Cold Crab Dip is the ultimate use for leftover crab. Smoky, tangy with the natural sweetness and buttery texture of crab meat, this decadent crab dip is perfect for any occasion!

Maryland Cold Crab Dip Recipe

Today’s perfectly seasoned cold crab dip recipe tastes fancy but is super quick and easy to make in less than 10 minutes.

It’s best served the day after making to allow the flavors to fully develop.

Cold crab dip is perfect for entertaining, whether you’re going for an elevated dining experience (like New Year’s Eve) or just want something special to serve at a games night or BBQ get-together. It’s gluten-free and low-carb, making it perfect for serving to guests with a variety of dietary restrictions.

Our homemade cream cheese crab dip is creamy and rich, yet light, making it the perfect party appetizer or a great protein-packed snack to enjoy throughout the week. (Why not? Since it’s super quick and easy to make and canned crab meat is pretty darn affordable compared to other protein snack options.)

This easy crab dip can also be served hot by spreading into an oven-safe ramekin or container and top with 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes, until cheese is completely melted. (However, if you’re looking for a hot crab dip, I would recommend making our Crab Rangoon Dip instead.)

You can use fresh crab and cook it yourself, but honestly it is so much easier to buy frozen, shredded crab meat or canned crab meat, if you’re not making it with leftover cooked crab meat from a seafood dinner.

What to Serve with Cold Crab Dip:

Veggies – celery sticks, carrots, cucumber slices, baby bell peppers, sugar snap peas, etc.
Crackers
Pita Chips
Tortilla Chips
Breadsticks or toasted baguette slices
Sturdy Potato Chips (think ruffle chips, nothing that will crumble when you’re trying to scoop the dip)
Pretzels

You can also serve this cold crab dip as a salad, especially if you serve it on lettuce cups.

a bowl of sliced veggies with a smaller bowl of cold crab dip in the center, along with seasonings used to make the dip in the background

Cold Crab Dip Variations:

Use chopped up or salad shrimp or canned lobster instead of (or in addition to) crab meat
Use a flavoured cream cheese
Incorporate shredded cheese like pepper jack or Parmesan cheese
Pour a bit of cocktail sauce over the top of the dip just before serving for a tangy twist
Use Greek yogurt instead of the mayonnaise for a lighter calorie dip
Add some heat with hot sauce or diced jalapeños
Add some tangy acidity with a dash of English-style or dijon mustard

What is the best crab to use for cold crab dip? Leftover chopped crab meat or canned or frozen lump crab meat are my preferences for making this recipe.

However, you can make this recipe with any variety of cooked crab, or even imitation crab.

How to store cold crab dip: This crab dip should be kept in an airtight container (or covered in plastic wrap) in the fridge and used within 5 days of making.

If using leftover crab meat to make this recipe, ensure that you consider the time the crab was cooked previously when storing this recipe. (So if you had the leftover crab in your fridge for a day before making, only keep the dip for an additional 4 days.)

Can you freeze this cold crab dip? I never recommend freezing cream cheese-based recipes. The texture of the recipe will be compromised if frozen and thawed.

However, if you really want to freeze it, I would freeze all of the ingredients except for the cream cheese mixed together and then, a day before planning to serve, thaw and mix in the cream cheese.

More Seafood Recipes that can be Enjoyed Cold:

Marinated Shrimp (with Video) <– this is one of my favorite seafood recipes ever
Neptune Salad (Cold Crab Salad)
Lobster Roll Lettuce Wraps
Kansas City BBQ Shrimp
Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Dip
Cucumber Tuna Salad

composite image of cold crab dip with a cucumber slice scooping into it along with three images showing how to make the recipe

Ingredients for Cold Crab Dip

Cream Cheese, softened
Mayonnaise
Lemon Juice
Worcestershire Sauce
Old Bay Seasoning <– grab our recipe for homemade Old Bay Seasoning here
Paprika
Green Onions, diced
Crab Meat, drained

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip for entertaining: this recipe can be kept in the fridge right up until serving time and kept at room temperature for up to two hours. If you plan to have it out all night, place the bowl of cold crab dip on top of a bowl of ice to keep it chilled.

labeled ingredient image showing ingredients needed to make cold crab dip

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Measuring Cups and Spoons
Sharp Kitchen Knife
Cutting Board
Mixing Bowl
Large Spoon or Electric Mixer

overhead image of a bowl of sliced veggies with a smaller bowl of cold crab dip in the center, along with seasonings used to make the dip in the background

How to Make Cold Crab Dip

Place the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl and beat until well combined.

Add the Old Bay seasoning, paprika and green onions and beat until well distributed.

Add the crab meat and stir until just combined, being careful not to break down the crab meat too much.

Refrigerate at least one hour to allow the flavors to combine.

Serve with crackers or veggies.

Makes 2 cups.

Pin this Easy Cold Crab Dip for your next get-together with friends – or a protein-packed snack to enjoy just to yourself:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our homemade cold crab dip recipe:

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Yield: 2 cups, 16 servings

Cold Crab Dip

Name: Cold Crab Dip
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Dip Recipe
Ingredients: 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened; 1/3 cup Mayonnaise; 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice; 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce; 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon Paprika; 2 Stalks Green Onions, diced; 10 oz Crab Meat, drained

Cold Crab Dip is the ultimate use for leftover crab. Smoky, tangy with the natural sweetness and buttery texture of crab meat, this decadent crab dip is perfect for any occasion! Creamy and rich, yet light, making it the perfect party appetizer or a great protein-packed snack to enjoy throughout the week.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
2 Stalks Green Onions, diced
10 oz Crab Meat, drained

Instructions

Place the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl and beat until well combined.
Add the Old Bay seasoning, paprika and green onions and beat until well distributed.
Add the crab meat and stir until just combined, being careful not to break down the crab meat too much.
Refrigerate at least one hour to allow the flavors to combine.
Serve with crackers or veggies.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 97Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 193mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

I hope your family loves this easy cold crab dip recipe as much as mine does!

For more scrumptious seafood ideas, check out our full seafood recipe collection here:

Cold Crab Dip