This Hot Crab Dip is delicious and easy for any Sunday family get together. Lump crab meat, cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, herbs and spices baked in a cast iron skillet and served hot with crostini.

baked Hot crab dip brown and bubbling with diced scallions within a cast iron skillet, surrounded by crostini on a marble tabletop. — This appetizer is delicious, cheap, and easy for any party or family get together. This is both a crowd pleaser and crowd filler.

The Story behind this Hot Crab Dip Recipe

We have some friends from Maryland that boast about their fresh crab. One night, after a trip they had taken, they brought a significant amount over and we feasted. Being from Maine, lobster is the typical shellfish we dine over, but this crab was so good coated in butter that my husband quickly remembered one of his favorite aspects of his time stationed in Alaska – the crab.

A hand in focus holding a crostini with hot crab dip and scallions, with a cast iron skillet of the dip faded in the background. — Serve this cast iron hot crab dip with tortillas, crostini, fresh bread, celery, or any number of tasty flavor vessels.

I love when I get the opportunity to make my husband something special. This weekend was a welcome relief to a week of the family suffering with the flu and some other bug. He has been taking such good care of us, that making a hot crab dip was easy for me and yet super special to him. A total win-win.

This is the perfect appetizer for a large family during events like the Super Bowl, a Sunday at church, Sunday dinner, and the occasional special dinner. It’s really quick to throw together since all the ingredients go into one bowl and then one skillet for baking. This makes cleanup a breeze too!

Ingredients for Hot Crab Dip

A tabletop view of the ingredients of hot crab dip. — Required ingredients for hot crab dip.

Lump Crab Meat
Cheese – Cheddar, Colby Jack, Cream Cheese
Sour Cream
Mayo
Minced Garlic
Smoked Paprika
Salt
Lemon Juice
Scallions (optional)

How to make Hot Crab Dip

There is a reason why this is a party favorite; it is the easiest dip to make and serve.

Hot crab dip ingredients layered in a bowl with lemon and scallions in the corner. — Hot crab dip is easily prepared by combining ingredients in a bowl then cast iron skillet.

Simply combine lump crab meat, cream cheese, garlic, sour cream, mayo, salt, and smoked paprika in a bowl with a rubber spatula or fork.

Next add the juice of one half a lemon and fold in the shredded cheese.

Hot Crab Dip in a cast iron skillet with shredded cheese topped before cooking. — Use a large, shallow cast iron skillet for a quick melting time and even broil.

Once combined, spoon the mixture into a large cast iron skillet. Top with more cheese before placing in the middle of a 350 degree F preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Bring the skillet to nearly the top of the oven and broil for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with chopped scallions. Serve immediately with crostini.

Hot crab dip in a cast iron skillet being topped with fresh scallions. — Top the hot, bubbly crab dip with a fresh herb like scallions or parsley.

Frequently asked questions about Hot Crab Dip

What is lump crab meat?

Lump crab meat is not imitation crab meat. Lump crab meat is canned, fresh crab meat from Blue Crabs. Typically it will consist of broken pieces of the white meat from the body and is void of any cartilage or shell. This makes it a quick and easy crab meat to incorporate into dishes. Lump meat is typically sold near the imitation crab meat and shrimp rings in grocery stores.

Can you use fresh crab meat?

Yes! Fresh crab meat would be delicious and easily incorporated into this dish. Use approximately 1 to 1.5 cups of fresh crab meat.

How do you store Crab Dip?

Refrigerate any leftover crab dip in Tupperware for up to 3-5 days.

Can Crab Dip be reheated?

Yes. You can reheat the crab dip in the microwave or spoon back into a cast iron skillet and broil for just a few minutes to reheat.

Can Crab Dip be prepared ahead of time?

Yes. Follow all the instructions up until baking. Then store the prepared dip in the refrigerator. On the day of consumption, transfer the dip into an over safe vessel and heat as per the rest of the instructions. It is best to create and enjoy your dip within 3-5 days of opening the crab meat from it’s grocery container.

Hot crab dip in a cast iron skillet topped with scallions, with a hand dipping a crostini into the melted cheese. — This recipe for hot and cheesy crab dip makes enough for a crowd. But be careful, they’ll still fight over who gets the first taste!

Products you may need for this Hot Crab Dip

Thanks so much for being a part of Katie M Chase!

Cast Iron Skillet

This cast iron skillet will sport the number 12 on the handle, though technically is not actually 12 inches in diameter. When purchasing your cast iron, you can find high quality pieces from companies like Lodge on Amazon that come pre-seasoned and ready to use.

Rate this Hot Crab Dip Recipe

Baked Hot Crab Dip with Cream Cheese

This Hot Crab Dip is satisfying and stays hot for guests while awaiting a meal, since it is served in a cast iron skillet. Layers of cheese, real crab meat, and the topping of scallions make this dish fresh and easy.

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Print Recipe

Author: Katie Chase

Ingredients

1 lb lump or fresh crab meat
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup shredded Colby Jack
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
juice of one half lemon or approximately 1 tablespoon
2 large scallions chopped

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Set aside 1/4 cup of cheddar and Colby Jack cheese for topping.
Combine crab meat, cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, garlic, smoked paprika, and salt in a bowl.
Fold in the shredded cheese and lemon.
Spoon and flatten the mixture into a skillet or oven-safe casserole dish. Top with reserved cheese. Bake for approximately 25 minutes in the middle of the oven until mixture is bubbly.
Turn oven to broil and move dish to upper 1/3 of the oven. Broil for 5 minutes or until top is golden brown in spots.
Remove from oven and top with fresh chopped scallions. Serve immediately with crostinis, chips, or vegetables.

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