The Best Shrimp Dip (with Cream Cheese)

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This easy, creamy Shrimp Dip Recipe, made with tiny shrimp, cream cheese, mayonnaise, chives, or green onions, and a dash of hot sauce, makes a great make-ahead game day party appetizer.

Serve the retro recipe with your favorite tortilla or pita or chips, crackers, or baguette slices, and let the party begin!

My husband can sometimes be a picky eater, especially when it comes to Seafood Recipes.

However, pair shrimp with cream cheese, hot sauce, and a football game, and he will gobble this shrimp dip down.

Pair this cold shrimp dip with our Cilantro Lime Guacamole, Mexican Cream Cheese Corn Dip, Pico De Gallo, and Nachos or your best Appetizer Recipes, and you are ready for the game to begin!

With these game-day foods, everyone will be a winner.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Why This Recipe Works
• How To Make Spicy Shrimp Dip
• Ingredient Notes
• Easy Instructions With Photos
• Pro Recipe Tips
• Recipe Variations
• What To Serve With Shrimp Dip
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• More Recipes You’ll Love
• Recipe
• Reviews

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Creamy. Thick, creamy, and spicy, this dip is certain to be a hit at your next party!
• Zesty Flavor. With the kick of your favorite hot sauce, it adds to the savory flavor.
• Make Ahead. This is a great appetizer to make a day ahead and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
• No Bake. Since this is a cold dip, no need exists to heat the oven or heat up the kitchen, as you just mix the ingredients together and serve or refrigerate until ready to serve.
• One Bowl. You can make the entire recipe in one bowl. That means less dishes to wash!
• Budget-Friendly. By using canned shrimp, you will save money yet still provide a tasty, flavorful dip.

Why This Recipe Works

• Tried And True. My family and I have been making this vintage Shrimp Dip for decades. It is a requirement for any game day appetizer.
• Step by Step Photo Instructions. With step by step instructions as well as step by step photos, it makes easier to be successful every time when making this recipe!
• Recipe Variations Included. Ideas for variations of this shrimp dip are included so you can customize it to your taste. Also, it makes it easy for you to change it up for when you make it again and again.
• Dipper Ideas. Ideas for different types of dippers to scoop up this scrumptious dip are also included.

How To Make Spicy Shrimp Dip

Equipment

The affiliate links below will allow you to see the product on Amazon.com. If you purchase one of the items, I will receive a very small commission on the product, which does not increase the price.

• Cutting Board - You need a cutting board and I like this large, sustainable bamboo cutting board.
• Chef's Knife - Every kitchen needs a Chef's Knife and this is a good affordable option.
• Vegetable Chopper - If you don't want to use a knife, then I recommend using this vegetable chopper to make chopping easier.
• Zester – Zest the lime or it can also be used to grate citrus fruits, chocolate, garlic, ginger and hard cheeses.
• Mixing Bowl - With the hand mixer, you will need a good mixing bowl. It is good to have a nice set of mixing bows and I like this set.

Ingredient Notes

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don't have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

• Cream Cheese – Softened cream cheese is a key to getting that thick creamy texture for the dip. You can buy brand name or generic, but for the best quality cream cheese I like to buy the well-known brand for the best texture and flavor.
• Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise also adds to the creamy texture of the shrimp dip. You could also use Miracle Whip, if you don’t have mayonnaise, or use sour cream for its creamy tanginess as that would also work well in this dip.
• Lime Juice – The lime juice offers that citrusy acidic flavor to balance out the flavors of the dip. If you don’t have lime juice, you could use lemon juice instead.
• Lime Zest – In addition to the juice of the lime, we will be using the zest of the lime.
• Chives or Green Onions – The chives provide that delicate flavor combination of mild onion and a hint of garlic.
• Parsley – I used dried parsley in this dip, but you could definitely use fresh parsley to add as a topping.
• Hot sauce – Add your favorite hot sauce to give the shrimp dip that zesty, spicy kick and additional flavor.
• Garlic powder – I used garlic powder. However, you could use finely minced garlic as well.
• Red Bell Peppers and Green Bell Peppers – The red and green bell peppers add wonderful color and texture to the shrimp dip.
• Tiny Shrimp – For this cold shrimp dip, I used tiny canned salad shrimp as they are small, budget-friendly, yet still delicious. However, you could also use cooked fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp that has been thawed and cooked.

These ingredients make a delicious basic Shrimp Dip recipe. See the Variations section below for other optional ingredients to add to customize the Shrimp Dip to your taste.

Easy Instructions With Photos

For more detailed instructions, scroll down to the bottom of this blog post, just above the comments, for the complete, detailed instructions.

• Step 1. In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lime juice, lime zest, parsley, chives, hot sauce, and garlic powder.

• Step 2. Mix the above ingredients together in the bowl.

• Step 3. Add the red and green bell peppers and shrimp and stir together.

• Step 4 . Sprinkle a few shrimp, lemon or lime slices, on top and a few dashes of hot sauce and serve with chips or crackers.

Pro Recipe Tips

• Soften The Cream Cheese First. Cold cream cheese won’t work well. You will need to start with softened cream cheese, which means that you will need to let the cream cheese sit out for about 20 minutes before starting the recipe.
• Ratio of Cream Cheese To Mayonnaise. In many savory recipes, I know people often are not precise in their measurements. However, in this shrimp dip, it is important to measure out the mayonnaise to get the right ratio of mayo to cream cheese in order to get the right texture. If there is not enough mayonnaise, it can be too thick; if too much mayonnaise, it can be too thin.
• Use A Mixer. For this recipe, I recommend using a hand mixer. You could mix it by hand, but it can be very tiring. With the cream cheese, the electric mixer makes it much easier.
• 2-Hours Out. According to the USDA, for safety purposes, do not leave out cream cheese or sour cream dips for more than 2 hours at room temperature. If you place the dip in a larger bowl or tub of ice, then it could keep longer because it would be kept at a colder temperature.

Recipe Variations

This Shrimp Dip makes a great base dip that you can then add ingredients to in order to customize it to your taste preferences.

• Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Dip – Add extra minced garlic, and grated parmesan cheese for that awesome savory, salty, cheesy flavor.
• Cajun Shrimp Dip – To give it more of a Cajun flair, add a dash of Cajun seasoning, and a little Worcestershire and it will give the dip even more spicy goodness.
• Buffalo Bleu Cheese Shrimp Dip – Instead of regular hot sauce, add some Buffalo Wing sauce, and bleu cheese to give it more of a Buffalo Wings type of flavor.

What To Serve With Shrimp Dip

• Tortilla Chips. You can use store-bought or make these easy baked Homemade Tortilla Chips.
• Corn Chips.
• Bagel Chips.
• Pretzel Chips.
• Pita Chips.
• Baguette Slices.
• Celery.
• Carrots.
• Vegetable Tray.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Can I Make This Shrimp Dip Ahead of Time?
  • Yes. Make this up to 8 hours ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• What To Do With Leftover Shrimp Dip?
  • Use it in our Tijuana Shrimp Dip Nachos!
• How Do I Store Leftovers?
  • If you have any leftovers, and that is a big IF, place the shrimp dip in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• Can I Freeze Shrimp Dip?
  • I don’t recommend freezing shrimp dip. When it defrosts, the texture is never the same.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Mini Corn Dip Taco Cups
• Traeger Smoked Cream Cheese
• Artichoke Jalapeno Dip
• Crab Dip Recipe with Cream Cheese
• Air Fryer Salmon Patties with Creamy Dill Sauce

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