Rich, creamy Hot Crab Dip cooked in a cast-iron skillet is the ultimate appetizer recipe for any party! Loaded with fresh crab meat and perfectly seasoned, your friends and family will be begging for this easy-to-make recipe.
If you need more tasty dips to serve, try my Million Dollar Dip or this Easy 3-Ingredient Sausage Dip.
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When throwing a party or having friends over for drinks, I always want to show the best in Southern hospitality. And that means serving good food. I always have one special, really delicious appetizer recipe that I pull out, and Hot Crab Dip is at the top of the list.
This recipe is no joke, THE BEST. I know folks say all the time that they have “the best” of this or that, but I can say with total conviction, that this recipe will make the best hot crab dip you’ve ever tasted.
What Makes This Crab Dip So Special?
- It’s made with fresh crab meat, so the flavor is out of this world!
- It’s creamy and cheesy, but oh so easy to make with simple ingredients and a great spice blend.
- Whipped up in minutes, this dip is ready to serve quickly!
What You’ll Need To Make Hot Crab Dip
- The Cream – This dip combines cream cheese, sour cream for tang, mayonnaise, and sharp cheddar cheese.
- The Flavor – To bring out the best of the crab, you’ll need a little lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dan-O’s seasoning, Old Bay Seasoning or my house seasoning, and red pepper flakes
- Crab – Fresh lump crab meat is a must! I do not recommend imitation crab meat, only real crab will do.
- Sliced Green Onions – These add a nice crunch and pop of color to the top.
Variations And Additions
- If needed, plain Greek yogurt can be substituted for the sour cream.
- I like to shred my own cheese from a block for the best flavor and texture. But, pre-shredded can be used too.
How To Make Creamy Hot Crab Dip
- Whip the cream cheese with a stand or hand mixer until it’s smooth in a large bowl.
- Add sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning, and red pepper flakes and blend until smooth.
- Gently fold in the crab meat and cheese. Spoon the mixture into a cast-iron skillet, top with a bit more cheese and a sprinkle of Dan-O’s Seasoning, and bake for 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Sprinkle on some chopped green onions and serve with toasted bread or your favorite cracker.
Donya’s Success Tips
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened (room temperature) for easy blending with the other ingredients.
- Use an 8″ cast iron skillet to easily transport it from the oven to the serving. You can also use a pretty baking dish.
- To make this dip ahead of time, make per the instructions, but do not bake. Cover and store it in the refrigerator until you can bake and serve.
What Type Of Crab Meat Is Best For This Recipe?
For this creamy dip recipe, I recommend using fresh crab meat. You can find it in the refrigerated meat section in the grocery store. Depending on what’s available, you can use two different kinds of crab meat:
- Lump crab meat comes from the crab’s body and is slightly sweet and tender. I also use
- Crab claw meat is darker than lump and back fin meat and has a rich flavor. It tends to be a bit less expensive than lump crab meat and is a good choice in appetizers or soups
Commonly Asked Questions
It’s recommended to garnish this dip with green onions after baking it, so they don’t burn in the oven.
Yes, you can use fresh crab instead of canned crab. Just be sure to remove any shells and chop the crab meat into small pieces before adding it to the dip.
Yes, you can add hot sauce to this dip to spice it up a bit. Add the amount to your desired level of heat.
What To Serve With The Best Hot Crab Dip You’ll Ever Eat
This dip is so, so good that I keep things simple. Here are a few easy ideas for serving.
- I serve the dip right in the cast-iron skillet along with toasted bread, ranch crackers, or tortilla chips along with some celery sticks for a bit of freshness.
- Make it part of a larger appetizer spread by serving it with this spicy cheese cracker snack mix, mini cheese balls, and stuffed celery.
Craving More? Try These Appetizer Recipes
If you tried this East Hot Crab Dip Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block of room temperature cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon Dan-O's Original Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1-¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 pound lump or claw crab meat
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions – optional
Instructions
- Set oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a medium-size cast-iron skillet with cooking spray and set it aside.
- Using a hand or stand mixer, whip the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning, and pepper flakes and mix together.
- Gently fold in 1 cup of shredded cheese and crab meat. Spoon into the prepared skillet, top with remaining cheese, a sprinkle of Dan-O's and bake for 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Remove from oven, top with chopped green onions, and serve with crackers or toasted bread.
Nutrition
Donya's Top Ten Summer Recipes!
Steal my favorites for a done-for-you menu that packs in the flavor
Made this wonderful recipe but subbed in lobster meat. That’s what I had and so so good. Rave family reviews and will do it again.
Thanks so much, Diane!
~Donya
How big is a medium skillet?
8 inches
Can I use Old Bay for the Dan O’s seasoning? I can’t get that spice here?
Hey there Kristin!
Thank you so much for your fantastic rating, and that is a great question! Old Bay would be a good substitute, but if you want to stick to the original recipe you can order Dan-O’s seasoning online at their website, I will put the link below. I hope this helps, let me know how it turns out if you end up making it! Thank you for your support!
~Donya