Description
This creamy and flavorful Shrimp Dip combines smooth cream cheese with zesty lemon, fresh herbs, and tender chopped shrimp. Perfect for serving chilled alongside crackers, this seafood dip is a crowd-pleaser that’s quick to prepare and ideal for parties or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Herbs and Vegetables
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley, plus more to serve
Main Protein
- 8 oz. cooked shrimp, peeled and chopped
Topping and Serving
- 1 cup cocktail sauce
- Crackers, to serve
Instructions
- Prepare the base mixture: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt. Beat on medium speed until completely smooth, which should take about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure even mixing.
- Add herbs: Add the thinly sliced green onions and chopped parsley to the bowl. Mix on low speed just until they are incorporated evenly throughout the creamy base.
- Prepare the shrimp: If your cooked shrimp still have shells or tails, remove them. Then chop the shrimp into small pieces to distribute well in the dip.
- Combine shrimp with dip: Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the chopped shrimp into the cream cheese mixture until evenly combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain the dip’s texture.
- Chill the dip: Transfer the dip to a shallow, wide serving bowl and smooth the top into an even layer. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight. This chilling allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Serve: Just before serving, top the chilled dip with the cocktail sauce and sprinkle additional parsley on top for garnish. Serve with crackers for dipping.
Notes
- For a breakfast twist, swap the shrimp for 8 oz. chopped smoked salmon to make a flavorful bagel spread.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to ensure a smooth and creamy texture.
- Chilling the dip enhances the flavors and improves the texture, so do not skip this step.
- Use cocktail sauce of your choice; homemade or store-bought both work well.
- Leftover dip can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tbsp
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
