Shrimp Dip

This classic cold shrimp dip recipe is creamy and rich with tons of flavor to boot. Made with cream cheese, mayo, and juicy shrimp along with lemon juice and chili garlic sauce in only 10 minutes of prep.

Why this recipe works

Shrimp dip is nothing new; in fact, it’s held its spot as a party staple appetizer for quite some time now, right there next to old-fashioned shrimp cocktail. It’s creamy, smooth, tangy, and has pops of texture throughout. Honestly, it’s the perfect little app to snack on at parties, especially if you serve it with an assortment of dippers.

There are many different ways to make shrimp dip, so I’ve included a few extra variations below, whether you want to add some crunch or a kick of heat. Don’t be afraid to tweak it to your liking.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

SHRIMP – You can use any size shrimp for this recipe as you will be chopping it up anyway. This is a great recipe for any leftover shrimp you may have! Canned shrimp can also be used.

ADDITIONS – Shallots can be used instead of red onion, or if you prefer, use the entire scallion instead of just the stems and leave out the red onion. As far as flavor boosters go, chili garlic sauce, Old Bay seasoning, and lemon juice do an excellent job at making this dip extra tasty. Feel free to add herbs that will complement here, such as fresh dill or fresh chives.

Variations of Shrimp Dip

• For even more “pop”, add a teaspoon or two of grated lemon zest.
• For a little more bite, add in a tablespoon of horseradish sauce and/or a few shakes of hot sauce.
• Horseradish mayo is a bold substitute for all or part of the plain mayonnaise.
• If you like a little more crunch in your dip, dice up a stalk of celery and stir it in!

How to Make Shrimp Dip

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Chop cooked shrimp into small pieces. Set aside.
2. Cut cream cheese into cubes and place in a mini food chopper.
3. Add mayonnaise, grated parmesan cheese, Old Bay seasoning, chili garlic sauce, and lemon juice. Process until smooth.
4. In a large mixing bowl using a rubber spatula, stir together chopped shrimp, cream cheese mixture, red onion, and green onion stems until well combined.
5. Chill mixture for 1 hour before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Yes, you can prepare the dip and store it, covered, in the refrigerator a day in advance.

Store any leftover shrimp dip in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Absolutely. Leftover shrimp, or frozen precooked shrimp, work perfectly in this dip. Simply thaw the shrimp according to package instructions (if using frozen precooked shrimp), or chop up leftover chilled shrimp (there’s no reason to reheat leftover shrimp for this recipe). Realistically, you can use just about any kind of shrimp here, as it’s getting chopped up anyhow. Though you’ll want to use shrimp that have been peeled, deveined, and have had the tails removed.

Some people prefer their shrimp dip with whole shrimp for extra texture, in which case, I would suggest using extra small/mini cooked shrimp. This way you can easily scoop the shrimp with your dipper of choice.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your shrimp dip with crackers, chips, assorted vegetables, or crusty bread/baguettes. I like to place the dip in the center of a platter and offer an assortment of different dippers! Serve chilled, preferably after at least an hour of refrigeration so the flavors have had time to mingle. Enjoy!

More Dip Recipes

• Crab Dip
• Bean Dip
• Smoked Salmon Dip
• Spinach Artichoke Dip

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