By Becky Hardin
Updated Nov 21, 2025
I like to make this Hot Crap Dip as it’s perfect for game days or dinner parties. This decadent baked dip features ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, crab meat, and more. It only takes me about 30 minutes to prepare, and it’s always a huge hit.
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Why We Love This Crab Dip Recipe
Out of all of my favorite easy appetizer recipes, this one definitely ranks in the top 5. You know, when you just keep dipping chip after chip and don’t even realize how much you’ve eaten? This is one of those dips! I’ll often make a double batch or second serving when I’m expecting a large crowd. And to keep it warm while everyone is enjoying it, I’ll transfer the dip to a crockpot and set it to low so it stays nice and creamy.
Sometimes the price tag on a pound of fresh crab meat is a bit too hefty, so I use canned crab meat, and the dip still tastes great.
Tips for Beginners
- I like to use lump crab meat . This meat is from the body of the crab. You can use fresh or frozen crab meat, but I do not recommend using imitation crab.
- Serve hot. This particular dip is served hot, but you can also serve it cold. If you’d like to have it cold, don’t bake it.
- To make in the crockpot . Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot set on low for 1-2 hours, until heated through.
- For a hint of spice. Add a touch of hot sauce or a few canned and diced jalapeños.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 8 oz. cream cheese room temperature (1 brick), full fat is best, low fat also works
- ▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise room temperature
- ▢ ¼ cup sour cream room temperature, or use Greek yogurt
- ▢ 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from ½ lemon)
- ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ ½ tsp ground paprika
- ▢ 2 green onions chopped
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese divided, Colby or pepper jack also work
- ▢ 1 lb. crab meat fresh or well-drained canned
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Using a hand mixer, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, green onions, and garlic in a large bowl. 8 oz. cream cheese, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp ground paprika, 2 green onions, 2 cloves garlic
- Fold in ¾ cup cheddar cheese and the crab meat. Do not overmix, you want to have some chunks. 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese, 1 lb. crab meat
- Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve with crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, bread, or baguette slices.
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crab Dip Step by Step
Get the oven going: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Mix the dip: Using a hand mixer or spoon, combine 8 oz. of cream cheese, ¼ cup of mayonnaise, ¼ cup of sour cream, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp of ground paprika, 2 chopped green onions, and 2 cloves of minced garlic in a large bowl. Fold in ¾ cup of cheddar cheese and 1 lb. of crab meat and mix to combine. There’s no need to overmix, some chunks are fine.
Bake: Transfer the crab and cream cheese mixture to a casserole dish and sprinkle with the ¼ cup of cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.
Serve: Serve with crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, bread, or baguette slices.
How to Store
Store leftover crab dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy cold or rewarmed in the microwave or oven. I do not recommend freezing this dip.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this hot crab dip with crackers, though homemade skillet bread or this no knead Dutch oven skillet bread tastes amazing with this dip, as does a fresh, crunchy baguette . Sometimes, I’ll make tortilla chips or wonton chips if I’m not up for bread-making.
more tasty dips to try!
Beer Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip
Velveeta Queso Recipe (Rotel Dip)
Crab Rangoon Dip
Crab Artichoke Dip in a Bread Bowl
Crab Dip Recipe
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese room temperature (1 brick), full fat is best, low fat also works
- ¼ cup mayonnaise room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream room temperature, or use Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from ½ lemon)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp ground paprika
- 2 green onions chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese divided, Colby or pepper jack also work
- 1 lb. crab meat fresh or well-drained canned
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Using a hand mixer, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, green onions, and garlic in a large bowl. 8 oz. cream cheese, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp ground paprika, 2 green onions, 2 cloves garlic
- Fold in ¾ cup cheddar cheese and the crab meat. Do not overmix, you want to have some chunks. 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese, 1 lb. crab meat
- Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve with crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, bread, or baguette slices.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
