This sizzling and tacky Maryland crab dip will get the stamp of approval from locals and out-of-towners alike. For the very best style and texture, use recent lump crab meat and the opposite 8 components listed, together with cream cheese, Outdated Bay seasoning, and cheddar cheese. Sluggish cooked or baked, that is probably the most irresistible dip. Attracts a crowd each time I make it!
One reader, Jennifer, commented: “My sister and I grew up in Columbia, MD and now stay in Dallas, TX. I made this dip for NY Day soccer with our husbands. It was completely scrumptious! Everybody cherished it, which as a Marylander too -we are powerful critics of crab dishes. ★★★★★“
Stroll into just about any Maryland restaurant and also you’re certain to seek out sizzling crab dip on the menu. It’s our staple. Generally served on smooth pretzels and typically baked in a skillet, however at all times a must have order. We eat it on rooster (often referred to as “Rooster Chesapeake”) or in quesadillas, however one of the best ways to serve sizzling tacky crab dip is with recent bread, pita wedges, celery, and/or sturdy crackers.
Right here in Maryland, WE LOVE OUR CRAB DIP.
This Sizzling Crab Dip Is:
- Made with jumbo lump crab, similar to crab pretzels
- Tacky dip meets crab truffles
- Irresistibly creamy
- Outdated Bay-seasoned
- Baked or sluggish cooked, your selection
- Additional fast, no pre-cooking
- Nothing lower than an enormous hit, assured!
This does Maryland justice!
Search the web and also you’ll discover thousands and thousands of crab dip recipes. They’re all centered round—you guessed it—crab, however the different components can differ. I’ve tasted dozens of crab dips (I’m surrounded by it!) and I do know what works, and what doesn’t.
The Finest Crab Dip Components
These are the 9 components it’s essential to make the very best Maryland crab dip on the planet. And that’s not an exaggeration. I do know lifelong Maryland locals who swear by this one!!!!
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is the bottom of this dip. No substitutions right here.
- Mayonnaise: I don’t like mayonnaise and I nonetheless love this crab dip. You don’t want a lot—simply sufficient to skinny out the cream cheese and add that vital creamy dip texture.
- Bitter Cream: Some crab dip recipes name for simply mayo and cream cheese, however I like to interrupt down these heavier components with tangy bitter cream.
- Cheddar Cheese: You need to use sharp cheddar or white cheddar if desired, however don’t use one other cheese that has a stronger taste since you don’t need to overpower the crab.
- Floor Mustard: A touch of mustard is a key ingredient in any Maryland crab cake recipe and we’re utilizing one thing related right here, too. Floor mustard is critical—and don’t fear, you don’t style mustard.
- Lemon Juice: Recent, balancing taste!
- Outdated Bay Seasoning: This salty spice is a staple in Maryland, the place it’s made, particularly with crab.
- Worcestershire Sauce: A lot taste. You don’t want loads—simply 2 teaspoons.
- Lump Crab Meat: For the best possible crab dip, I like to recommend utilizing lump crab meat or a mixture of lump crab meat and backfin meat. Lump crab meat ensures these huge, mouthwatering bites of crab.
A touch of sizzling sauce is scrumptious, too!
Easy methods to Make Sizzling Crab Dip
You’re solely about 30–35 minutes away from this bliss.
- Beat the cream cheese first. You need it tremendous creamy and easy.
- Beat in the remainder of the components, besides the crab.
- Gently fold within the crab meat. Keep away from utilizing a mixer for this step since you don’t need to fully break down the lump crab.
- Sluggish cook dinner or bake. Sluggish cook dinner on low for 3–4 hours till sizzling and creamy; or bake in a casserole dish, pie dish, or oven-safe skillet for 25 minutes, or till browned and bubbly across the edges.
The method is fast, easy, and foolproof so long as you’re utilizing the appropriate components. A handheld or stand mixer is certainly useful and makes mixing simpler, however I’ve combined it collectively by hand earlier than too.
Serving Crab Dip
For serving, preserve issues easy. You need the flavors from the dip to shine, so don’t serve with crackers or breads with overpowering flavors. Baguette slices, toasted artisan bread (pictured!), or sturdy crackers/pita chips are key so you’ll be able to scoop up all that lump crab.
Finest Crab Meat for Crab Dip
On the market, you could find canned, frozen, or recent (refrigerated) crab meat. Unrefrigerated canned crab meat doesn’t have the freshest taste (clearly). If it’s essential to use canned, search for canned crab meat within the refrigerated part of your market. The brisker the crab meat, the higher the crab dip will style.
Crab meat labeled “hand-picked” or “fresh-picked” is absolutely cooked and offered in plastic tubs by the butcher or seafood counter. That is what I at all times use for crab truffles and crab dip, and extremely encourage you to make use of the identical right here. It’s pricier than canned, however you’ve a totally completely different (and recent) product. Don’t fear, all the opposite components are fairly cheap, particularly if you are going to buy store-brand or discover them on sale.
Ask your grocer the place to seek out the freshest crab meat within the retailer. I buy recent crab meat offered in a 1-pound tub from the seafood counter.
This DOES NOT disappoint!
Even Extra Appetizer Recipes
Maryland Sizzling Crab Dip
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook dinner Time: 25 minutes
Complete Time: 35 minutes
Yield: serves 8
Class: Appetizers
Methodology: Baking
Delicacies: American
Description
For the very best texture, use lump crab meat and every ingredient listed. No substitutions! Serve with crusty baguette, sturdy crackers, celery sticks, or pita wedges. For extra success suggestions and to study which crab meat to make use of, see weblog publish above.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C).
- In a big mixing bowl utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high velocity till easy and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Add the mayonnaise, bitter cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese, floor mustard, lemon juice, Outdated Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and sizzling sauce (if utilizing). Beat on medium-high velocity till mixed. Utilizing a spoon or rubber spatula, gently fold within the lump crab meat. In the event you used sizzling sauce, style, then add extra sizzling sauce if desired.
- Switch to a 9-inch (or barely bigger) baking pan, pie dish, or oven-safe skillet. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes or till sizzling and bubbly across the edges.
- Serve heat.
- Cowl and retailer leftovers within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Reheat within the microwave or in a 350°F (177°C) oven till warmed all through.
Notes
- Make Forward & Freezing Directions: You’ll be able to absolutely assemble this crab dip, cowl tightly, and refrigerate for as much as 2 days earlier than baking/sluggish cooking and serving. You may as well freeze the unbaked or baked (and cooled) crab dip for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then bake as directed; or, if already baked, thaw and warmth in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 25 minutes or till warmed all through.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Glass Mixing Bowl | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Picket Spoon or Rubber Spatula | Oven-Protected Skillet
- Be sure you’re utilizing a block of cream cheese, not cream cheese unfold. I’ve used lower-fat components with no drawback like reduced-fat (not fat-free) cream cheese, bitter cream, and mayo, however the dip clearly tastes richer with the full-fat variations.
- Outdated Bay: Use 2 teaspoons for a spicier kick. (I often do!)
- Which Crab Meat to Use: For any questions relating to which crab meat to make use of, see Finest Crab Meat for Crab Dip within the weblog publish above. I extremely advocate recent (refrigerated) lump crab meat.
- Sluggish Cooker: Observe steps 2 and three. As an alternative of transferring to a baking dish, spoon into your sluggish cooker (don’t add the 1/4 cup of cheese on prime) and cook dinner on low for 3–4 hours till sizzling and creamy. Stir sometimes because it cooks. Over the last half-hour, sprinkle 1/4 cup reserved cheddar cheese on prime.
