Spicy Creole Crab Dip Delight
Rich crab and creamy cheese with bold Creole spices baked with a crisp panko topping.
8 servings
Creole Cuisine
🔵Easy★★☆☆☆
Jul 2, 2025
84 views
Ingredients
🥬
0.5 cup
yellow onion
finely diced (about 1/2 small onion)
🌾
0.34 cup
panko breadcrumbs
lightly toasted in a dry pan until golden
🥬
2 clove
garlic
minced
🥛
8 ounces
cream cheese
room temperature
🥛
4 ounces
gruyere cheese
shredded
📦
1 pound
lump crab meat
jumbo or lump, drained and carefully picked over for shells
🥛
2 tablespoons
unsalted butter
📦
0.5 cup
mayonnaise
preferably Duke's or other high-quality
🥬
0.25 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
🍎
1 tablespoon
fresh lemon juice
💧
1 teaspoon
hot sauce
such as Crystal or Tabasco, plus more for serving
🌶️
0.5 teaspoon
kosher salt
📦
1 tablespoon
Creole seasoning
store-bought or homemade
Categories:🥩protein🥬vegetable🍎fruit🌾grain🥛dairy🌶️spice🫒oil💧liquid📦other
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C.
Step 2
Melt the unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, season lightly with kosher salt, and sauté until soft and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. Add the shredded gruyere cheese and stir until melted and combined with the onion and garlic, about 1–2 minutes.
Step 3
In a large bowl, combine the room-temperature cream cheese and mayonnaise. Stir in the Creole seasoning, hot sauce, fresh lemon juice, kosher salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Step 4
Fold in the sautéed onion, garlic, and gruyere mixture, then gently fold in the lump crab meat, preserving larger flakes for texture.
Step 5
Spoon the mixture into a 2-quart oven-safe baking dish and evenly sprinkle the toasted panko breadcrumbs on top.
Step 6
Bake until the dip is bubbling and the panko is golden brown, about 12–15 minutes.
Step 7
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving with crackers, crostini, or crisp vegetables.
✨Chef's Tips
- ★Always smell the crab meat before using; it should be briny and sweet, never fishy. Rinse briefly under cold water and pat dry if needed.
- ★You can assemble the dip up to 12 hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Add the panko topping just before baking.
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