A Shrimp and Crab Dip is a warm, creamy appetizer made with fresh shrimp and crab meat, cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese. It’s flavored with green onions, garlic, Old Bay seasoning, and lemon zest. To make it, you mix all the ingredients together, transfer them to a baking dish, and bake until it’s bubbly and slightly browned on top.
After baking, it’s garnished with more green onions and chopped tomatoes. This dip is perfect for parties and gatherings, and it’s best served hot with crackers, crostini, tortilla chips, or fresh vegetables like celery and carrots. It’s easy to make and a crowd-pleaser, thanks to its rich and savory taste.
Shrimp and Crab Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Cooked fresh snow crab meat chopped into ½-inch pieces
- 8 ounces Cooked medium shrimp tails removed and chopped into ¼-inch pieces
- 8 ounces Regular cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup good quality Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup regular Sour cream
- 1 cup shredded medium Cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese divided
- ¼ cup chopped Green onion
- 4 large cloves Garlic minced
- 2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- Sliced green onion and chopped Roma tomato for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Dry the seafood: Press the crab and shrimp between paper towels to remove excess moisture. This prevents the dip from becoming watery.
- Mix the base: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream until smooth.
- Add the seasonings: Stir in the cheddar cheese, ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese, green onion, garlic, Old Bay seasoning, and lemon zest.
- Fold in the seafood: Gently fold in the crab and shrimp.
- Prepare to bake: Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the dip is bubbling and the top is lightly browned.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and let the dip sit for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with sliced green onion and chopped tomato. Serve hot with crackers, crostini, tortilla chips, celery, and/or carrots.
Notes
- Ensure Dry Seafood: Pressing the crab and shrimp between paper towels to remove excess moisture helps keep the dip from becoming watery.
- Softened Cream Cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is softened to make mixing easier and to achieve a smoother consistency.
- Add Toppings Last: For extra flavor and a fresh look, sprinkle the green onion and tomato on top just before serving.
Nutrition Facts:
| Nutrition | Value |
|---|---|
| Calories | 355 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 5g |
| Protein | 27g |
| Fat | 25g |
| Cholesterol | 160mg |
| Sodium | 990mg |
| Sugar | 3g |
Can I Use Canned Crab and Shrimp?
you can use canned crab and shrimp if fresh isn’t available. Just make sure to drain them well and pat them dry to avoid extra moisture in the dip.
Can I Make This Dip Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dip a day ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, just bake it as instructed.
What Can I Serve With This Dip?
This dip goes great with a variety of dippers! Try serving it with crackers, crostini, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies like celery and carrot sticks.