If you’ve never tried shrimp butter before, you’re in for a real treat. This southern delicacy takes the sweet and briny flavor of shrimp and blends it into a creamy butter that’s packed with flavor. Notes of bright lemon and refreshing dill round things out for spread you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. Serve it up with buttery crackers or toasted bread for a show-stopping appetizer that your guests are sure to go crazy for.

With a base of butter, cream cheese, and mayo, you know this stuff is going to be good! Start out by mixing the butter and cream cheese until silky smooth, and note that it’s important to start with room temperature ingredients here! Next, a little bit of lemon juice brightens everything up, while dill and garlic powder bring just the right amount of herby depth.

Minced white onion adds just a little bite, then the salad shrimp are folded in for that briny seafood flavor. I like to use the fresh salad shrimp from the seafood counter, but frozen and thawed or canned will also work. Just make sure to pat them dry as you don’t want excess moisture in the dip.

Once the butter is fully combined, cover it tightly and pop it in the fridge for a couple hours to let those flavors fully develop. And don’t skip the step of letting it come back to room temperature before serving—it makes all the difference in achieving that nice, spreadable texture. Take a page out of the southern cook’s playbook and give this easy Shrimp Butter a try!