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    Home » Appetizers » Cream Cheese Crab Dip - A Festive Looking Appetizer

    Published: Jul 9, 2020 · Modified: Mar 12, 2022 by Nancy Blackstone · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Cream Cheese Crab Dip - A Festive Looking Appetizer

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Close up of crabmeat sprinkled on top of crab dip and surrounded by crackers

    This cream cheese crab dip with a bit of chili spice is a quick and easy mid century appetizer. Your guests will love its impressive taste!

    My parents loved to entertain. When my mom was preparing foods for company, she spent the bulk of her time on dinner and chose appetizers that were quick and easy to prepare. Dips and spreads served with crackers were an appetizer mainstay of the mid-century era. This one was one of her favorites. Cream cheese crab dip screams "Turn on Sinatra and mix up a Manhattan!"

    1950's ad campaign popularizes appetizer dips

    Chips and crackers with dips became very popular in the 1950's, in part due to an advertising campaign by Lipton Soups urging people to mix their dry onion soup mix with sour cream or cream cheese to serve for entertaining. During this time special trays were invented for holding and serving this new type of appetizer. Though it doesn't contain onion soup mix, this recipe was born during the midcentury dip craze, as was the chipped beef cheeseball.

    Just 7 Ingredients is all it takes

    Here's all you need to make this retro three layer dip:

    • Cream Cheese
    • Mayonnaise
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Minced onion
    • Lemon Juice
    • Chili sauce
    • Canned crab meat
    • Parsley for garnish
    • Crackers for serving

    So fast and easy to prepare

    You begin by making the flavorful cream cheese portion of the dip, then adding the chili sauce layer and finally the flaked crabmeat:

    • First, make sure the cream cheese has reached room temperature. Then make the flavorful bottom layer of the dip by combining the first four ingredients with an electric mixer.
    • Second, spread the cream cheese mixture on a platter and cover it with a bottle of chili sauce.
    • Third, sprinkle the canned crabmeat over the top, garnish, and either refrigerate until guests arrive, or serve immediately with crackers!

     

    A mid century setting with crab dip on a flame red tricorne plate.

    Cream Cheese Crab Dip

    Nancy Blackstone
    This recipe is quick to whip up and not overly filling before dinner. The red sauce with a green parsley garnish makes it perfect to serve during the holidays
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 174 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 8 ounces cream cheese
    • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon minced onion
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • 1 cup chili sauce
    • 4.25 ounces canned crab meat drained
    • Parsley for garnish
    • Crackers for serving

    Instructions
     

    • In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, minced onion and lemon juice with an electric mixer until smooth. 
    • Using a flat spatula, spread the cream cheese mixture on a platter, then cover it with chili sauce.
    • Sprinkle crab meat over the top and garnish with parsley. Serve with crackers

    Notes

    You can use substitute a can of small shrimp for the crab meat if you prefer 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 5gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 671mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 619IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Christmas, crab, crab dip, dip, Holiday, seafood
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

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