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Smoking

Smoked Crab Dip

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This smoked Crab Dip is an insanely delicious recipe that is easy to create using traditional ingredients. But the smoke adds a layer of flavor that is as amazing as it is unexpected! This awesome smoked crab dip is close to the perfect dish whether you need an appetizer, snack, or food for game day grub for the gang!

If you are looking for some other appetizers or munchies, why not check out the ever-popular Smoked Jalapeno Poppers, or maybe you’re in the mood for some fabulous Chicken Wings!

Smoked crab dip in a cast iron skillet with crackers for dipping around the pan.

HELPFUL ITEMS FOR THIS RECIPE

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Cast Iron Skillet

Digital Electric Smoker

Smoking Wood Chips

What do you need to make smoked crab dip?

ingredients for the smoked crab dip in glass bowls on a white countertop.

Crab dip has always been on the list of great appetizers for me. Actually, there is nothing unusual in the ingredients of this dip. It really is a standard crab dip you might find in your mother’s old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

The difference with this recipe is the process. Smoking the dip low and slow allows that great smoky flavor to permeate the entire dish. This is the magic of the smoked crab dip!

Ingredients

  • Cream cheese, softened
  • Sour cream
  • Mayonnaise
  • Sharp cheddar cheese, grated (divided)
  • Garlic, minced
  • Old Bay seasoning
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Lemon Juice
  • Chives, chopped
  • Hot sauce (optional)
  • Lump crab meat (Don’t use imitation crab meat!)

This process is pretty much “everyone in the pool” to quote Guy Fieri.

Preparing the Crab dip for the smoker

Smoked crab dip wet ingredients together in a glass bowl
Smoked crab dip ingredients in a glass bowl
Smoked crab dip ingredients mixed in a glass bowl
Smoked crb dip - folding in the cab meat into all the other ingredients

Prepare your smoker and preheat it to 250 degrees F. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, whip the softened cream cheese until it is smooth. Then add the sour cream and mayonnaise. Continue to mix until it is smooth and well blended.

Now add the cheddar cheese, garlic, old bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, chives, and hot sauce (if using). Continue to mix until the mixture is smooth.

Add the crab meat to the bowl and fold in gently using a spatula or wooden spoon. You don’t want to break up the crab meat; it’s best to leave it in chunks if you can.

Smoked crb dip in a cast iron skillet
Grated cheese on top of the smoked crab dip
smoked crab dip on the smoker grate smoking

Spread the mixture into a 9-inch baking dish or cast-iron skillet. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese and place it into your preheated smoker.

I like to use a milder wood for smoking in this recipe and really for any seafood that I am smoking because of the fact that seafood is quite delicate. Try using fruit wood like apple or cherry wood. You can even use pecan or hickory, which I find is generally one of my go-to favorites.

Smoke the crab dip for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours. It should be bubbly, and the cheese should be melted on the top and slightly golden brown in color.

Smoked crab dip with melted cheese on top in a cast iron skillet on a white countertop.

Serving it up

Once you remove it from the smoker, I like to garnish it with some chopped chives. You could use chopped green onion if you prefer. It just adds some great color to the dish, and I love that light green onion flavor too!

Cast iron skillet with smoked crab dip served with crackers.

Be careful when removing the baking pan or cast-iron skillet from the smoker grill. The pan or handle will be very hot. Make sure you use a good pair of oven mitts to pick it up.

You also need to make sure that you have a hot plate to put your baking dish or cast-iron skillet on. You are going to want to serve it warm, but please don’t just put it on your coffee table. It will definitely leave a mark!

Crackers dipped into a cast iron skillet of smoked crab dip.

Serve up the dip with your favorite crackers or chips. For the health-conscious in the crowd, you can include some carrot and celery sticks for dipping as well.

This recipe is like those old fashion crab cakes. It’s full of smoky flavor, and it is creamy smooth, and the lump crab is super tender and juicy.

Cracker scooping some smoked crab dip, overhead picture.

This recipe is perfect for your next cocktail party, social mixer, or game day snack for the gang! It’s easy to pull together, tastes fantastic, and is a definite crowd pleaser!

Cracker with a scoop of smoked crab dip held up over the pan.
Smoked crab dip with a cracker scooping up a big bite of dip.

Pin it HERE!!

This smoked crab dip is insanely delicious with chunks of crab; it is creamy, cheesy, and yummy!

Pin it HERE!!

This smoked crab dip is insanely delicious with chunks of crab; it is creamy, cheesy, and yummy!
Cast iron skillet of smoked crab dip with crackers around the pan

Smoked Crab Dip

Ken Noland
This insanely delicious smoked crab dip has such a great flavor! It's not your grandmother's crab dip, that's for sure!
4.50 from 12 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Course Smoking
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 376 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp old bay seasoning
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice fresh squeezed
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped chives plus more for garnish (or green onions)
  • 1 tsp hot sauce or more to taste (optional)
  • 1 pound lump crab meat drained

Instructions
 

  • Prepare your smoker and preheat to 250°F.
  • In a large bowl, whip the cream cheese until smooth with an electric hand mixer. Add the sour cream and mayonnaise, mix until smooth.
  • Add 1 cup of the grated cheddar cheese, minced garlic, old bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, chopped chives, and hot sauce, if using. Mix until smooth.
  • Add the crab meat and fold it in gently, trying not to break up the crab.
  • Spread the mixture into an 8 or 9-inch baking dish or cast-iron skillet. Top with the remaining cheese.
  • Smoke for 1 & ½ to 2 hours until bubbly, the cheese is melted, and it is slightly golden on top.
  • Serve immediately with a garnish of more chives and serve with your favorite dippers or vegetable sticks!

Equipment

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25", Black
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25″, Black
Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker, 30", Black
Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker, 30″, Black
Western BBQ Smoking Wood Chips Variety Pack Bundle (4)- Apple, Mesquite, Hickory, and Cherry Flavors (Original Version)
Western BBQ Smoking Wood Chips Variety Pack Bundle (4)- Apple, Mesquite, Hickory, and Cherry Flavors (Original Version)

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 376kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 21gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 770mgSugar: 2g
Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


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4.50 from 12 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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Hi, I’m Ken thanks for stopping by BBQing with the Nolands! I was born and raised in Western Canada. I grew up on the great wide open farmlands that produce some of the worlds’ best livestock and grains.
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