Warm Crab Dip

This warm crab dip is the kind of appetizer that steals the spotlight at any gathering. It’s irresistibly creamy, loaded with tender chunks of crab meat, and finished with just the right amount of melted cheese for that gooey, savory bite everyone craves. Perfect for serving straight from the stovetop, it pairs beautifully with pita chips, buttery crackers, toasted baguette slices, or even crisp vegetable sticks.

This warm crab dip is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that seafood lovers can’t resist. Every time someone tries it for the first time, the reaction is the same: “This is incredible!”

It’s creamy, cheesy, perfectly warm, and generously loaded with tender crab meat. Paired with chips or crackers, it’s the kind of appetizer that quickly becomes everyone’s go-to favorite.

Need proof of its popularity? Whenever I bring the ingredients to my cousin’s house and whip up a batch, she always says, “This is simply delightful,” which makes me laugh because she says it every single time. And no matter where I serve it, people who’ve had crab dip before always insist, “This is the best batch ever!” — and they mean it.

Serve it with Ritz Chips (my personal favorite), or try potato chips, tortilla chips, pita bread, sliced baguette, or even toasted English muffins — it’s delicious with all of them.

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Have extra crab dip? Try stuffing mushrooms with the dip and then wrapping the whole thing in bacon. Here’s the recipe.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Cream cheese – full fat. I’ve also made this with low fat but splurge as it’s much tastier with full fat.
• Mayonnaise – Again full fat, but you could make it with a lower fat mayo if you prefer. You could also substitute sour cream for the mayo.
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Dijon mustard – not yellow mustard.
• Worcestershire sauce
• Horseradish – this is optional but so good in it.
• White wine – a dry white like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
• Shredded cheese – This time around, I used Mexican cheese, but I usually use cheddar. Suit your taste, but shredded melts faster and more consistently.
• Crabmeat – You don’t need premium crab for this dip. Your guests won’t know the difference. I do like to sprinkle some premium lump crab meat on top though.

Helpful tips

• I don’t worry about totally melting the cream cheese with the mayonnaise because you will be heating it each time you add more ingredients.
• I have used different types of cheeses in this dip. My favorites are Mexican cheese and sharp cheddar.
• When you serve this dip and you want a pop of color, you can add chopped green onions on top.
• If there are any leftovers, you can store this dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Or in the freezer for 2 months.

How to make warm crab dip

Pre-step

Get a medium saucepan, and a rubber spatula. Open the cans of crab meat and drain the liquid out of the meat.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic & onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, crabmeat, white wine, and shredded cheese.

Step two

Add the cream cheese to the saucepan. Use a knife to cut it into chunks and then add mayonnaise on top of the cream cheese. (A)

Step three

Turn the heat on medium under the pan and stand there stirring it as the cream cheese melts. (B)

Step four

Add the spices, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish. (C)

Step five

Stir to combine with the cream cheese mixture. (D)

Step six

Add the drained crab meat. (E) Fold the meat in until it is combined. Add the cheese. (F)

Step seven

Stir as the cheese melts. (G) It should be thick.

Step eight

Add the white wine to thin out the dip and stir until combined. It should still be thick but not too thick.

Add more wine if you want your dip thinner, but I find the amount I use to give it the perfect consistency. (H)

Transfer the warm crab dip to a serving bowl and add chips to some other bowls. Serve right away.

Delicious.

Let’s add some jumbo lump crab meat. This is optional.

I hope you enjoyed this warm crab dip recipe and just know that you HAVE to make it for the holidays. Your guests will thank you!

Other dips and appetizers

• Corn dip
• Beef chile con queso
• Bacon wrapped scallops
• Chili cheese dip
• Chorizo dip
• Pepperoni pizza dip
• Shrimp dip

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Originally published in December of 2015.