Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes | Wholesome Yum (2024)

Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes | Wholesome Yum (1)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • How To Make Crab Dip with Cream Cheese
  • How To Make Hot or Cold Crab Dip
  • Is Canned Lump Crab Meat Good?
  • How Many Calories In Cold Crab Dip?
  • Can You Make Easy Crab Dip Ahead?
  • Can You Freeze Cold Crab Dip?
  • What To Serve With Crab Meat Dip
  • Tools To Make Cold Crab Dip
  • Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes

You have probably figured this out by now, but quick and simple recipes are my JAM! And this easy cold crab dip recipe with cream cheese (aka crab meat dip) is just that. It takes 5 minutes to make and just 6 ingredients. Not only is it fast and easy, but it’s also a delicious way to enjoy seafood. And even though it sounds a little fancy, the ingredients to make this homemade crab dip are surprisingly basic! I usually just need to pick up some crab meat, we always have everything else at home. It’s time to learn how to make crab dip.

When we entertain or host parties, I love to have an assortment of dips like French onion dip, spinach dip, or Queso dip. They are the perfect way to have a little something for everyone. Everyone loves dips.

And it’s perfect because then I can also serve an assortment of dippers to accompany the dips! It’s such an easy way to include snacks that are both low carb and not. Everyone’s happy.

Plus, this cold crab meat dip is sure to impress all your guests. Crab instantly elevates a dip, don’t you think? Everyone will think it’s such a treat, and you don’t have to tell them exactly how easy it is to make, just that it’s the best cold crab dip recipe out there. 🙂 If you prefer a warm version, try hot crab dip instead!

With summer around the corner, I can’t wait tofire up the grill with someperfectly juicy burgers, throw together a big ole salad, and snack onthis (naturally) low carb crab dip with cream cheese. Mmm.

How To Make Crab Dip with Cream Cheese

Wondering how to make crab dip at home? You’ve come to the right spot.

To make this chilled crab dip, grab your blender and blend together:

TIP: If you like spicy crab dip, add some cayenne pepper for a little kick.

After the base is done, you’ll fold in:

  • Lump crab meat
  • Chives

Then, just refrigerate your crab and cream cheese dip until ready to serve.

How To Make Hot or Cold Crab Dip

You can serve this easy crab dip recipe cold or hot! The instructions for cold are above.

To make it hot, it’s exactly the same, but then just bake it in the oven until it’s hot. Add a little shredded or grated parmesan cheese before you bake it to get a nice, cheesy crust.

Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes | Wholesome Yum (2)

Is Canned Lump Crab Meat Good?

Yes! Canned lump crab meat is good and it’s perfect for recipes like this cold seafood dip or even crab salad. Typically, lump crab meat is a mix of broken pieces of jumbo lump crab meat – so it’s high-quality crab meat, that’s broken into smaller pieces, which is just what we want for an easy cold crab dip recipe. If you happen to cook crab legs, you can also use any leftover meat for this dip.

How Many Calories In Cold Crab Dip?

There are 41 calories in this cold crab dip recipe. The full nutrition stats are listed in the recipe card below, but here are some of the highlights. Each serving (2 tablespoons) of this easy crab dip with cream cheese has:

  • 41 calories
  • 2 grams fat
  • 3 grams protein
  • 0 grams carbohydrates

Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes | Wholesome Yum (3)

Can You Make Easy Crab Dip Ahead?

Yes, you can make easy crab dip ahead. It’s one of the reasons I love it so much. After you mix up thecold crab dip with real crab, refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it.

It will get even better with time, as the flavors come together. So you can make it a day or two ahead, which makes it perfect if you’re hosting a party or get-together.

Can You Freeze Cold Crab Dip?

No, you really shouldn’t freeze cold crab dip. As a general rule of thumb, it’s not advised to freeze dairy like cream cheese, milk, etc. as the texture will change in the freezing and thawing process.

What To Serve With Crab Meat Dip

This is obviously the perfect cold crab dip for crackers, but there are so many other dipping options:

  • Cucumber slices
  • Mini peppers (my favorite)
  • Celery sticks
  • Keto Low Carb Tortilla Chips– You can include these low carb tortilla chips and regular tortilla chips.
  • Keto Fathead Crackers– These popular keto crackers are sturdy enough to scoop.
  • Keto Low Carb Bagels – Serve cold crab salads as part of a bagel breakfast buffet. You can also include cucumber slices, tomato slices, smoked salmon, and a variety of cream cheeses.

I like to include a variety of colors and textures when serving it for a party so that there’s a little something for everyone.

Tools To Make Cold Crab Dip

Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

  • High-Powder Blender – It’s an investment, but there’s not much this blender can’t do and I use mine daily. It will make blending up the base of thishealthy crab dip cold really easy!
  • Glass Chip & Dip Set – Show off this dip and colorful vegetables in this glass chip & dip set.
  • Silicone Kitchen Utensil Set – I love the variety of spatulas and cooking tools – no need to worry about scratching pans.

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Recipe Card

Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes | Wholesome Yum (5)

4.87 from 36 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes

Learn how to make crab dip! This EASY cold crab dip recipe with cream cheese (crab meat dip) needs just 5 minutes + 6 ingredients.

