Step up your party game with this simple-but-special shrimp dip—it’s easy, adaptable, and delicious!
Chips and dip are the perfect party food, right? It’s hard to imagine throwing any kind of festive gathering without crunchy finger foods and creamy goodies to swirl, scoop, and scrape them into.
But sometimes I want to do a little more than an onion soup dip or a bowl of salsa. Don’t you? This dip is perfect for those times, and I think it’s the best shrimp dip you’ll find. It’s way more special than an “everyday” dip, but still pretty darned simple and easy to make.
What Makes This The Best Shrimp Dip?
I based it on my salmon dip, which is also great for parties. Like that one, this is made in a food processor—all you have to do is add the ingredients, push a button, and voila! It’s creamy-delicious.
Use Canned Shrimp Or Fresh Shrimp – Whatever You Prefer!
Also like that one, this one can be made with canned seafood, to make it easier and less expensive. You could also use fresh or frozen (thawed) tiny bay shrimp, also known as salad shrimp, as long as they’re not raw. I actually prefer those, but use whatever you prefer and what fits your budget.
For extra flavor and texture, I add a little minced onion. Then I garnish with chopped chives and a few whole shrimp. The shrimp on top not only looks great, it also lets my guests know what kind of dip it is!
Make It YOUR Best Shrimp Dip
All that said, my recipe is pretty adaptable. So if you want to use red onion or shallots instead of the white onion, go for it. If you want to use scallions instead of chives on top – or omit the garnishes altogether – no problem. You could even add some chopped fresh herbs to the mixture in the food processor – parsley, dill, or tarragon, for example, would be great.
(Since you’re experimenting, you might also want to try my smoked trout dip or my lox dip.)
Once you’ve made this very simple-but-special dip, all you need are a few simple-but-special dippers. Then get the party started!
Enjoy! :) – Christine
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Best Shrimp Dip
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 servings (about 3 and ½ cups) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
Step up your party game with this simple-but-special shrimp dip—it’s easy, adaptable, and delicious!
Ingredients
- 3 (4 oz.) cans tiny shrimp, drained, or 12 oz. cooked fresh or frozen (thawed) bay or salad shrimp
- 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup lemon juice, or more to taste
- 1 tsp. salt, or more to taste
- ¼ tsp. hot sauce, such as Tabasco, or more to taste
- ½ cup finely chopped white onion
- 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Set aside 1-2 tablespoons of the shrimp. Put the remaining shrimp, cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and hot sauce in a food processor and pulse until smooth.
- Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in the onion. Add more lemon juice, salt, and hot sauce to taste.
- Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the chives and reserved shrimp. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to about a day (ideally return it to room temperature before serving).
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