Mardi Gras Crab Dip (Printable View)
Creamy crab blended with zesty spices, peppers, and cheddar for a festive party spread.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 8 oz lump crab meat, drained and picked over for shells
→ Dairy
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
05 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
06 - 1/4 cup green onions, thinly sliced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
→ Spices & Condiments
09 - 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
10 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/4 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
13 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
15 - Hot sauce, to taste
→ Garnish
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
17 - Additional green onions, sliced
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice in a large mixing bowl. Mix until completely smooth and creamy.
03 - Gently fold in the crab meat, cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, green onions, garlic, and jalapeño if using.
04 - Transfer mixture to a small oven-safe baking dish and smooth the top evenly.
05 - Bake for 15 minutes until heated through and bubbly.
06 - Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with fresh parsley and additional green onions.
07 - Serve warm with crackers, toasted baguette slices, or fresh vegetables.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cream cheese base keeps it velvety smooth while that Cajun seasoning builds this incredible slow heat that sneaks up on you
- It comes together in about five minutes of prep time but looks like you fussed over it for hours
02 -
- Overmixing the crab meat is the number one mistake, those chunks should stay intact or you lose that luxurious texture
- The dip continues to thicken as it cools slightly, so dont panic if it looks a little loose right when you pull it from the oven
03 -
- Spray your baking dish with cooking oil before adding the dip, makes cleanup so much easier
- Put your baking dish on a sheet pan in the oven, inevitable bubbly over spill beats cleaning burnt cheese off the bottom of your oven