Baked Crab Dip

Sometimes inspiration just hits me. This baked crab dip was one of those bam moments for me. I was looking for something new to do for Christmas Eve. I mentioned before we always have a Christmas Shrimp Scampi, thanks to me growing up celebrating a version of the Feast of Seven Fishes. Well, since getting married, our tradition now includes crab.

Cheesy Baked Crab Dip

My husband loves crab legs. They might be his very favorite food ever. It’s a toss up between that and buffalo wings.

In fact, a really long time ago, when my husband and I were first dating, he took me out to dinner to celebrate my college acceptance letter and scholarship offer. We had known each other less than two months when that acceptance letter came. so in theory, he was still trying to impress me. Or not. He ordered crab legs and a baked potato at dinner. That’s fine. Then he proceeded to turn the baked potato into an alien by sticking the discarded shells in the potato. Charming dinner manners, huh?

Cheesy Baked Crab Dip

Well clearly, it didn’t bother me that much, because here I am over 15 years later still thinking about that and watching as our daughter climbs all over the dog.

Cheesy Baked Crab Dip

However, this is one of those cases where like father like daughter. Goose would absolutely stick those crab shells where they have no business being. But while husband was only in danger of not impressing me much (typed while I sing Shania Twain), crab shells and Goose are just a baaaaaad idea.

So instead of crab legs, I thought, hey cheese and crab sound awesome. Crab mac n cheese would be too much work on Christmas Eve, but cheesy baked crab dip? Perfect. It took 5 minutes of prep and 20 minutes in the oven. Then it would be an amazing snack while we watch Christmas movies before going about our busy, merry making night.

Cheesy Baked Crab Dip

Plus, it’s creamy, cheesy and so addicting. The 3 of us at the entire tray of dip for dinner one night. We just could not stop eating it. It was that good. I mean 2 kinds of cheese, garlic, and crab make any amazing flavor. I used Parmesan for flavor and gooey goodness while I used marscapone as the base. Marscapone is an Italian cream cheese but it’s smoother and less tangy than the cream cheese you are used to. It makes for the perfect velvety background to the crab.

Cheesy Baked Crab Dip

Really, the whole combo is just clean the dish GOOD. We used every cracker, celery and carrot stick, and piece of bread to get all the goodness out of the casserole dish and into our bellies. I’d say it’s a dish worthy of being served at any party or gathering any time of year.

Cheesy Baked Crab Dip

Baked Crab Dip

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• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4-5 cups of dip 1x

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup of marscapone cheese
• 1 cup of shredded parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese, divided
• 12 ounces of lump crab meat
• 2/3 cup of bread crumbs, divided*
• 2/3 cup mayo
• 3 tbs lemon juice
• 1 tsp old bay seasoning
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 scallions
• salt and pepper to taste
• pinch of red pepper

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Instructions

1. Set aside 1/4 cup of shredded cheese, 2 tablespoons of the grated cheese, and about half the bread crumbs.
2. Mix all the other ingredients together until well combined in a large bowl.
3. Pour into an oven safe dish. Top with the reserved cheese.
4. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly.
5. Serve hot, with veggies, bread, or crackers for dipping.

Notes

*I used gluten free bread crumbs

• Category: Appetizer, Dip

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