Holly's Crockpot Seafood Cheese Dip

This is a party dip with serious surf ambition. Shrimp, crab, and lobster melt together with three kinds of dairy, cream cheese, sour cream, and processed cheese, for that smooth, won’t-break melt.

The slow cooker is doing you a real favor here. It melts everything gently and, just as importantly, keeps the dip warm and dippable for hours instead of seizing up the second it leaves the stove. Stir now and then as it melts to smooth out any lumps.

Seafood seasoning and a hit of Worcestershire go in at the end so their flavor stays bright instead of cooking flat. Set it out with torn crusty bread and let people go to town.

Kitchen Tips

• Stir occasionally while the cheese melts so it comes together smooth instead of stringy.
• Add the seafood seasoning and Worcestershire after the cheese melts, then taste; it’s easy to over-salt a seafood dip.
• Keep it on low or warm to serve; high heat can make the cheese split and turn oily.

Variations

• Use all crab or all shrimp if that’s what you have on hand.
• Stir in a handful of shredded cheddar or pepper jack for a sharper, spicier dip.
• Serve with crackers, celery, or tortilla chips instead of bread.