Food and Recipes Dish Dips Crawfish Dip 5.0 (2) 1 Review Cook and serve this crawfish dip in a slow cooker to keep it warm for the entire length of your party. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 5, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Greg Dupree Styling: Heather Chadduck Hands On Time: 15 mins Total Time: 1 hr Servings: 10 Jump to recipe Crawfish dip is a flavorful appetizer with its heart in Louisiana culinary traditions. Whether served warm or cold, it's the perfect way to start off any party, from dinner parties to game day celebrations. To make it, a classic mirepoix builds flavor, with garlic, fresh jalapeño, paprika, and cayenne building heat and depth. Peeled crawfish tails offer a delicate texture, subtle sweetness, and just a hint of brininess for a rich seafood base. A cherished ingredient in Southern and Cajun cuisine, crawfish is featured well in this savory dip. To bring it all together into a melty, crave-worthy dip, cream cheese, extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, and heavy cream balance and meld the flavors while creating a creamy, dippable consistency. Learn how to make crawfish dip. Made in a slow cooker, this dip is almost completely hands-off, and ready to serve in under an hour. Ingredients for Crawfish Dip A myriad of aromatics, spices, and creamy elements combine for a decadent dip that's a powerhouse of flavor. To make crawfish dip, you'll need: Salted butter: For sautéing the mirepoix and to add richness to the dish. Green bell pepper, onion, and celery: A classic mirepoix to build aromatic flavors. Garlic cloves: Adds a savory depth to the dish. Jalapeño chile: For a touch of heat. Kosher salt and black pepper: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish. Paprika: Adds a warm, smoky flavor and hint of color. Cayenne pepper: For a touch of heat and spice. Frozen peeled crawfish tails: The star ingredient, providing a delicate seafood texture and flavor. Cream cheese: Adds creaminess and richness to the dip. Extra-sharp Cheddar cheese: For a gooey, cheesy texture. Swap with Monterey jack, Gruyère, Swiss, or other cheeses as preferred. Heavy whipping cream: Thins the dip for a creamy, dippable texture. Creole mustard: Adds tanginess and a hint of spice. Can substitute with other types of mustard, if needed. Worcestershire sauce: Adds savory, umami notes to the dip. Hot sauce: Adds heat and acidity. Lemon juice: Brightness and acidity to liven up the dip. Flat-leaf parsley: Adds freshness and a pop of color. Crackers, toasted baguette slices: For serving. How To Make Crawfish Dip After sautéing the initial ingredients for just under 10 minutes, all of the ingredients are transferred to a slow cooker to melt and meld together. In under an hour, the dip is hot and ready to serve. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started: Step 1. Cook bell pepper, onion, celery, and seasonings: Melt the butter in a large pan or skillet, then add the bell pepper, onion, celery, garlic, jalapeño, salt, and black pepper. Cook to soften, then add paprika and cayenne; cook an additional minute.Step 2. Add ingredients to slow-cooker: Place crawfish, cream cheese, Cheddar, and cream in a slow-cooker. Stir in bell pepper mixture, mustard, Worcestershire, and hot sauce.Step 3. Cook dip: Cover and cook on HIGH 45 minutes, then reduce heat to WARM and stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve with crackers or toasted baguette slices. Crawfish Dip Variations To change up this crawfish dip, consider these variations: Heat: Increase the heat by swapping the jalapeño with a spicier chili variety, or increasing the amount of cayenne pepper or hot sauce.Cheese: Swap the cream cheese with sour cream, mascarpone, or Greek yogurt. Swap the Cheddar with Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Fontina, or other favorite melty cheeses.Creole mustard: Use Dijon mustard for a more mild flavor, or grainy mustard for tang and texture.Crawfish: Substitute all of part of the crawfish with diced shrimp or crab meat.Garnish: Substitute the parsley with cilantro, chives, or sliced green onions.Veggies: Add chopped cooked spinach for color and texture. What To Serve With Crawfish Dip Serve crawfish dip with toasted baguette slices, crackers, crudité, potato chips, and more for dipping. Pair with other easy appetizers for a festive way to start the party, including Party Poppers, Million Dollar Dip, Fried Olives, and more. How To Store and Reheat Leftover Crawfish Dip If you have leftover crawfish dip, cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Place a layer of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the dip to create a tight seal before placing on the lid. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Serve chilled, or reheat if desired. Reheat leftover crawfish dip in the microwave in short intervals, until heated through. Adjust the consistency with a splash of cream or milk, if needed. You can also reheat back in the slow-cooker. More Seafood Dip Recipes You'll Love Whether you love crab, shrimp, or smoked whitefish, these seafood dip recipes are a great way to up your appetizer game: Smoked-Fish Dip Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip Hot Cheesy Crab Dip Artichoke and Crabmeat Dip Creamy Crab Dip Deviled Crab Dip Hot Crab and Shrimp Dip Shrimp-and-Andouille Gumbo Dip Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 2 Tbsp. salted butter 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup) 1/2 cup diced celery 3 garlic cloves, chopped 1 jalapeño chile, diced 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 2 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 lb. frozen peeled crawfish tails, thawed according to package directions 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (about 8 oz.) 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 2 Tbsp. Creole mustard 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp. hot sauce 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Crackers, toasted baguette slices Directions Cook bell pepper, onion, celery, and seasonings: Melt butter in a large sauté pan or skillet over medium. Add bell pepper, onion, celery, garlic, jalapeño, salt, and black pepper, and cook 6 minutes. Add paprika and cayenne pepper, and cook 1 more minute. Add ingredients to slow cooker: Place crawfish, cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and cream in a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in bell pepper mixture, Creole mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Cook dip: Cover and cook on HIGH 45 minutes. Reduce heat to WARM. Stir in lemon juice and parsley; serve with crackers or toasted baguette slices. Frequently Asked Questions Is crawfish dip spicy? This dip has a hint of spice from cayenne pepper and hot sauce, but feel free to adjust the quantity to taste, based on whether you prefer it spicy or mild. Can I use other types of seafood in crawfish dip? If crawfish isn't available, substitute with shrimp, crab, or other preferred seafood. Can I freeze crawfish dip? While you can freeze crawfish dip, the texture may change after thawing. For that reason, avoid freezing the dip if possible. Rate It Print Additional reporting by Katie Rosenhouse Katie Rosenhouse Follow us Katie Rosenhouse is a pastry chef and food writer with over 15 years of experience in the culinary arts. She's worked as a pastry chef in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, as a culinary instructor, and as a recipe developer. learn more