This Cajun Shrimp Dip is something that covers all savory-snacking-celebratory-appetizer bases. A fragrant base of veggies alongside a dash of Cajun heat amps up the flavor of the shrimp, which are mixed in a creamy delight of cheeses.
Dips are needed. Whether it’s game day or a winter holiday, nothing satisfies hunger quite like a bubbling pan of creamy, gooey delight. Here, this Cajun Shrimp Dip starts off with the trinity —- a Cajun trio of onions, celery, and green bell pepper.
Once the veggies are softened, turn off the heat and the dip’s most valuable players head into the pot. Cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese get mixed with the trinity of veggies, creating a cheesy base that holds everything together.
Finally, the chopped-up shrimp gets mixed in, and the dip is transferred into a greased casserole dish, topped with more cheese, and baked in the oven until it’s gold on the top and bubbling around the sides.
This dip is meant for sharing — even if you don’t want to.
The cheese inside the dip is molten and smooth, while the cheese on top is crispy with a satisfying pizza like quality. Onions, celery, and bell peppers add a great amount of savoy fragrance that counters the bold heat of the Cajun spice.
Chopping up the shrimp allows everyone to have a chance to get the same flavor with each scoopful. It’s great to eat with butter crackers, bread, or sticks of crisp celery or carrot. It’s a welcomed variation to the classic cheese party dips and it’s here to stay for each and every occasion!
Cajun Shrimp Dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 bell pepper (yellow, red, or orange), finely diced
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 stalks celery, finely diced
- 8 ounce cream cheese, cubed
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 6 ounces parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons creole seasoning
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound shrimp, deveined, cooked, tails removed, and roughly chopped
- Parsley, roughly chopped (for garnish)
- Crackers, chips, or bread (for dipping)
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a 9x9 casserole dish with baking spray, set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter on medium heat and add diced bell pepper, onion, and celery, cooking until slightly softened and some golden spots appear, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Turn heat off and add in cream cheese, mayonnaise, half of the cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, using a rubber spatula to break up the cream cheese and mix everything together.
- Add in creole seasoning, hot sauce, black pepper, and garlic powder. Gently fold In shrimp.
- Transfer to prepared pan and top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbling around the sides and golden on top.
- Garnish with parsley, and serve warm alongside crackers, chips, or bread. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from JCP Eats.