Description
A quick and indulgent Mediterranean-inspired dip combining creamy cream cheese, fresh crab meat, and melted cheeses, perfect for last-minute dinner parties or appetizers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (120 g) fresh lump crab meat
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare an oven-safe baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in minced garlic and fresh lemon juice.
- Fold in shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese gently.
- Carefully fold in crab meat, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and smooth the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Let the dip cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Soften cream cheese for 30 minutes before mixing to avoid lumps. Use fresh crab meat if possible and drain canned crab well. Avoid overmixing after adding crab to keep lumps intact. Let dip rest before serving for easier scooping. For extra crust, sprinkle Parmesan on top before baking. Optional heat can be added with cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 210
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Protein: 12
Keywords: crab dip, cheesy crab dip, creamy crab dip, Mediterranean appetizer, easy crab dip, hot crab dip, party dip