Old-Fashioned Shrimp Dip Recipe
This old-fashioned shrimp dip is rich, creamy, and full of flavor. It’s incredibly easy to make and perfect for entertaining. Prepare it ahead of time, chill, and it’s ready to serve when your guests arrive.
Vintage shrimp dip never goes out of style
As a young homemaker in the 1990s, I used to make this shrimp dip every time I entertained. Shrimp dips were very popular party appetizers in the 1950s and 1960s, so way back then, it had a nostalgic appeal for me. Now, it’s a trip down memory lane twice over.
It’s been a long time since those early days of entertaining, and somewhere along the way, this recipe fell off my radar. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s been at least two decades since this old favorite appeared on my table.
Not too long ago, I came across a shrimp dip recipe while scrolling through a roundup of party dips. It stuck in my head for weeks, and I knew I had to revive this creamy blast from the past in my kitchen.
And I’m so glad I did! It tastes just as good today as I remember it tasting all those years ago.
If you love bringing homemade dips to your table as much as I do, be sure to try my quick guacamole from scratch, creamy marry me chicken dip, and homemade honey BBQ chicken dip next.
Recipe ingredients
- Cream Cheese: Full-fat, block-style cream cheese is the best choice for this recipe. It provides the rich, thick foundation of the dip and gives it a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Sour Cream: Choose full-fat sour cream for its rich texture and pleasant tang. It balances the richness of the cream cheese and gives the dip a softer, more scoopable consistency.
- Mayonnaise: A good-quality mayonnaise adds richness and a subtle tang that complements the shrimp. My simple from scratch mayonnaise is an excellent choice for this recipe.
- Fresh Dill: Fresh dill has a distinctive, delicate flavor with subtle anise notes that complement seafood particularly well. Choose bunches with vibrant green, feathery leaves for the best results.
- Shrimp: Shrimp provides the delicate seafood flavor and tender, meaty texture that distinguish this dip from other creamy appetizers. Both fresh and frozen shrimp are suitable, and wild-caught varieties are recommended.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make shrimp dip
Step 1: Place the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise in a large mixing bowl and beat until the mixture has an even, creamy consistency. There should be no visible lumps of cream cheese.
Step 2: Add the finely minced onion, fresh dill, garlic, and hot sauce. Stir thoroughly, making sure the onion and herbs are distributed throughout the mixture rather than concentrated in one area.
Step 3: Add the chopped shrimp and gently fold it into the creamy mixture with a spatula.
Step 4: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. An overnight chill is preferable, giving the flavors plenty of time to mingle.
Pro tips
- Manage excess moisture: Cooked shrimp, particularly shrimp that has been frozen and thawed, can retain water. Drain it well before adding it to the dip. Any additional liquid will dilute the creamy base and may collect at the bottom of the serving bowl.
- Preserve the shrimp texture: The shrimp should be noticeable throughout the dip rather than disappearing into the cream cheese mixture. Pieces that are too finely minced lose their distinct texture, while oversized pieces make the dip difficult to scoop evenly.
- Maintain the serving temperature: The cream cheese base becomes softer as it warms. For longer gatherings, divide the dip into smaller serving portions and keep the remainder refrigerated until needed. This also helps keep the seafood safely chilled.
Would you like to save this post for later?
We'll email it to you, so you can come back to it whenever you like!
Variations and Substitutions
This old-fashioned shrimp dip is delicious just as it is, but there are a few ways to adjust it to your taste.
Make it spicier: Increase the hot sauce a little at a time until the dip has the amount of heat you prefer.
Change the herbs: Fresh chives or parsley can be used in place of the dill. Both will change the flavor of the dip, but they pair well with shrimp.
Green onions: Substitute finely chopped green onions for the minced onion if you prefer a milder onion flavor.
Add a little crunch: Finely diced celery can be stirred into the mixture for a bit of crunch.
Add a touch of lemon: A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice can give the dip a brighter flavor. Add it sparingly as a little goes a long way.
Serving ideas
Shrimp dip is best served cold with crackers or crisp, fresh vegetables. I particularly like it with cornbread crackers from scratch, homemade savory crackers, and pepper jack cheese crackers. The contrast between the crunchy crackers and the creamy shrimp mixture makes it an appetizer that’s easy to keep going back for.
Celery sticks and cucumber rounds are good choices if you want to include fresh vegetables on your appetizer platter. Their crisp texture works nicely with the dip, and they’re easy to arrange around a serving bowl.
For parties, this creamy shrimp dip fits right in with a selection of other homemade dips. You can serve it alongside my savory crab cake dip, baked buffalo chicken dip, and warm bacon blue cheese dip for a variety of flavors and textures.
A little sprig of fresh dill on the top makes a nice finishing touch before setting the dip out for guests.
Make-ahead and storage
Making shrimp dip ahead of time: This is an ideal make-ahead appetizer. Prepare the dip the day before you plan to serve it and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator. The overnight chilling period allows the seasonings to distribute their flavor throughout the dip.
Refrigerating leftovers: Store leftover shrimp dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, provided the cooked shrimp was fresh when you made it. If the shrimp was cooked several days earlier, shorten the storage time accordingly. Keep the dip refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below, and don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Freezing shrimp dip: Freezing isn’t recommended. Cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise can separate after thawing, leaving the dip watery or grainy rather than smooth and creamy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use dried dill instead of fresh dill?
Yes, although fresh dill gives the dip a different flavor. As a general substitution, use about one-third as much dried dill as fresh. Allow the dip to chill before deciding whether it needs additional seasoning.
Can I substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream or mayonnaise?
Plain Greek yogurt can replace some or all of the sour cream, although it will give the dip a tangier flavor. It can also replace the mayonnaise, but doing so will change the richness and consistency of the original recipe.
Other recipes you’ll love
If you loved this from scratch creamy shrimp dip recipe, give these other great recipes a try too!
Spider Web Dip For Halloween
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Sweet Italian Sausage Dip Recipe
Garden Fresh Pico de Gallo
Sweet Potato Quesadilla
Cajun Chicken Quesadilla Recipe (Crispy & Cheesy)
Shrimp Dip
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh dill
- 1 large garlic clove pressed
- 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1/2 pound cooked shrimp chopped small
Instructions
- Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy, with no visible lumps of cream cheese.
- Stir in the minced onion, fresh dill, garlic, and hot sauce until evenly distributed.
- Add the chopped shrimp and gently fold it into the mixture with a spatula until evenly incorporated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Serve cold with crackers or fresh vegetables.
Notes
-
Use full-fat, block-style cream cheese for a thick, scoopable consistency. Allow it to soften before mixing to prevent lumps.
-
Drain shrimp thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from thinning the dip. Both fresh and frozen shrimp work well.
-
Substitute 1/2 teaspoon dried dill for the fresh dill called for in the recipe.
-
Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, counting from when the shrimp was originally cooked.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
