconds to soften it, then stir until completely uniform.
- Add cheese, chives, and hot sauce. Stir until uniform. Taste and adjust hot sauce and/or Old Bay seasoning if you like.
- Add crab. Fold in the crab meat using a spatula.
TIP: Be gentle when folding in the crab.
You want lumps of crab throughout the dip, so don’t overmix.
- Transfer. Spoon the mixture into a small baking dish (this one is the perfect size). Smooth the top.
- Bake. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake crab dip until hot.
- Serve. If desired, garnish hot crab dip with more chives. Serve with your favorite dippers (see below for ideas).
Recipe Variations
If you want to take this dip to the next level, try one (or more) of these additions:
- Garlic – Add 2-3 cloves of minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Hot sauce – The amount on the recipe card still keeps it quite mild, but feel free to omit it. If you like some heat, add more hot sauce or even some finely diced jalapenos.
- Worcestershire Sauce – I decided not to include this due to the sugar content, but many crab dip recipes add this sauce for flavor depth and light sweetness. Feel free to add 1-2 tablespoons if you like.
- Salt – I don’t usually find it necessary to add any salt, since the cream cheese, cheddar, and Old Bay seasoning are already salty, but feel free to adjust to your taste.
- Bacon – Make bacon in the oven (my favorite method for crispy bacon), air fryer or microwave, crumble it and mix it into the dip.
- Spinach Artichoke – Stir about 1/2 cup drained frozen spinach and 1/2 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts to the dip, or simply add crab meat to spinach artichoke dip.
- Jalapeños – Add 1-2 jalapeños, finely diced, for a spicy kick.
Storage Instructions
- Store: After cooling the crab dip to room temperature, keep leftovers in refrigerator for 2-3 days. If you have leftover crab meat, use it to make a crab salad.
- Make Ahead: You can make the dip ahead, place in a baking dish, cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Bake right before serving.
- Reheat: Bake crab dip in a 350 degree F oven, or heat gently in the microwave. (I recommend the oven.)
- Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing this dip, as the dairy will change texture during freezing/thawing process. It’s safe to eat, but the texture won’t be as smooth.
What To Serve With Hot Crab Dip
Serve this recipe for crab dip hot with your favorite dippers:
- Raw Veggies – My favorite! Mini bell peppers, celery sticks, cucumber slices, and carrots are all great for scooping up dips.
- Crackers – Any kind will do, but flax seed crackers or almond flour crackers are delicious, healthy options.
- Breads – Sliced baguette is a common choice. For a low carb, gluten-free alternative, try almond flour bread.
- Chips – Use tortilla chips (or almond flour tortilla chips), light and crispy zucchini chips, or any other kind you like.
Looking for more hot dip recipes? Try my sausage rotel dip, classic spinach artichoke dip, or my infamous crack dip next!
More Easy Crab Recipes
If you like this recipe for hot crab dip, you might also like some of these other crab recipes:
Tools To Make Crab Dip Recipes
- Small Baking Dish – This is the one I used. It’s the perfect size for this dip and is beautiful enough to go from oven to table.
- Spatula – Make sure to fold in the crab meat gently, this spatula is the perfect tool to do so.
Hot Crab Dip Recipe
Hot Crab Dip Recipe (Easy & Creamy!)
This easy hot crab dip recipe is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with lump crab meat! It makes the perfect irresistible party appetizer.
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
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In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and Old Bay seasoning, until smooth and creamy.
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Stir in the cheddar cheese, chives, and hot sauce, to taste. Adjust Old Bay seasoning to taste if needed.
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Using a spatula, fold in the crab meat. (Do this gently and don't over-mix. You want some lumps of crab throughout.)
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Transfer the crab dip to a small baking dish (mine was this oval one). Bake for about 20 minutes, until hot.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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133 Comments
Carissa
0I have not made this, but I think I would like it with some Egglife wraps made into tortilla chips.
paula
0My husband loves Crab! He’s going to be a big fan of this recipe! Thank you.
Sandy
0One of my fave recipes. I usually make it double for my whole family to enjoy.
mar
0This will be great for the festive season. I will get the crab and try it soon – sounds scrumptious!
Susan
0Awesome experience eating crab recipe..loved it!
Heather
0Made this tonight hubby and I loved it!! Was perfect with our keto crackers for an apetizer while waiting for the main meal!!
Kristina
0I really enjoy hot cheesy dips and this one looks good too. Since I don’t need to follow a low carb diet I usually use some crusty french bread for dipping but I’m sure vegetables would be good too 😋
Jane Inniger
0Delicious recipe! We serve it to our guest every New Years Eve! Highly recommend.
Carol LaBella
0Your hot crab dip was delicious. Family visiting this weekend raved about it. Thank you so much.
Barrie
0This looks fantastic! I haven’t made crab salad before but this sounds great. I’d use pita chips and celery for dipping.
Deb
0This is delicious. I can’t wait to serve it Christmas Eve at our hors d’oeuvre party. My daughter will love it.
Shanea
0I’ve never tried crab meat, is it very fishy tasting? The rest of the ingredients sound delicious together
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Shanea, Crab has its own unique flavor, but if you don’t like fish you may not like crab meat.
Ken Kwan
0Another great recipe! We loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Candace
0I cannot wait to try this! With the holidays upon us, there should be ample opportunity. If I make it just for myself I will likely eat the whole thing!
Trin R
0This one’s a keeper. Went ahead a pinned it for good measure.
Yvonne
0My go to recipe when company comes!
Jenny
0Mmmmm… I love crab! This is gonna be absolutely fantastic!
Denise
0This is great! I’m always at a loss when it comes to appetizers. This is easy to make, but sure to impress!
Kelli Leon
0Haven’t had the chance to try this yet but it looks amazing!! I will definitely be making it for family gatherings!
Rebecca
0I love crab! Can’t wait to try this out!
Eve
0Will be making this for Christmas party! So glad someone suggested celery! I wasn’t sure what I was going to serve it with since I can’t do bread crackers or bell peppers
Pinky
0This looks delicious! What’s not to like? Ate it right out of the serving dish with a spoon!
Dawn Trottman
0Maya, this sound like something my mom would LOVE! So in light of that, I’m going to make this for her birthday, Dec 30. I know she’ll love it because 1) she likes my cooking (she dislikes cooking) and 2) she loves to eat crab.
Kathy Wood
0I am looking forward to making this dish and serving it with celery maybe some carrot sticks too!
Becky
0Pinning this to use for the holidays! Sounds delicious.
Lori
0Do you think you could you serve this with pork rinds or not?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lori, Yes, you could serve this with pork rinds.
Joni Starratt
0Served this at a bridal shower, was a huge hit. Everyone was asking for the recipe.
Karmen Burrell
0I love this recipe! I tried it and it was super easy to make and tasted so amazing.
Michelle L.
0This looks so good! I would serve this with some homemade flaxseed crackers and cut up veggies.
Cathy Pang
0Love crab!
Dawna
0Num num! Adding to my holiday appetizer menu. Thanks again for a great idea!
Heather Rose
0Yum! I love a creamy crab dip but have been skipping it since Keto. For some reason, I didn’t think that celery would make a perfect dipper until I saw your recipe photo.
Susan Nuck
0I will definitely be making this for New Years Eve!
Smith Gail
0We love this recipe. Requested at all holiday festivities.
Tammy Vogelgesang
0We love this dip!!!
Sherry
0Your hot crab dip recipe is easy and creamy!! I made your dip recipe for my Mom’s Night Out Event and they all wanted the recipe!! I happily gave them the name of your website. Thanks for another great recipe!!
Sandra Surtees
0This dip looks terrific. Thanks for posting it.
Farwin
0Served in a party recently and everybody loved it! So good!
Shelby
0Such a delicious appetizer! Brought it to a bridal shower and it was a huge hit.
Mandy Applegate
0I had this crab dip with tortillas and ate the lot in one go – delicious!
Jennifer
0I love this dip! It works perfectly with celery sticks. Another winning recipe!
Linda
0I don’t know if not being able to find the same ingredients in Scotland made this not so nice. I’m not sure if it’s the seasoning but would like to know what I could substitute to try this again.
Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli
0This hot crab dip is so delicious! Easy to make, it was enjoyed by everyone!
Gwynn
0I made this for guests and everyone loved it. This dip was the hit of our happy hour appetizers!
Barbara Shaffer
0Loved it as did my company! Crowd pleaser for sure!
Ann
0Oh my, I think I could eat this whole dip on my own! It’s so delicious! A very big crowd pleaser!
Hubert Kay
0Maya – thanks for this recipe, and all the work you’re doing! As usual, this looks absolutely delicious, can’t wait to try it. Question: can I make this in a (small) crockpot instead of the oven?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Hubert, This could be made in a crockpot.
Glenda
0One of our favorite dips for get-togethers! Absolutely delicious!
Shelby
0Whipped this up for movie night the other day and it was the perfect app!
Katerina
0Mmm..this is so ooey gooey DELICIOUS!!
Doris Layhe
0I made this for a girls night and gave the recipe to 5 friends! Everyone loved it, thank you!
Toni
0This dip was a huge hit at my house! Can’t wait to make it again!
Kristyn
0Mmmm…I could eat the whole bowl!! The crab meat is delicious in there & it’s packed with flavor! We just used some raw veggies, but I am excited to try this with some bread!