The Easy Appetizer I Make Every Single New Year's Eve

Ring in the new year with this creamy, bubbly hot crab dip.

By
Nick Evans
Nick Evans
Nick Evans

Nick has been creating recipes for home cooks for almost 15 years. He is the author of Love Your Leftovers and has contributed to Simply Recipes since 2017.

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published December 29, 2025
Nick Evans
New Year’s Eve Hot Crab Dip in a dish with slices of bread

Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
  • Creamy crab dip makes any gathering feel special without lots of effort.
  • You can use canned lump crab meat, saving money without sacrificing flavor.
  • Mixing the dip ahead lets you bake and serve it hot right when guests arrive.

The holiday season is filled with a string of traditions, especially in the kitchen. From monkey bread on Christmas morning to from-scratch lasagna the night before, my family has come to love a particular schedule of dishes over the holidays. This appetizer has been on our menu for New Year's Eve forever, and it also happens to be one of the easiest recipes in our lineup that I make. 

I like this creamy crab dip because it feels special and isn’t something that I would make regularly (even though you could because it’s very easy). Even canned crab can be fairly expensive per ounce, so I like to save this recipe for special occasions. When the dip comes out of the oven, bubbling hot and smelling delicious, your hungry guests will want to dive in immediately. 

What Kind of Crab To Use

Because this dip involves mixing crab with cream cheese and seasonings, there’s no need to use fresh crab for this recipe. Canned crab meat works just fine, but I do prefer lump crab meat over minced. 

Most importantly, when you open your can of crab meat, be sure to drain the meat well before adding it to the dip. Press out the liquid so the meat looks on the dry side. This will ensure that your dip isn’t too watery. 

Making It Ahead

You can definitely stir this crab dip together and get it ready in the dish in advance, then bake it off just before serving. There’s no real advantage to baking it in advance, as you would still want to reheat it in the oven and serve it nice and warm. If you’re baking the dip cold from the fridge, add 5 minutes or so to the bake time.

New Year’s Eve Hot Crab Dip in a dish with a spoon scooping some out, slices of bread on the side

Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

More Easy Dips:

New Year’s Eve Hot Crab Dip

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 8 serving
Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray or softened butter

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1 (6-ounce) can lump crab meat, drained well

  • 1 tablespoon minced chives, plus more for garnish

  • 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

  • 1 clove garlic, grated or minced

  • Toasted baguette or crackers, for serving

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Grease a 2-cup (or slightly larger) ramekin or small baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or butter.

  2. Make the dip:

    In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, drained crab meat, chives, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and garlic. Mix together well and taste, adding more seasoning as needed. Transfer to the greased baking dish. Place the dish on a baking sheet in case it overflows slightly during baking. 

  3. Bake:

    Bake the dip until it is bubbling and completely melted with a slightly browned crust on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve the dip garnished with extra chives and served alongside toasted baguette or crackers.

    Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, 10 to 15 minutes.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
120 Calories
10g Fat
2g Carbs
6g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 120
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 49mg 16%
Sodium 334mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 1mg 6%
Calcium 53mg 4%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 107mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.