Cold Crab Dip

Discover the magic of cold crab dip, a heavenly blend of succulent crab meat, tangy sour cream, rich mayonnaise, and the bold flavors of Old Bay seasoning. Perfect for any gathering or as an elegant appetizer, this creamy delight is sure to impress your guests. Dive into this scrumptious seafood sensation and get ready to be hooked!

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Why Cold Crab Dip Is the Perfect Vintage Recipe to Try at Your Next Party? 

This old-school dip, also known as Maryland Crab Dip, is ideal for warm weather snacking; however, many families make a tradition of serving it at their holiday parties. The combination of briny and subtly sweet lump crab meat with tangy lemon juice and a light sprinkling of Old Bay Seasoning, all brought together with creamy mayo, is utterly addictive.

Serve the dip on top of puffed pastry as passed canapes or, more casually, in a bowl with chips on the side. Whichever way you choose to serve it, your guests will be happy!

Why You Should Try Cold Crab Dip Without Cream Cheese

This dip is all about the crab meat. While other crab dips tend to hide behind cream cheese and enough sour cream and mayo to drown a small horse, this version uses just the bare minimum to hold everything together. The minimal use of spices and other ingredients elevates without overpowering the taste of the crab. 

Since this dip needs to be cold, it is ideal as a make-ahead snack, relieving a bit of last-minute pressure on the day of your party. You can turn this recipe into a budget-friendly snack that still impresses by using imitation crab or canned crab meat instead of fresh. 

Cold Crab Dip Ingredients

For the best Cold Crab Dip recipe with mayonnaise, you'll need:

• Green onion chopped
• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Old Bay Seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Fresh lemon juice
• Lump crab meat, cooked

Fresh crab is pretty expensive to use for a dip, but canned lump crab meat is almost as good. You can use imitation crab for an even more inexpensive option, but the taste won't be exactly the same. 

How to Make It

To prepare easy crab dip cold for your next get-together:

1. Place the crab meat in a strainer and set it in the sink to drain. 
2. Rinse and dry the green onion. Finely chop the green part. You can include some of the white part of the onion if you prefer a more intense flavor. Add the chopped green onion to a medium mixing bowl. 
3. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the cooked crab meat, to the mixing bowl with the chopped green onion. 
4. Stir the dip well to combine. 
5. Gently fold in the crab meat. Cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. 
6. If you are serving the crab dip in a bowl, consider using a small one to prevent waste and refill it as needed.  

Possible Recipe Variations 

A great thing about this dip is just how simple it is to adjust the flavoring to suit your preference. Here are three quick ways to make Cold Crab Dip without cream cheese your own:

• Spice things up by adding a half teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the dip. 
• Get a little cheesy by adding half a cup of shredded cheddar or Pepper Jack to the dip. 
• Replacing all the mayonnaise and sour cream with a quarter-cup of non-fat Greek yogurt will make this dip a little healthier. You will want to adjust the amount of lemon juice to avoid the dip becoming too tangy. 
• Smooth things out by blending all the ingredients except the sliced green onions in a food processor. Fold in the green onions. 

What Can I Spread Cold Crab Dip On?

You can spread easy crab dip cold on crackers, toasted bagels, puffed pastry, and bread rounds. For dipping, try using raw carrot and celery sticks, pita chips, bagel chips, or thick-cut potato chips. 

What to Serve With It 

Cold Crab Dip goes with a variety of other hot and cold dips and hor devours. Pick a few of the following, or choose your favorites:

• Baked Goat Cheese
• Creamy Hummus with Yogurt
• Homemade Boursin Cheese
• Deviled Ham Cheese Ball
• Swiss and Bacon Squares

How to Store Cold Crab Dip Without Cream Cheese

Keep the dip in an airtight container with a tight-fitting cover in the fridge. Since the recipe contains dairy, be safe and discard any leftover dip after serving.  

How Long Will Cold Crab Dip Last

While chilling for up to 12 hours can improve the taste of this dip, like most seafood, this dish is best eaten within a day or two of making. 

More Dip Recipes

• Clam Chowder Dip
• Green Goddess Dip
• Pumpkin Pie Dip
• Strawberry Pretzel Dip