Jul 14 2026

Crab Dip Recipe

Time45m
Serves6

Blue crab meat blended with cheeses, cream, onion, and seasonings. Served in a warm sourdough bread bowl with fresh tortilla chips.

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Ingredients

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Crab Dip

Method

Crab Dip

  1. 1

    Prep

    Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). If using refrigerated crab, drain and pat the crab meat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Separate the green onion whites from the greens; slice both thinly. Finely mince the small yellow onion.

  2. 2

    Mix base

    In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a spatula or hand mixer until smooth. Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, and half of the shredded cheddar (reserve the rest for topping). Mix until homogenous and smooth.

  3. 3

    Season

    Stir in the finely minced yellow onion, green onion whites, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and hot sauce if using. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

  4. 4

    Add crab

    Gently fold in the lump blue crab meat, taking care not to break up large lumps too much. Fold just until crab is evenly distributed. Fold in remaining green onion greens, reserving a small pinch for garnish.

  5. 5

    Finish

    Transfer the crab mixture into an oven-safe baking dish or directly into the hollowed bread bowl (see next section). Smooth the top and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the surface. Drizzle the melted butter lightly over the top or brush on the exposed bread edges if using a bread bowl.

  6. 6

    Bake

    Bake in the preheated oven for 18–22 minutes if using a baking dish, or 15–18 minutes if baked inside a bread bowl, until the dip is bubbling and the top is golden brown. If you prefer a more browned top, set the oven to broil for the last 1–2 minutes while watching closely to avoid burning.

  7. 7

    Garnish & Rest

    Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and the reserved green onion greens before serving.

Bread Bowl & Serving

  1. 8

    Prepare bread bowl

    Slice a 2-inch thick round from the top of the sourdough loaf to create a lid. Hollow out the interior, leaving about a 1-inch thick shell so it holds up when filled. Brush the interior and lid rim lightly with olive oil or melted butter.

  2. 9

    Optional toast

    If you want a crisper bread bowl interior, place the hollowed loaf (and lid) on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 6–8 minutes before adding the dip. This helps prevent sogginess.

  3. 10

    Assemble

    If you baked the dip in a separate dish, spoon the hot crab dip into the prepared bread bowl. If you baked the dip inside the bread bowl, simply place the lid beside it. Arrange tortilla chips or crostini on a platter around the bread bowl.

  4. 11

    Serve

    Serve the warm crab dip immediately with tortilla chips, crostini, or torn pieces of the bread bowl. Provide a spoon for scooping and enjoy.

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