Get ready to indulge in a flavor explosion with my quick Spinach And Crab Dip recipe! This creamy and cheesy dip is the perfect combination of warm and melty goodness with a delightful blend of spinach and tender crab meat.
A gluten free, low-carb dip that tastes just like your favorite crab cake and is a tried and true crowd-pleaser.
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This recipe was inspired by eating Maryland crab cakes and adapted from a recipe by Valerie Bertinelli. Pair this dip with other appetizers like on our blog like the Turkish Grilled or Roasted Eggplant Salad Recipe and serve it with our Homemade Pita Chips.
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A crab cake dip tastes similar to traditional crab cakes found on the Eastern shore and features the savory flavors of fresh crab meat combined with complementary ingredients.
Typically, a crab cake would include mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Old Bay seasoning. This crab dip recipe includes ingredients like cream cheese, and various cheeses to achieve a creamy and indulgent texture. It has hints of tanginess, sweetness, and spice, resulting in a rich and flavorful appetizer.
Serve this crab cake dip as a delicious and decadent appetizer on various occasions, such as a cocktail party, holiday gatherings, a game day, or a family dinner.
It's perfect for spreading on crackers, dipping with crusty bread or chips, or even stuffing into mini pastry cups for an elegant presentation. Its versatility and crowd-pleasing flavor make it a fantastic addition to any party or gathering where you want to impress your guests with a taste of the sea.
If you are looking for other delicious appetizers, my 5-minute Pumpkin Fluff Dip is super simple!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients - easily found at grocery stores
- Quick to prepare - in about 30 minutes
- Tastes like a homemade crab cake - without all of the fuss
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this crab dip recipe:
Ingredient Notes: What is Lump Crab Meat?
- Lump crab meat refers to large, whole pieces of crab meat that come from the body of the crab. It is prized for its sweet, delicate flavor and tender texture. Lump crab meat is considered one of the highest quality grades of crab meat available and is used in dishes like crab cakes, salads, and dips where the texture of the crab is important like crab cakes, salads, and dips.
- Lump crab meat is typically more expensive than other grades of crab meat, such as claw or backfin, due to its high quality. Its sweet, succulent flavor and tender texture make it a favorite among seafood lovers and a popular choice for special occasions and gourmet cooking. You can find lump crab meat in a can at your grocery store near the fish department.
See the recipe card for quantities.
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Additions & Substitutions
Though these crab cake dip ingredients are simple, it is also easy to vary if you want to switch it up.
Additions:
- Onions - you can add additional onions, preferably green onions sliced thin, either on top or in the mix. You can also substitute shallots for the garlic if you would prefer a more subtle garlic flavor.
- Lemon juice - If you like a little tart/sour flavor, squeeze half of a lemon into the dip just before baking or zest a whole lemon and add the lemon zest into the dip along with the cream cheese.
- Garlic - if you would like to add more garlic to this dip, add a half teaspoon of garlic powder to the onion and garlic mixture before adding the cream cheese.
- Artichokes - chopped artichokes, either marinated or not, would be a nice addition to this dip if you would like to change up the flavor and/or texture.
Substitutions
- Spicy - while this dip calls for cayenne pepper, you can add more to taste. This dip is not spicy as written. The cayenne simply adds depth of flavor.
- Cheese - you can substitute cheddar cheese or any other mild-flavored cheese in this dip.
- Imitation crab - I don't recommend using imitation crab for this dip. The flavor and texture will not be the same. Typically imitation crab is not gluten-free as well.
- Panko - while I recommend the gluten-free panko, you can use regular panko or even cracker crumbs for the top of this dish.
How To Make Spinach And Crab Dip: Step-By-Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with the exact ingredients are in the printable recipe card:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Melt the butter in a medium pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about five minutes.
Step 2: Add the cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cream cheese is melted.
Step 3: Add the spinach and crab meat. Stir until warm and bubbling. Stir in the Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Transfer the dip to an oven-safe small baking dish. Top with the gluten-free panko crumbs. Place on a baking sheet and bake until bubbling and golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Buy the highest quality crab meat you can find at the grocery store. Typically it will come in a can and can be found near the fish department. It does not matter whether you purchase jumbo lump crab meat or just lump crab meat.
- I like putting extra Parmesan on the top of the dip before serving. It will help add a nice golden crust along with the panko.
Confidence Tip
Prepare this recipe ahead of time by completing the steps up to the point of baking, which can be done up to 2 days in advance. Simply cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate until you're ready to bake it on the day of serving.
Storage And Reheating
- Storage - you can store this in an airtight container after baking for up to a week.
- Reheating - reheat this dip in the microwave or the oven at a low temperature until warm and bubbling.
- Freezing - I do not recommend freezing this dip because it has cream cheese in the recipe. It's best made and served when desired.
What type of baking dish do I need?
Any ceramic or glass baking dish will be fine. It needs to be oven-safe and if you prefer, microwave-safe as well. I love the Staub baking dishes like this one.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Sourdough crackers and buttery crackers are usually the top choice. It's best to use a cracker that doesn't have any other flavor added. Be sure to choose a cracker that is sturdy enough to hold the dense crab dip.
Imitation crab is made with surimi, a paste made out of finely shredded or pulverized fish. After the fish is minced, it is heated and pressed into shapes that resemble meat from a crab leg. The resulting imitation crab looks similar to the original crab in its coloring and texture. It is typically not gluten-free and not recommended in this recipe.
Looking for a delicious and easy dinner or lunch? This crab melt that is made in the air fryer is the best! Or, if you love crab, these Crab Stuffed Mushrooms With Cream Cheese are wonderful!
Other Appetizers
If you are looking towards entertaining, this crab dip recipe tastes just like homemade crab cakes. It has that must-have flavor profile with just enough tanginess to create the perfect easy crab dip recipe.
Did you try this recipe? I would love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section and leave a ⭐️ rating and review. Share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
xoxoxo
Gwen
Spinach And Crab Dip
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 lb frozen spinach chopped, thawed, and squeezed dry
- 8 oz lump crab meat
- ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded, or more to taste
- 3 tablespoon Parmesan cheese grated, or more to taste
- 2 tablespoon gluten-free panko bread crumbs
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉.
- Melt the butter in a medium pan over medium heat.
- Add the onion and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook stirring occasionally until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir until the cream cheese is melted.
- Add the spinach and crab meat. Stir until warm and bubbling.
- Stir in the Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer to an oven-safe baking dish and top with the gluten free panko bread crumbs.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake until bubbling and golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Related
Looking for other appetizer recipes like this? Try these:
Pam
I made this for my mom and she really loved how good it was!
PURITY LAKI
This was so good!
laura
Spinach and crab is one of my favorite combos!
Allison
Turned out really creamy and I loved the addition of the crab!
Glenda
What a hit at our family reunion! Thanks for the recipe!
Julianne
Such a tasty recipe and I love that it's gluten-free!
Anonymous
This was so good!