Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese, softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup light or regular sour cream
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon grated white onion
- 12 ounces lump crab meat (from 2 6-ounce cans)
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning salt (I use Lawry’s Seasoned Salt)
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley
- Few shakes of Tabasco sauce, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Crackers, baguette slices, or tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the mayonnaise and sour cream to the cream cheese. Mix until well combined and creamy.
- Fold in ¾ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, saving the remaining ¼ cup for topping.
- Stir in the grated onion, seasoning salt, Worcestershire sauce, and fresh lemon juice. Mix until evenly distributed.
- Drain the crab meat thoroughly and pick through it to remove any shell pieces. Gently fold the crab meat into the cream cheese mixture, being careful not to break up the lumps too much.
- Add the chopped parsley, Tabasco sauce, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the dip is hot and bubbly around the edges and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving with your choice of crackers, baguette slices, or tortilla chips.
Notes
- Always use lump crab meat for the best texture and flavor
- Make sure cream cheese is fully softened before mixing to avoid lumps
- Don’t overmix once you add the crab meat to preserve the chunks
- Can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated before baking
- Add an extra 5-10 minutes to baking time if starting from cold
- Adjust Tabasco and seasoning salt to your heat preference
- Fresh crab meat can be substituted but will significantly increase the cost
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Seafood
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz ( 113 g)
- Calories: 306 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 956 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 81 mg