Description
This creamy and tangy Shrimp Dip combines softened cream cheese with mayonnaise, fresh lemon zest and juice, green onions, parsley, and tender chopped cooked shrimp. It’s easy to prepare and perfect for serving chilled as a savory appetizer with crackers at parties or gatherings. The dip is topped with zesty cocktail sauce and extra parsley for added flavor and presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Ingredients
- 2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley, plus more to serve
- 8 oz. cooked shrimp, shells and tails removed, chopped
- 1 cup cocktail sauce
- Crackers, to serve
Instructions
- Blend Cream Cheese 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, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure even mixing.
- Add Green Onions and Parsley: Add the thinly sliced green onions and chopped parsley to the cream cheese mixture. Mix on low speed just until combined to preserve the texture of the herbs.
- Prepare Shrimp: Remove the shells and tails from the cooked shrimp if necessary, then chop into small bite-sized pieces.
- Fold in Shrimp: Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the chopped shrimp into the cream cheese mixture, making sure the shrimp is evenly distributed throughout the dip.
- Chill the Dip: Transfer the dip to a shallow, wide serving bowl and smooth into an even layer. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Before serving, top the chilled shrimp dip with cocktail sauce and additional chopped parsley for garnish. Serve alongside crackers for dipping.
Notes
- Swap the shrimp for 8 ounces of chopped smoked salmon for a delicious breakfast bagel spread alternative.
- Make the dip up to 24 hours in advance for convenience; keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Use high-quality cocktail sauce to enhance the dip’s tangy flavor profile.
- To make the dip less rich, substitute light cream cheese and mayonnaise.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tbsp (about 30g)
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
