Description
Cream cheese shrimp dip brings together creamy Philadelphia cheese and succulent Gulf Coast seafood in a quick party starter that disappears faster than guests can grab a chip. Whip this smooth, tangy blend together in mere minutes, guaranteeing smiles and empty serving bowls at your next gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 cup small cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
- Extra chopped shrimp
Dairy and Base:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, softened
Flavor and Garnish:
- ½ cup cocktail sauce
- ¼ cup green onions, finely sliced
- 1 squeeze lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh parsley
- Hot sauce or chili flakes
Serving Suggestions:
- Crackers
- Chips
- Veggies
Instructions
- Remove 8 oz cream cheese from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for precisely 30 minutes until completely softened.
- Transfer softened cream cheese to a clean serving platter, using a flexible spatula to spread it into an even ¼-inch thick layer covering the entire surface.
- Drizzle ½ cup cocktail sauce directly over cream cheese, carefully spreading sauce with the back of a spoon to create a uniform coverage.
- Distribute 1 cup chopped cooked shrimp across the surface, ensuring even placement around the entire dish.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup finely sliced green onions over the shrimp, creating a decorative and flavorful layer.
- Optional: Dust ¼ teaspoon garlic powder across the dip for an extra flavor boost.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, using a light hand to complement the existing flavors.
- Chill the assembled dip in the refrigerator for exactly 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
- When ready to serve, garnish with fresh parsley, extra chopped shrimp, or a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.
- Present the dip alongside an assortment of crackers, chips, or fresh vegetable sticks for dipping.
Notes
- Let the cream cheese soften completely to ensure a smooth, spreadable base that mixes easily with other ingredients.
- Drain shrimp thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from making the dip watery and losing its creamy texture.
- For a low-carb version, swap crackers with crisp cucumber slices or bell pepper strips as dippers.
- Choose small, cooked shrimp for easier chopping and more even distribution throughout the dip.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 176 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 502 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg