Cold Crab Dip

This quick and easy Cold Crab Dip is so good that it disappears faster than it takes to prepare it! Served chilled, this dip is the perfect party appetizer for summer parties, but it has a touch of elegance that also makes it great for holiday parties.

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Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious, yet hassle-free appetizer that won’t tie you up in the kitchen, this cold crab dip recipe is for you. This creamy and delectable dip brings together either real or imitation crab meat with a tangy creamy base filled with zesty seasonings. You can serve it with chips, crackers, chunks of bread, or fresh veggies for easy snacking.

This is an easy recipe to whip up with just a handful of simple ingredients. Because it’s chilled it makes an ideal snack for a pool party or other summer get-together. But don’t be fooled by its easy prep! You can transfer it to a fancy serving dish and it’s the perfect appetizer for a New Year’s Eve party, a wedding reception, or other special event.

For other must-try cold dip recipes, you should check out this 7-Layer Dip and this Cowboy Caviar.

Why We Love This Recipe

Easy dip recipe – Just mix together a few simple ingredients, let it chill in the fridge for a few minutes and it’s ready to serve.
Cool and refreshing – There is no baking required, making it great for hot summer days or times when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen.
Party favorite – With the creamy texture and the savory flavors of the crab meat, it’s the first appetizer to disappear at any gathering.

Ingredients

Crab meat (imitation or fresh crab meat)
Mayo
Sour cream
Fresh lemon juice
Fresh lemon zest
Horseradish sauce
Onions, chopped finely
Old Bay seasoning
Sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper

How to Make This Easy Crab Dip Recipe

Step One: Chop Crab Meat

Add crab meat to a food processor and pulse until finely ground.

Step Two: Add Seasonings and Wet Ingredients

crabmeat with seasonings and ingredients in bowl

Transfer the crab meat and all other ingredients to a medium mixing bowl. Mix well with a fork until all of the ingredients are fully combined and the dip is nice and creamy.

Step Three: Chill

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place the dip in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until ready to serve.

Step Four: Garnish and Serve

Garnish with additional green onions or fresh parsley.

Delicious Crab Dip Recipe Add-ins and Variations

Greek yogurt: You can use unflavored Greek yogurt in equal parts to the sour cream.
Extra creamy dip: If you want to make the base a little thicker and creamier, you can add in some softened cream cheese.
Spicy crab dip: Add just a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to give it a subtle amount of heat.
Cheeses: Add more texture and some cheesy flavors with shredded cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, or parmesan cheese.
Veggies: Add finely chopped bell peppers or red onion for a fresh pop of flavor.

Real Crab Meat Verses Imitation Crab Dip

We’ve whipped up this crab dip using fresh lump crab meat or jumbo lump crab meat and let me tell you, it was pure deliciousness! The only downside was it is a bit pricy! A much more affordable option is imitation crab. And even though it may not be the real deal, it still makes an incredibly tasty dip!

In fact, some people even prefer the mild flavor and texture over fresh crab. So, you can decide what’s best for your budget and feel confident that it’s fine to use either one. They both taste great and will make the best cold crab dip recipe.

Ways to Serve Crab Dip

Crackers and chips: You can serve this easy dip with pita chips, corn chips, and tortilla chips or a variety of buttery crackers like Ritz. Or if you want to serve it with something a little fancy, toasted baguette slices are always a hit.
Fresh vegetables: Offer a healthier alternative by serving the crab dip with an array of fresh crisp veggies like cucumber slices, carrots, celery sticks and bell pepper slices. The crispness of the vegetables provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the dip.
Bread bowl: You can serve it just like you do classic spinach dip by hollowing out a round loaf of bread and filling the center with the dip. Use chunks of the bread to scoop up the dip.
Mini lettuce cups: Though thought of as an appetizer, you can also serve crab dip for a light lunch in a butter lettuce cup.
Crostini: If you need an elegant appetizer for a special occasion, top small slices of toasted baguette with a dollop of cold crab dip and garnish with fresh herbs like green onions, dill or fresh chopped parsley.
Stuffed avocado halves: Another light lunch idea is to scoop out half of an avocado and fill it up with creamy crab dip.

How Long Can Crab Dip Sit Out?

Just like most any dish that contains dairy, this dip should not sit out for more than 2 hours.

Can This Recipe Make a Hot Crab Dip?

If using imitation crab, I would not recommend baking this dip. If using fresh, you can mix in half of a block of room temperature cream cheese and bake it until warm and golden brown on top.

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Cold Crab Dip

Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe

Why We Love This Recipe

Ingredients