Cold Cajun Crab Dip (with real or imitation crab) 

Make this cold Cajun crab dip recipe for an easy appetizer that everyone will enjoy! It’s the perfect appetizer for game day or any season. 

 Party food is just my favorite. I love the holidays and football season because I get my fill of decadent food like this crowd-pleasing appetizer, Cajun crab dip! This creamy crab dip dip is a fun dip to serve alongside appetizers like my Buffalo Chicken Dip, Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts and Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels.

In this recipe, I use cream cheese and real crab to make the mixture extra creamy and decadent. You can absolutely make an imitation crab dip by just substituting chopped fake crab sticks for the succulent crab meat. It will still be wonderful.

If you need help finding lump crab meat at the grocery story, look for cans of it near the seafood section. It is typically refrigerated, but not always. I usually find my on a shelf near the fresh seafood. You will need to drain your crab meat and 

You will need Cajun seasoning for this recipe. I really prefer a low sodium option, because traditionally, this type of creole seasoning is just SO salty! You can use a store bought option like Old Bay seasoning or Tony Chachere’s, or make my homemade Cajun seasoning using your own spice rack!

This is a great make-ahead recipe for the busy holiday season! It can store in the fridge for up to two days and then served cold or baked when you’re ready to serve.

Recipe Substitutions and Additions

I completely realize that lump crab meat is expensive right now. Feel free to use imitation crab meat, just chop it up before adding! You can also use baby canned shrimp, just make sure to drain them and pat dry with paper towels before mixing into your dip. 

Substitute sour cream for the mayo. If you do this, I would definitely recommend serving the dip cold as sour cream can sometimes separate when it’s warmed. 

Substitute any color bell pepper or sweet peppers for the red pepper.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve this Cajun crab dip recipe with veggies (celery, carrots and sweet peppers), Ritz crackers, crusty bread or tortilla chips! This is a great make ahead recipe. 

You can also warm the dip to make it a hot crab dip! To make a hot Cajun crab dip, just place it in an oven safe baking dish and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit until it starts to bubble. If you have a dip-sized slow cooker, you can also warm and serve it out of the crock pot! 

Storing Leftover Crab Dip

Place leftover dip in an airtight container. This seafood dip will keep in the fridge for up to two days! I do not recommend freezing as it separates and will not be very good after it’s frozen. 

Cajun Crab Dip

Make this cold crab dip recipe for an easy appetizer that everyone will enjoy! It's the perfect appetizer for game day or any season. 

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizers

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Calories: 120kcal

Author: Michelle Goth

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions green onions
• 2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
• 1.5 teaspoon lemon juice fresh squeezed
• 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning preferably low sodium
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
• 8 ounces canned lump crab drained and picked for shells

Optional Toppings:

• green onions/chives fresh or dried parsley

Instructions

• Place the cream cheese, mayonnaise, scallions, bell pepper, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and hot sauce into a large bowl.
• Mix together with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
• Fold in the crab, trying not to break it up too much. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and chill before serving.

Notes

For a spicy Cajun crab dip, add up to one teaspoon of hot sauce and/or 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Taste, and add additional hot sauce or cayenne pepper if needed. 

I typically spread the lump crab out on a paper towel lined plate and quickly pick through it to remove any pieces of shell that remain.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 315mg | Sugar: 1g

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If you love this Cajun Crab Dip, I think you’ll also love these Cajun recipes: 

• Deep Fried Cajun Turkey
• Cajun Chicken Alfredo
• Cajun Shrimp Boil
• Spicy Cajun Pasta with Sausage and Tomatoes
• Cajun Shrimp and Grits