This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Everyone loves hot crab dip! It's creamy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor. Make this super easy crab dip recipe for game day and holidays – and watch it disappear!
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Kitchen Girl.
Why you'll love this crab dip recipe
- Once you have crab meat, you only need a handful of everyday ingredients for this recipe.
- Hot crab dip sounds fancy but it's simple. Just combine ingredients and bake!
- You can use various crab meat varieties that won't break your wallet.
- There are multiple seasoning options and you can make it as spicy or mild as you like!
- This simple recipe can be made-ahead or last minute.
- Use your oven or Crockpot to make this recipe.
Ingredients you'll need
- Cream cheese: Softened to room temperature for a smooth, creamy dip.
- Mayonnaise: Choose your favorite brand for the best flavor.
- Sour cream: Swap with Greek yogurt if preferred—both work perfectly.
- Fresh lemon: Both the zest and juice add a bright, citrusy flavor.
- Seafood seasoning: Old Bay or Cajun seasoning works great here.
- Lump crab meat: Fully cooked and ready to use. Check out the options in the FAQ section.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: Adds a gooey, stretchy texture.
- Grated Parmesan cheese: Brings bold, savory flavor and a bit of texture.
- Green onions or chives: Use either for a fresh, subtle onion flavor.
What kind of crab meat can I use?
There are many varieties of pre-cooked crab meat. Lump crab meat, including super and jumbo lump, is known for quality due to its texture, flavor, and appearance. Canned white crab and crab meat claw are more economical – both are flavor-packed and work great for this hot crab dip recipe.
In case you're wondering, imitation crab isn't really crab, but can be used for this recipe in equal amounts. If you're fancy, king crab legs or dungeness crab would be incredibly delicious, but unreasonably priced for a hot dip recipe.
How to make hot crab dip
Enjoy these step-by-step photo instructions or skip to the recipe tips and printable recipe below.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking dish. Blend softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, and seasoning until well-combined.
Fold in crab meat, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and green onions. Spread this mixture evenly in baking dish and sprinkle remaining mozzarella and green onions over the surface.
Bake for 25 minutes uncovered until the top is browned and bubbly. Rest the hot dip at room temperature for 10 minutes. Then serve and devour!
How to serve crab dip
Serve hot crab dip with homemade crostini, crackers, soft French bread, flat bread, tortilla chips, or veggie sticks like celery and carrots. Make sure your dippers are firm enough to handle the dip’s creamy texture.
Recipe tips
- Drain crab meat well to prevent a watery dip—aim for creamy, cheesy, and fluffy.
- Soften cream cheese to room temperature for a smooth texture.
- Use half a lemon for zest and juice; save the rest as wedges for serving.
- No salt is needed—ingredients provide enough, but adjust to taste.
- To prep ahead, make the dip and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Rest at room temp for 30 minutes before baking to prevent thermal shock.
Recipe variations
- For extra seafood flair, add chopped shrimp to the mixture before baking—just pat dry to avoid a watery dip.
- Mix in chopped artichoke hearts for added texture and Mediterranean flavor, but make sure they’re well-drained.
- Swap Monterey Jack or cheddar for even more cheesy goodness.
- Stir in a few teaspoons of hot sauce or spicy mustard for a spicy kick.
- Skip the oven and slow cook the dip on HIGH for 1 hour or LOW for 3-4 hours, stirring as needed. Serve straight from the cooker, just like my Crockpot spinach artichoke dip.
More party dip recipes
- Pull-Apart Crack Bread
- Pimento Cheese Dip
- Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Warm Jalapeno Popper Dip
- Easy Guacamole
- Greek Yogurt French Onion Dip
- 7 Layer Dip Recipe
📖 Recipe
Hot Crab Dip Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Kitchen Girl.
Video
Note about scaling
When scaling (2x or 3x), the light gray ingredient amount doesn’t scale. Please adjust those accordingly.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
- ¼ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Sour Cream
- ½ Lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Seafood Seasoning, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning
- 8 ounces Lump Crab Meat, drained thoroughly
- 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, reserve ½ cup
- ½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Green Onions, sliced, reserve 1 teaspoon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray an 8-inch oven-safe skillet or baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place CREAM CHEESE, MAYONNAISE, SOUR CREAM, LEMON ZEST, LEMON JUICE, and SEAFOOD SEASONING in a mixing bowl and use an electric hand mixer to blend until smooth.
- Fold in LUMP CRAB MEAT, 1 ½ cups MOZZARELLA CHEESE, PARMESAN CHEESE, and GREEN ONIONS.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared dish. Sprinkle the reserved MOZZARELLA CHEESE and GREEN ONIONS on top.
- Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, or until the surface is browned and the dip is bubbly.
- Carefully remove the hot dip from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to set up.
- Serve warm with crostini, crackers, French bread, potato chips, flatbread, pretzels, or vegetables.
Recipe Notes
- Cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Store in freezer-safe packaging for up to 90 days.
Equipment
- 8-inch oven-safe skillet or baking dish
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Thaw it completely and pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture before using it in the dip.
Old Bay is classic for crab dip, but Creole or Cajun seasonings work well too. No seafood seasoning? Try smoked paprika, hot paprika, or cayenne pepper for a subtle kick.
Cream cheese is the base for creaminess, but shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack add great flavor and melt perfectly. Feel free to mix and match!
Kim says
Can I reheat the dip in the microwave?
Traci says
Yes, you can definitely reheat the dip in the microwave! Just heat it in short intervals, stirring in between, to make sure it warms evenly. Enjoy!
Tia says
OMG this crab dip is going on our Super Bowl menu. It’s so easy and I love how I can make it ahead of time and bake on demand. Thanks for sharing this one!
Traci says
Aww darn. My recipe doesn't call for any salt because canned crab and cheese have plenty of salt. Not sure what happened there with yours.
Caroline says
Such a classic dip, and for good reason - I love how easy this is and lots of cheesy, yummy flavor.
Traci says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the feedback. Cheers!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
This was such a hit! Thank you for explaining the ingredients, can’t wait to make again!
Traci says
Yay! I'm glad you went for it. Thanks for letting me know. Cheers!
Lily says
This was the perfect party appetizer. It was easy to make, and within half an hour completely gone. I am adding this to my favorites.
Traci says
Awesome! I'm glad you went for it. It does get wiped out LOL. Thanks for the feedback. Enjoy!
Tara says
Oh yum! You had me at creamy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor. Such a fantastic dip for celebrations and get togethers.
Traci says
Yes! So glad you can enjoy it. Thanks for the feedback! Cheers!
JB says
We made this for a party recently and it got demolished! It was so easy to put together and bake it at the party, so it was super fresh. Everyone loved it! Great recipe - highly recommend!!
Traci says
Yesss! So glad it was enjoyed by all 🙂 Thank you so much!
Julia says
Delicious hot dip will become our favorite from now on!
Traci says
Yes!! It is def a favorite over here 🙂 So easy and cheesy! Thanks!
cyndy says
I made this for book club last night and it was such a hit! Next time I will double the recipe because it was the first thing gone on buffet table
Traci says
Lol that makes me so happy to hear! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Sandra says
This crab dip looks jump off the page delicious! Going to make this for Super Bowl!! Thanks for the recipe.
Traci says
Yay! Crab dip and Super Bowl just go together 🙂 Enjoy!!!
Stephanie says
I just can't get enough of this delicious dip! I'll definitely be making it often (and possibly not sharing!)
Traci says
It's easy to feel that way lol. Thanks so much!!
Kushigalu says
SO creamy and cheesy. Totally in love with this dip. Thanks for sharing
Traci says
You're so welcome! Happy to hear it 🙂