Seafood Dip
Baked seafood dip with crab, cream cheese, cheddar, and Old Bay, served hot.
Equipment
- 2-quart baking dish
- Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
- Oven
- Rubber spatula
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1/2 CupCherry TomatoesDiced
- 8 ozCream CheeseSoftened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoonlemon zest
- 2 clovesgarlicminced or two teaspoon minced garlic in oil
- 1 CupMayo
- 1 teaspoonHot Sauce
- 1 pinchsalt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspooncayenneoptional
- 1 Cupcheddar cheeseshredded
- 1 TbsOld Bay Seasoning
- 16 ozCrab Meat
- 3 green onionschopped
Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and have a 2‑quart baking dish ready.
- In a large bowl, combine ½ Cup diced cherry tomatoes, 8 oz cream cheese (softened to room temperature), 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 cloves garlic (minced) or 2 teaspoons minced garlic in oil, 1 Cup mayo, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, 1 pinch salt and pepper, ¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional), 1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 Tbs Old Bay Seasoning.
- Stir the mixture with a spatula or spoon until the ingredients are evenly blended and smooth.
- Gently fold in 16 oz crab meat with a rubber spatula, taking care not to break up the crab pieces.
- Transfer the mixture into the 2‑quart baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Bake on the center oven rack for 20–30 minutes, until the dip is bubbly throughout.
- Remove from the oven and let cool 2–3 minutes. Sprinkle with 3 chopped green onions and serve hot.
Notes
The amount of tomatoes is optional, they add a lot of color to the dish and so you might want to use more but if tomatoes isn't your thing, then you might want to use less.
The amount of tomatoes is optional, they add a lot of color to the dish and so you might want to use more but if tomatoes isn't your thing, then you might want to use less.
If using a tomato other than cherry tomatoes, scoop the seeds and gelled part of the tomato out so that your dip doesn't become soupy.
If using a tomato other than cherry tomatoes, scoop the seeds and gelled part of the tomato out so that your dip doesn't become soupy.
It is a lot easier to mix this if you use room temp cream cheese.
It is a lot easier to mix this if you use room temp cream cheese.
The lemon zest is optional and you can also add the juice of the lemon, it all depends on how much you enjoy lemon flavors with your seafood dip.
The lemon zest is optional and you can also add the juice of the lemon, it all depends on how much you enjoy lemon flavors with your seafood dip.
Let's don't get into the mayo argument, but we find that Dukes Mayo works best for recipes (we like Hellmans for sandwiches).
Let's don't get into the mayo argument, but we find that Dukes Mayo works best for recipes (we like Hellmans for sandwiches).
Cayenne is optional, it adds some heat.
Cayenne is optional, it adds some heat.
You'll get the best results if you shred the cheddar cheese yourself and use the best quality of cheese you can find, however, if you need to use pre shredded cheese, that will work.
You'll get the best results if you shred the cheddar cheese yourself and use the best quality of cheese you can find, however, if you need to use pre shredded cheese, that will work.
Use lump crab meat or claw meat in large chunks, drain any liquid off of the can before using.
Use lump crab meat or claw meat in large chunks, drain any liquid off of the can before using.
We like to use the crab meat that you find in the meat case in a yogurt size container.
We like to use the crab meat that you find in the meat case in a yogurt size container.
The green onion is a garnish but it does add a nice fresh flavor to the final dish.
The green onion is a garnish but it does add a nice fresh flavor to the final dish.
The amount of tomatoes is optional, they add a lot of color to the dish and so you might want to use more but if tomatoes isn't your thing, then you might want to use less.
If using a tomato other than cherry tomatoes, scoop the seeds and gelled part of the tomato out so that your dip doesn't become soupy.
If using a tomato other than cherry tomatoes, scoop the seeds and gelled part of the tomato out so that your dip doesn't become soupy.
It is a lot easier to mix this if you use room temp cream cheese.
It is a lot easier to mix this if you use room temp cream cheese.
The lemon zest is optional and you can also add the juice of the lemon, it all depends on how much you enjoy lemon flavors with your seafood dip.
The lemon zest is optional and you can also add the juice of the lemon, it all depends on how much you enjoy lemon flavors with your seafood dip.
Let's don't get into the mayo argument, but we find that Dukes Mayo works best for recipes (we like Hellmans for sandwiches).
Let's don't get into the mayo argument, but we find that Dukes Mayo works best for recipes (we like Hellmans for sandwiches).
Cayenne is optional, it adds some heat.
Cayenne is optional, it adds some heat.
You'll get the best results if you shred the cheddar cheese yourself and use the best quality of cheese you can find, however, if you need to use pre shredded cheese, that will work.
You'll get the best results if you shred the cheddar cheese yourself and use the best quality of cheese you can find, however, if you need to use pre shredded cheese, that will work.
Use lump crab meat or claw meat in large chunks, drain any liquid off of the can before using.
Use lump crab meat or claw meat in large chunks, drain any liquid off of the can before using.
We like to use the crab meat that you find in the meat case in a yogurt size container.
We like to use the crab meat that you find in the meat case in a yogurt size container.
The green onion is a garnish but it does add a nice fresh flavor to the final dish.
The green onion is a garnish but it does add a nice fresh flavor to the final dish.