By Beleaev Family | International Caviar & Gourmet, Head Office London | beleaev.com
Hot crab dip is the American party staple that's been on every Mid-Atlantic football-watch table for 40 years. Cream cheese, cheddar, mayo, fresh white crab, baked until bubbling and golden. Eaten with crackers and celery sticks.
Key Takeaways
- Use full-fat cream cheese, never light
- Aged cheddar adds depth
- Old Bay seasoning for proper flavour
- Bake at 200C until bubbling
- Serve with thick-cut crackers and crudités
The Ingredients
Serves 6-8 as a snack
- 200g full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 100g full-fat mayonnaise
- 100g aged cheddar, grated
- 50g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
- 300g fresh white crab meat
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp Tabasco
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 tbsp finely sliced spring onions
- Sea salt and black pepper
- Thick-cut crackers and crudités for serving
The Method
Step 1: Mix the Base
Beat the softened cream cheese and mayo together until smooth. Add cheddar, parmesan, Worcestershire, Old Bay, mustard, Tabasco, and lemon juice. Mix well.
Step 2: Fold in Crab
Gently fold in the white crab meat. Don't overmix, keep visible chunks. Add spring onions. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Bake
Spoon into a small ovenproof dish. Bake at 200C for 18-20 minutes until bubbling and golden on top.
Step 4: Serve
Let cool 3 minutes. Serve with thick-cut crackers (Tuc, Ritz, or homemade), celery sticks, carrot batons, sliced bell peppers, and pita chips.
Tips
Don't overmix. Visible chunks of crab are part of the appeal.
Bake until bubbling. The top should be deep golden and the dip should bubble at the edges.
Serve hot. Cooled crab dip is rubbery.
Thick crackers. Thin crackers break under the heavy dip.
Variations and Pairings
With caviar topping: Top each scoop with a tiny spoon of Wild Salmon Roe for a luxury twist.
With chilli: Add 1 finely chopped jalapeño for heat.
With smoked salmon: Add 80g of finely chopped cold-smoked salmon for depth.
Wine pairing: A chilled American Chardonnay or sparkling rosé.
For more crab dishes, see our Maryland crab cakes and British crab cakes recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make in advance?
Mix and refrigerate up to 24 hours ahead. Bake just before serving.
Why Old Bay specifically?
The signature spice blend gives Maryland-style crab dishes their characteristic flavour. No substitute is quite the same.
How much per person?
60-80g per person as a snack alongside other items. Less if multiple snacks are offered.
Can I freeze it?
Not recommended. Cream cheese-based dips don't freeze well, the texture splits.
Further Reading
A bubbling dish of hot crab dip with crackers in the centre of the table is one of those snacks that turns a quiet evening into a proper get-together. Discover Beleaev's caviar collection at beleaev.com.
Beleaev is an international caviar and gourmet house headquartered in London, with fulfilment hubs across the UK, Europe, the UAE, and the United States. We deliver responsibly farmed Beluga, Oscietra, Sevruga, and Kaluga caviar to customers in each region within 24 to 48 hours.
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