Shrimp Dip
This cold Shrimp Dip is an easy appetizer recipe with just a few ingredients. It’s thick and creamy, and full of clean shrimp flavor!
Mom’s Shrimp Dip is an Annual Tradition
My parents hosted Christmas Eve for my mom’s side of the family for many, many years. And my mom’s Shrimp Dip quickly became an annual tradition, right alongside the homemade oyster stew and hand-cranked vanilla ice cream.
Some of the best memories I own are Christmas Eve memories. As a kid, our house was filled with energetic cousins, all of whom could also be called friends. Along with our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, we played games for hours: Spoons, Farkle, and a variety of marbles, dominoes, and card games. We filled the house with so. much. awesome. laughter.
This recipe is one of the easiest and best appetizers you’ll ever make. And you can prepare it ahead of time, leaving it to rest its merry little self in the refrigerator until your guests arrive. It’s thick and creamy, and full of clean shrimp flavor. We enjoy this dip on Christmas Eve and all year ’round!
Shrimp Dip with Canned Shrimp
I keep cans of tiny shrimp in our pantry at all times, just for this shrimp dip recipe.
Besides that, the only things I need are: cream cheese, mayo (absolutely do not use Miracle Whip!), fresh green onion (I love the brightness this adds!), garlic salt, and black pepper.
You just can’t go wrong with shrimp dip with cream cheese. Right?!
A couple more of our favorite dip recipes: Baked Reuben Dip has all the flavors of the famous Reuben sandwich that we love, deconstructed into a dip. Dill Pickle Dip is super fun with cream cheese and dill pickles. And my aunt’s Layered Creamy Chili Shrimp Dip is festive and fantastically delicious!
The simple list of ingredients for this cold shrimp dip lets the shrimp flavor come through beautifully.
I’ve often thought, “What can I add to this recipe to improve it?” Because it feels just “too simple”. But it really needs nothing more.
Make this for game day.
Or girls night.
Or just because.
And if you enjoy this on Christmas Eve, it’ll be just like we’re celebrating together. You. Me. And my mom’s shrimp dip. Cheers!
CLICK HERE to save recipe to Pinterest!
A few more dip recipes from my friends!
- Skillet Buffalo Cauliflower Dip from Heartbeet Kitchen
- Warm Brie, Crab, and Artichoke Dip from Noble Pig
- Easy Jalapeno Popper Dip from Saving Room for Dessert
Mom’s Shrimp Dip
This dip is one of the easiest and best appetizers you'll ever make. It's thick and creamy, and full of clean shrimp flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 can (4 oz.) tiny shrimp, drained and rinsed
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 c. mayonnaise (do not use Miracle Whip!)
- 1/3 c. finely chopped green onion, plus a bit more for sprinkling over the top
- 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Set aside a few of the nicer looking shrimp, then chop up the rest.
- In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese and mayonnaise until well blended. A blender works best, to get the mixture nice and smooth. Then stir in the chopped shrimp, green onion, and garlic salt.
- Transfer dip to a small serving bowl and top with reserved whole shrimp and additional green onion. Sprinkle a bit of freshly ground black pepper over the top. Serve with crackers and/or veggies. This can be prepared several hours ahead of time and refrigerated.
Notes
from Mom's recipe box
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 130Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 184mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
This post was previously published in 2012. Photographs and some of the text were updated in 2018.
I did loved the shrimp dip. I used frozen salad shrimp instead of canned. It was a big hit.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know!
Excellent appetizer/dip.
Thank you! Glad you liked!
I love traditions like these…for us it’s always cheese dip on Christmas eve. My husband will love this, though!
Fresh lemon juice and some lemon zest. That’s it.
My mom made this when we were kids 40 years ago! It’s delicious. We always serve with plain Carr’s Water Crackers – the light taste of the crackers lets the Shrimp Dip flavor shine. (We call it Shrimp Dip, too, though it’s more like a spread.)
I bet those crackers would be great with this dip. It’s fun to hear that you grew up with this too!
You should include printable versions of your recipe. I went to print this, and it is taking over 10 pages. So, I won’t be printing it, or making it.
I found the print button … halfway down the page. Thanks for providing one.
Such a great party appetizer. It was easy to make too. 5 stars all the way!!
I served this up for Pokeno night, it was gone in a flash. I love it when that happens!
This was a huge hit in my house! Would love to try it again for New Year’s Eve!
This is a must at our family parties!
Such an easy, tasty dip! And best of all, I usually have everything except the green onions on hand!!
I make something similar but afd a little curry and chopped boiled eggs. We eat with Rosemary olive oil crackers. Delicious!. Its call shrimp cheese strata
Definitely will make this recipe!
This looks delish! I cannot find the recipe for the creamy sriracha shrimp dip. I looked on Phyllo cite and didn’t see it there either. Can you email it to me? Thanks!
Made this Christmas Eve and have to do it again New Years Eve it was such a hit!! Great recipe!