Neon Sign Corn and Crab Dip
Sweet corn, lump crab, and melty cheese make a hot dip with enough kick for a late-night snack spread.
Prep: 12 · Cook: 18 · Total: 30 · Serves: 6 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.7/5 (221 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
A bold diner and boardwalk style seafood dip with sweet corn, chunky crab, and a broiled cheese finish.
Story
Give me a bubbling skillet dip and a table full of people willing to grab the first chip. This one has sweet corn, chunky crab, pepper jack, and enough Old Bay to make the whole room smell like a boardwalk shack. It is loaded, it is creamy, and it does not need a fancy serving bowl. Put it down with cold drinks and watch it disappear before the late crowd arrives.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup thawed frozen corn
- 8 oz lump crabmeat, picked over
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted baguette
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9-inch oven-safe skillet or small baking dish.
- Stir the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Old Bay, and cayenne until smooth.
- Fold in the corn, crabmeat, scallions, pepper jack, and half of the cheddar, keeping the crab in chunky pieces.
- Spread the mixture into the skillet and sprinkle the remaining cheddar over the top.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then broil for 1 to 2 minutes until the top is bubbling and spotted golden.
- Rest the dip for 5 minutes, then serve hot with chips, crackers, or toasted bread.
Chef Tips
- Drain the crab well so the dip stays thick and scoopable.
- For a milder dip, leave out the cayenne and use Monterey Jack instead of pepper jack.
- Do not over-stir the crab or the texture turns pasty.
- Reheat leftovers in a small skillet over low heat with a splash of milk.
Cook's Notes
- **Crab:** Lump crab gives the best bite, but claw meat works and costs less.
- **Broil:** Watch closely under the broiler because the cheese can go from golden to burned fast.
- **Heat:** Cayenne adds a low hum, not a full fire alarm.
- **Holding:** Keep the skillet warm, not screaming hot, so the dip stays creamy.