Prep: 5 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 16 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Recipe Video

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Blend together the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, and seasoning in a blender or food processor, until smooth.

  2. Fold in the crab meat and chives using a spatula. (Do this gently and don't over-mix. You want some lumps of crab throughout.)

  3. Transfer to a bowl, cover in plastic wrap, and chill until ready to serve.

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Related Easy Recipes

  • Cheese Ball Recipe

  • Baked Zucchini Chips

  • Low Carb Keto Tortilla Chips

  • Crack Dip

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tbsp

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories41

Fat2g

Protein3g

Total Carbs0g

Net Carbs0g

Fiber0g

Sugar0g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine:American

Keywords:cold crab dip recipe

Calories: 41 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We'd LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Easy Cold Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese - 5 Minutes

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FAQs

What is crab dip made of? ›

Stir in mayo, sour cream, garlic, green onion, Old Bay seasoning, salt, Worcestershire, and lemon juice. Add ¾ cup cheddar cheese and hot sauce and mix until smooth. Stir in crab meat. Spread into a 9″ pie dish or similar size baking pan and sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese on top.

What goes good with crab dip? ›

Sometimes served on soft pretzels and sometimes baked in a skillet, but always a must-have order. We eat it on chicken (usually called “Chicken Chesapeake”) or in quesadillas, but the best way to serve hot cheesy crab dip is with fresh bread, pita wedges, celery, and/or sturdy crackers.

Why is my crab dip runny? ›

If your crab dip is too runny it likely means you didn't drain the crab meat properly. Make sure to remove as much liquid as possible before adding it to the dip.

How long is crab dip good for in the refrigerator? ›

How long does cold crab dip last in the fridge? This dip lasts in the fridge for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container. It needs to be made at least one hour in advance but since it's refrigerated, this is a great dish to make the day before the party to give yourself some extra time on the day of!

What is the fancy name for crab dip? ›

Crab dip, sometimes referred to as Maryland crab dip, is a thick, creamy dip that is typically prepared from cream cheese and lump crab meat. Other primary ingredients such as mayonnaise may be used.

What is imitation crab dip made of? ›

The main ingredient in this dip is surimi crab, otherwise known as imitation crab. It's typically made from dense white fish such as pollock, and shaped into the form of crab meat. It's mixed with mayonnaise, green onion, celery, and shredded cheese. That's it!

What kind of crackers to eat with crab dip? ›

Sourdough crackers and buttery crackers are usually the top pick. However, salty, herby and flavorful crackers will always do. Be sure to choose a cracker that is sturdy enough to hold the dense crab dip. Sea salt, sesame seeds, herbed, salty.

What flavors go best with crab? ›

vegetal and green notes. Cooked crab's vegetal aroma is most dominant and best described as being similar to that of cooked potatoes, which makes it a complementary pairing for potatoes (of course), but also eggplant, asparagus, cabbage, chicken, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves and even kimchi.

What chips go good with crab dip? ›

Scoop-style shrimp chips make the perfect vehicle for moving dip to mouth. They're crispy but light and have a salty-savory-sweetness that really amplifies the flavors in the dip.

How do you thicken cream cheese dip? ›

Use Arrowroot Powder: Arrowroot is a natural thickening agent that doesn't have a strong taste. Mix a small amount of arrowroot powder with a bit of cold water to create a slurry, then gradually whisk it into the cheese sauce.

How do you thicken creamy dip? ›

Try adding a cornstarch slurry.

Mix together equal parts cold water and cornstarch, whisking the mixture to create a slurry. Make sure the slurry is completely combined to prevent lumps in your cream sauce.

How do you soften cream cheese? ›

Pretty Fast: In Warm Water
  1. Place the unopened aluminum-foil-wrapped cream cheese in a ziplock bag.
  2. Push all of the air out of the bag before sealing it.
  3. Fill a large bowl (or the sink) with warm water.
  4. Place the bag of cream cheese in the warm water.
  5. Submerge it for about 10 minutes or until the cream cheese is soft.
Nov 21, 2023

Is it OK to freeze crab dip? ›

If you have leftovers or want to make it ahead of time for a party, you can freeze hot crab dip.

Is canned crab good? ›

Though crab is usually seen as a pricier type of seafood that is best eaten fresh, canned crab can be just as delicious, not to mention it's more affordable and lasts longer.

Does imitation crab go bad in fridge? ›

If you have a leftover opened package of imitation crab meat, store it in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). When it's properly stored in the fridge, it should be eaten within three days just like other varieties of fish, per the USDA.

Is crab dip healthy to eat? ›

Key Takeaways: Crab dip is a protein-packed, low-calorie option that supports muscle growth, bone health, and energy levels, making it a delicious and nutritious choice for health-conscious snackers.

Is Crab paste real crab? ›

Wait, what exactly is crab paste? While the exact recipe varies somewhat from region to region and brand to brand, crab paste is usually a mixture of fermented crab guts and roe cut with some kind of acid like vinegar or citrus and oil, which makes it a prime candidate for basting meats while they cook.

What is the creamy stuff in crabs? ›

The hepatopancreas of a crab is also called tomalley, or crab "fat"; in crabs the tomalley is yellow or yellow-green in color.

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