Hot Shrimp Dip

This hot shrimp dip is the perfect party and game-day appetizer that goes well with crackers, fresh veggies, or bread. It's easy to make and so flavorful with a touch of Cajun, yum. 

If you are looking for an easy seafood dip to make or aren't an expert in the kitchen then definitely give this shrimp dip a try. It is made with cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo. It's creamy and cheesy, but not too heavy.  

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love this Baked Shrimp Dip 
• Ingredients 
• How to Make Shrimp Dip 
• Shrimp Dip Tips for Success
• How to Store the Leftover Baked Dip
• How to Reheat the Leftover Baked Dip
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

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Why You'll Love this Baked Shrimp Dip 

• Flavorful. This dip is seasoned with a combination of lemon and Old Bay Seasoning. Both of these ingredients add a complex zesty flavor and refreshing taste to the shrimp. 
• The right balance. It contains the right amount of shrimp and dip base. As a result, you will have a full taste of shrimp flavor instead of cheese or mayo with only hints of shrimp. 

• Simple. You just need to mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl or baking dish, then bake it just until it is bubbly. 
• Make it ahead of time. You can prepare this dip a day in advance, and the leftovers will last up to 5 days in the fridge. 
• Low-carb and Keto-Friendly. A great option even for those who are keeping an eye on things but not wanting to budge on taste.

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Ingredients 

To make this easy shrimp dip, you'll need the following ingredients: 

Shrimp. In this recipe, I used precooked shrimp without shells that I purchased from my local Costco. If you prefer to use fresh shrimp, you can of course do that too. 

Cream cheese. I used softened cream cheese, full fat as a base for the dip. 

Mayonnaise. It's another ingredient that I used for the base. It adds a creamy texture to the dip. 

Sour cream. I mixed in a small amount of sour cream with cream cheese and mayo as a base for the dip. Sour cream adds richness and a light acidic tanginess to the dip. 

Cheddar cheese. The cheese works as a flavor enhancer. It also helps thicken the sauce as it melts. 

Old Bay Seasoning. It works well with any seafood. Old Bay seasoning adds nice smoky, peppery, and salty flavors, similar to Cajun seasoning. If you have some leftover Old Bay Seasoning, use it to make this popular Fish Chowder recipe.

Lemon. I used both lemon juice and lemon zest to add a fresh and clean taste. It also cuts the greasiness. 

Parmesan cheese. It's another cheese that I used as a topping. 

Other seasonings. I used garlic salt, and black pepper to add more flavor to the dip. 

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How to Make Shrimp Dip 

The preparation and cooking process of this shrimp dip is not complicated. Here's the summary: 

Step 1. Prepare the Shrimp Dip Ingredients 

• Soften the cream cheese
• Chop the Shrimp 
• Use a small grater to zest the lemon then squeeze out the juice. 
• Shred both the cheddar cheese.
• Grate the parmesan cheese. 

Step 2. Mix the Ingredients 

• In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, garlic salt, black pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, and Old Bay seasoning until smooth. 

• Fold in the chopped shrimp and some of the cheddar cheese. 

Step 3. Bake 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
• Transfer the mixture to a small baking dish. 
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese. 

• Put the baking dish in the oven and cook until bubbly, about 20 minutes. 
• (Optional) for a golden brown top layer, you can put it in the broiler for about 2 minutes. Watch it carefully to avoid burning.

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Shrimp Dip Tips for Success

• To thicken the dip. Once the shrimp dip is baked, let it cool down for a few minutes. Then, stir it before serving to help thicken up the sauce. 
• Shrimp. You can use thawed frozen shrimp or canned shrimp. Alternatively, you can use raw shrimp and boil them for 2 minutes before adding them to a mixture. 
• Drain excess moisture from shrimp. Make sure that you have access to a clean kitchen and paper towels so you can pat dry shrimp to remove excess liquid. 

• Make it ahead. You can mix all of the ingredients up to a day in advance and bake them in the oven before serving. 
• Old Bay Seasoning. If you don't have it on hand, feel free to use Cajun seasoning instead. 
• Mayonnaise. Do not swap mayo with Miracle Whip. 
• Cheese. To avoid a grainy and gritty texture do not use pre-shredded cheese. Instead, buy a block of cheese and shred it at home. 

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How to Store the Leftover Baked Dip

Discard any leftover that has been left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature or 1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F. You can learn more here.

• Let the shrimp dip cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
• Divide the leftover into smaller portions then transfer them to airtight containers.
• Transfer the leftover to an airtight container. Properly stored, the leftover can last 3-4 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.

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How to Reheat the Leftover Baked Dip

• In the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cover the baking dish with foil then bake for 10 minutes or until heated through.
• In the microwave. Put the leftover in a microwave-safe dish then cover it with a damp paper towel. Heat the dip in 15-second intervals and stir between each break.

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Check Out More Party Appetizer Recipes

• Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Potato Cheese Balls
• Crispy Grilled Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Calamari
• Air Fryer Okra

I hope you'll enjoy this recipe and share it with friends! If you try it and don't mind, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating. Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly recipes and follow me on Pinterest.

📖 Recipe