Description
This creamy and flavorful Crab Casserole combines tender lump crab meat with a rich blend of cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and sharp cheeses, baked to golden perfection with a buttery breadcrumb topping. A perfect dish for seafood lovers looking for a comforting, savory casserole that’s easy to prepare and serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Crab Mixture
- 1 lb lump crab meat (picked over for shells)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup green onions or chives, chopped (divided)
Topping
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a medium baking dish to prepare it for the casserole.
- Sauté onions and garlic: In a skillet, melt a small amount of butter and sauté the finely chopped onion and minced garlic until they become soft and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, paprika, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly until smooth and well blended.
- Add cheeses and aromatics: Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and the sautéed onions and garlic into the cream cheese mixture.
- Fold in crab meat: Gently fold in the lump crab meat along with half of the chopped green onions or chives, being careful not to break up the crab meat too much to maintain its texture.
- Transfer to baking dish: Spread the crab mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Prepare topping: Combine the breadcrumbs with the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly coated, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the casserole surface.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling and the breadcrumbs have turned golden brown. For an extra crisp topping, broil the casserole briefly for 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining green onions or chives on top as a fresh garnish. Serve warm and enjoy this rich and creamy seafood casserole.
Notes
- To avoid shells in your crab, carefully pick through the crab meat before mixing it into the casserole.
- If you prefer a less rich dish, substitute light sour cream and mayonnaise.
- Old Bay seasoning adds a classic seafood flavor, but you can adjust the spices to your taste preferences.
- Use fresh green onions or chives for a mild, fresh garnish that complements the creamy casserole.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Broil cautiously as the topping can burn quickly under high heat.
