Lump crab meat, cream cheese, cheddar, and parmesan come together to make this delightfully cheesy Hot Crab Dip Recipe. Quick and easy to prepare, you can enjoy it with crackers or crostini straight from the oven.
I always keep quick and easy dip recipes saved so I’m ready to go anytime I need to bring a dish to a party. This cheesy hot crab dip is definitely one of our all-time favorites, alongside others like smoked salmon dip and spinach artichoke dip. It’s always a hit!
Why You’ll Love This Hot Crab Dip Recipe
Here are a few reasons why we love this hot crab recipe so much.
- Made with REAL crab meat. This recipe uses lump crab meat so there are actual pieces of crab throughout the dip. No imitation crab in this recipe! Using canned lump crab meat helps keep it affordable too.
- SO easy. All you need to do is combine the ingredients, transfer them to a baking dish, and pop it in the oven. It takes like 5 minutes of hands-on prep time.
- Great for parties. I start making this cheesy hot crab dip during the holidays – it’s great for Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties – and I don’t stop until after the Super Bowl. This is always a hit at game day gatherings!
What You’ll Need
This hot crab dip recipe is made with just 7 main ingredients plus spices. You can find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- Cream cheese – Regular or low-fat cream cheese will work for this recipe.
- Sour cream – Adds a tangy, creamy texture to the dip.
- Mayonnaise – Adds a bit of richness to the dip.
- Crab meat – You want lump crab meat for this recipe, so you have nice chunks of crab. If using canned lump crab meat, be sure to drain it thoroughly.
- Shredded cheddar – It’s not cheesy hot crab dip without lots of cheese! I like cheddar but you could use a Monterrey Jack, Colby Jack, or similar.
- Spices – Dried parsley and all-purpose seasoning.
- Buffalo sauce – Adds just a small amount of heat. Feel free to use your favorite, like Frank’s Red Hot. For a spicier dip, use a spicier sauce.
- Parmesan – Freshly shredded parmesan from the block is best.
What is Lump Crab Meat?
Lump crab meat is chunks of real crab meat. You can find jumbo lump which is bigger pieces but not necessary for this recipe. The good thing about lump crab meat is that A) it’s real crab and B) it mixes well into dips without breaking down or turning into mush. When you bite into this dip, you get actual pieces of crab.
Most lump crab meat comes in a can but some stores will carry fresh lump crab meat, which works too.
How To Make Hot Crab Dip
This savory dip takes just a few minutes of prep. It’s so easy! You can find the printable version of the instructions in the recipe card below.
- Combine the ingredients. Mix all ingredients together except for the parmesan, until everything is thoroughly combined. Top with the parmesan and a few sprinkles of parsley and pepper.
- Bake. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Bake at 350F for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!
Tips & Variations
Here are a few tips for making the best cheesy hot crab dip, as well as a few ways to customize it.
- Use room temperature cream cheese. It’s important that the cream cheese softens to room temperature before you make the dip. Otherwise, you won’t be able to mix everything easily and the dip will have chunks of cream cheese. If needed, pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds or so.
- Drain the crab meat. If you use canned crab meat, be sure to drain it well before adding the crab to the bowl. Otherwise the liquid will make the dip too runny.
- Use freshly grated cheese. Freshly grated cheddar and parmesan are the way to go with this recipe. They’ll taste better and melt easier!
- Make it spicy. The “hot” in hot crab dip refers to the fact that it’s baked and served warm, not to the flavor. The small amount of buffalo sauce added is more for flavor than heat. If you want a spicy dip, add more hot sauce, Tabasco sauce, or red pepper flakes. You can also stir in some diced jalapenos.
What To Serve It With
I love to serve this cheesy hot crab dip with a variety of dipping options. My personal preference is Ritz crackers but a few other options include:
- Club Crackers
- Tortilla Chips
- Celery, carrots & cucumbers
- Breadsticks
- Pita Chips
- Crostini or baguette slices
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make ahead. You can prep this hot crab dip up to 2 days in advance. Prepare as directed but cover and refrigerate before baking. Remove from the fridge ~30 minutes before baking.
- Fridge. Leftover crab dip can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just keep the baking dish covered with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container.
- Freezer. You can also freeze this dip for up to 2 weeks in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge before reheating. Note that if you plan to freeze it, you should avoid non-fat and low-fat cheese as higher fat content freezes better.
- Reheat. You can reheat the entire baking dish of dip in the oven at 350F for 10 minutes or so, covering it with foil if needed. Individual servings can be reheated in the microwave.
Other Dip Recipes You Will Love
- Chicken Enchilada Dip
- Best Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Skillet Mexican Corn Dip
- Cucumber Dill Dip
- Crack Dip
Cheesy Hot Crab Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 8 ounce cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 can lump crab meat
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 Tablespoon dried parsley + extra for topping
- 1-2 tsp all purpose seasoning
- 2-3 tsp buffalo sauce
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Chips or crackers to serve with
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except parmesan thoroughly.
- Top with parmesan, plus a few sprinkles of parsley and pepper, then pour into a baking dish.
- Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes, then serve as desired.
Last Step:
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6 comments on “Hot Crab Dip”
So easy and delicious!!!
Thanks Margaret!
i know it is DELICIOUS have had iT ….but never made it…..sounds expensive wuth all these ingredients….especially s ince alot of engredients may bever ir rarely b used again
Really? Everything (except the can of crab) is in my pantry or fridge every day!
Hi can I use fresh crab? And where do I find buffalo sauce?
Franks Red Hot sauce is normally what they use on buffalo wings. You can find it just about anywhere. I’ve even seen it in little small kinda sample looking bottles at Walmart and such places. Good luck.