Hot Crab Dip

Name: Healthy Hot Crab Dip
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 oz Reduced Fat Cream Cheese; ⅔ cup Low-Fat Greek Yogurt (plain); 3 tbsp Light Mayo; 2 tsp Hot Sauce; 2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning; 1 tbsp Lemon Juice; 16 oz Lump Crab Meat (canned); 5 Scallions (chopped); 4 tbsp Parmesan (divded); Fresh parsley for garnish on top

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Elevate your next party or tailgate with this decadent and healthy Hot Crab Dip Recipe! It’s made with a few simple ingredients, lump crab meat, and takes less than 30 minutes to bake in the oven.

A dish of hot crab dip on a wooden board with crackers and celery sticks.

This warm crab dip tastes amazing with pieces of crusty bread, pita chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables. It’s the perfect easy, but indulgent seafood dip for any occasion. All of your guests will love this dip and beg you for the recipe!

If you like simple seafood recipes, you will love my healthy shrimp salad and shrimp salad with strawberries.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Creamy, Indulgent, and Flavorful: This is the best crab dip recipe because it’s rich, creamy, and packed with flavor from the Old Bay seasoning and crab meat.
Ready in Less Than 30 Minutes: This easy and delicious dip is ready in less than 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for whipping up at the last minute or when you’re in a hurry.
Perfect for Parties, Tailgates, or Holidays: Take this hot, creamy crab dip to your next party or holiday gathering, and everyone will beg you for the recipe. It’s that good!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Variations & Dietary Modifications
How to Make Hot Crab Dip
Expert Tips
Serving Suggestions
Recipe FAQs
More Delicious Dip Recipes
Healthy Hot Crab Dip Recipe

Ingredients

Cream Cheese: Use reduced-fat softened cream cheese to create the tangy and creamy base for this dip.
Greek Yogurt: A plain, low-fat Greek yogurt is the perfect way to thin out the dip and add some extra protein. You could also use sour cream, but it has more calories and fat.
Mayonnaise: A light mayonnaise acts as an emulsifier to maintain the consistency of the dip and complement the other flavors.
Old Bay Seasoning: This is a seasoning blend that comes from Maryland and is made with 18 different spices and herbs like paprika, celery salt, and bay leaves. It complements the flavors of seafood like the crab in this dip.
Lemon Juice: A bit of fresh lemon juice brightens up the flavors of the crap and adds a little acidity to the dip.
Lump Crab Meat: For this recipe, I used canned lump crab meat. Be sure to drain it well to avoid adding excess moisture to the dip. You can also use fresh crab meat if you prefer.
Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a punch of salty and savory flavor to the top of the dip and creates a browned cheese crust on top of the dip.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations & Dietary Modifications

Adjust the Spice Level: This crab dip with cream cheese is easy to make spicier or less spicy. You can adjust the amount of Old Bay and hot sauce you use, or try adding a little cayenne pepper or red chili flakes for a spicier flavor.
Try with Shrimp: If you don’t like crab, or can’t find crab, you can also make this recipe with shrimp. Follow this exact recipe, swapping the crab meat for chopped shrimp, or check out my recipe for hot shrimp dip.
Works with a Variety of Dippers: This dip is so versatile in regards to which dippers work best. Try using fresh, crusty bread, crackers, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies like celery or carrots.

How to Make Hot Crab Dip

This easy crab dip is the perfect dish for parties because it’s so cheesy and indulgent, but not hard to make. All you need is a mixing bowl, a medium baking dish, and an oven preheated to 350°F.

Cream cheese mixture for warm crab dip in a bowl.

Step 1: Blend Creamy Ingredients. Use an electric hand mixer or blender to whip the cream cheese until it is smooth. Then add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, hot sauce, Old Bay, and lemon juice to a large mixing bowl. You can stir the ingredients together or use the mixer to combine them.

Step 2: Fold in Crab Meat. Use a spatula to fold in the crab meat, half of the Parmesan, and most of the scallions.

Cream cheese crab dip transferred to a baking dish.

Step 3: Transfer to Baking Dish. Transfer the dip to your medium baking dish and top it with the rest of the grated Parmesan cheese.

Baked crab dip served with celery sticks and crackers.

Step 4: Bake the Dip. Bake this crab dip with cream cheese for 20-25 minutes at 350°F. The top should be a light, golden brown. Remove it from the oven and top it with the rest of the scallions and some fresh parsley. Pair for a party with these BBQ chicken wings.

Expert Tips

Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: I know using preshredded cheese can make things faster and easier, but you definitely want to use freshly shredded cheese for this dip. It melts more evenly, has a smoother texture, and doesn’t make the dip grainy.
Soften the Cream Cheese: Leave your cream cheese on the counter for 30-45 minutes before making this dip to give it a chance to soften. This makes it easier to whip and mix. I don’t recommend using fat free cream cheese as the dip will end up with liquid on the bottom after cooking.
Don’t Overmix: Gently fold in the crab meat and don’t overmix it. Mixing it too much will break down the crab and make it mushy and less appealing.
Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not freeze leftover crab dip.

A cracker dipping into a dish of hot crab dip.

Serving Suggestions

This hot and creamy crab dip is the perfect party dip because it tastes decadent, but is so easy to make. Your guests will love the flavor of rich seafood and cheese, and it pairs well with many other appetizers. Try this dip at your next football tailgate, holiday party, or backyard barbecue and watch it disappear.

Try serving this dip with a light vegetable dish like low-calorie coleslaw or chickpea tomato cucumber salad.
If you make this crab dip as an appetizer with dinner. A light, lemony dish pairs perfectly, like my lemon garlic scallops or lemon herb salmon with roasted cauliflower.
Lighter desserts pair well with seafood like this Greek yogurt cake that’s sweet, but healthy.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make hot crab dip ahead of time?

Absolutely! This crab dip is the perfect make-ahead appetizer. You can mix the ingredients, then place them in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Just before your party, transfer the dip to a baking dish, and bake according to the recipe, adding 5 minutes since the dip is chilled.

What’s the best way to reheat leftover crab meat dip?

I prefer to bake leftovers in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes. You can also reheat small portions in the microwave in 30-second increments until they’re warmed through. Just be sure not to overheat, as it may affect the consistency of the dip.

Can I make this hot crab dip in the crockpot?

Absolutely! Combine all of the ingredients directly in the crockpot and cook them over low heat for 2-3 hours. Serve it right out of the slow cooker to your guests.

Can I serve this crab dip cold?

Sure thing! This dip tastes great chilled or warm. Combine all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl. Transfer to a dish and chill for 30 minutes. Serve when you’re ready with your favorite dippers.

Why did my hot crab dip turn out watery?

Crab meat can hold a lot of water. If it seems too wet, it’s a great idea to pat the meat dry a bit to soak up excess moisture. This keeps the dip creamy instead of watery.