Prepare deliciously cheesy crab spinach dip with tender crab meat, fresh spinach, and tangy cream cheese. Finish the dip with shredded parmesan cheese and bake until golden brown. It’s an easy make-ahead appetizer for entertaining or snacking.
Whether you’re hosting for the holidays, game day, or just hanging out with friends, this crab spinach dip always gets attention. And the best part? It comes together in less than 30 minutes, and it’s easy to make ahead.
What is Crab Dip Made Of?
Crab dip looks a little different depending on who’s making it and where they live, but most recipes combine crab meat, cream cheese, some shredded cheese, tasty mix-ins, and your favorite spices. It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to throw together a quick, delicious crab dip. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.
- Butter: Sauté fresh spinach in unsalted butter until it wilts and softens.
- Spinach: You’ll need 3–4 cups of fresh baby spinach or frozen spinach. If using frozen, warm it in a skillet and squeeze out as much liquid as you can before mixing it in so the dip doesn’t come out watery.
- Artichoke: Chopped artichoke hearts add an earthy balance to the richness of the crab and cheese.
- Cheese: A creamy blend of softened cream cheese, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and shredded cheddar cheese creates the base for the delicious seafood dip.
- Spices: Keep it simple with Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Crab Meat:Fresh blue crab or lump crab gives the best flavor, but canned crab or even imitation crab works in a pinch for a delicious, budget-friendly version of this spinach artichoke crab dip.
Additions and Substitutions
- Switch up the cheese. Top the hot crab spinach dip with shredded cheddar cheese as I do, or try it with grated parmesan, white cheddar, or mozzarella cheese.
- Experiment with spices. Stir in some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, or try my Slap Ya Mama Seasoning recipe to put a Cajun spin on the dip.
How to Make Crab Spinach Dip
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350℉ (176℃). Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 2: Transfer the wilted spinach to a large bowl and combine it with the remaining ingredients, reserving 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese.
Tip
If using frozen spinach, squeeze out as much liquid as you can before mixing with the other ingredients.
Step 3: Prepare an 8-inch baking dish or pie pan. Spoon the crab mixture into the dish and bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes.
Step 4: Remove the dish from the oven and stir to combine the ingredients. Top the crab mixture the the remaining cheddar cheese and bake for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese starts bubbling.
Expert Tips
- Check the fresh crab meat. If you’re using fresh blue crab or lump crab meat, always take a moment to pick through it gently. Look for any small pieces of shell or cartilage.
- Add the crab at the end. You want big lumps of crab in the dip, so fold it in at the end and don’t overmix.
- Know your oven. Every oven runs a little differently. If yours tends to have hot spots or browns things quickly, tent the baking dish with foil after adding the cheese; this helps the dip heat through, and the cheese melts evenly without over-browning.
If you enjoy crab spinach dip, try even more appetizer recipes!
What Goes Best With Crab Dip?
Serve spinach crab dip warm with your favorite dippers like crackers or fresh veggies to entertain your guests.
You can even scoop it up with tortilla chips, homemade air fryer pita chips, baguette slices, or chunks of Dutch oven sourdough bread.
Are you looking for a fun presentation? Hollow out a small bread round and fill it with the hot dip for an edible serving bowl everyone will love.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Crab spinach dip with fresh crab will keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator, but if using canned crab meat, the dip will keep for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Place the crab dip in a baking dish and bake at 350℉ (176℃) for 10-15 minutes, or until it’s warmed through.
- Repurpose: Use the leftover spinach artichoke crab dip as a filling for crispy crab rangoons or crab bisque.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to buy crab meat?
Crab meat is easy to find in most grocery store seafood sections. For dips, look for blue crab or lump crab.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Make crab spinach dip ahead of time by assembling the dip and refrigerating it. Just let it come to room temperature before baking it, just before guests arrive.
More Dip Recipes:
Crab Spinach Dip
- 8-inch Baking Dish or Pie Pan
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 3-4 cups baby spinach leaves, loosely packed
- 1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces blue crab meat, chopped or shredded
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ (176℃). Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer the wilted spinach to a large bowl and combine it with the remaining ingredients, reserving 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Prepare an 8-inch baking dish or pie pan. Spoon the crab mixture into the dish and bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven and stir to break up the cream cheese and combine the ingredients. Then top it with Parmesan cheese and bake for 3-5 minutes until the cheese starts to bubble and turn golden brown.
- Check the fresh crab meat. If you’re using fresh blue crab or lump crab meat, always take a moment to pick through it gently. Look for any small pieces of shell or cartilage.
- Add the crab at the end. You want big lumps of crab in the dip, so fold it in at the end and don’t overmix.
- Know your oven. Every oven runs a little differently. If yours tends to have hot spots or browns things quickly, tent the baking dish with foil after adding the cheese; this helps the dip heat through, and the cheese melts evenly without over-browning.
Melissa Wagner
Wednesday 8th of November 2023
This crab spinach dip is my new go-to party appetizer! The combination of tender crab, creamy cheese, and spinach was absolute perfection. It came together quickly and baked up so beautifully. I'll definitely be making this again for my next get-together!