Shrimp Spread

Give this layered shrimp spread a try the next time you need a speedy appetizer for a crowd. It’s a bit like a seven-layer dip, only with a cool and creamy seafood spin—though it’s just as hard to stop eating! It starts with a smooth base of cream cheese, sour cream and mayo that gets topped with zippy cocktail sauce, tender cooked shrimp, shredded mozzarella and fresh veggies.

Frozen precooked shrimp make this shrimp dip a breeze to throw together as a last-minute snack. It’s also make-ahead friendly, so you can prep it in advance and cross one more thing off your entertaining to-do list. This easy shrimp appetizer is perfect for summer get-togethers, but is just as wonderful to set out during holidays. Serve it with your favorite crackers and watch it disappear.

Shrimp Spread Ingredients

• Creamy base: A dreamy trio of cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise strikes the perfect balance of rich, tangy flavor and sets the stage for the spicy cocktail sauce, sweet shrimp and savory veggies on top. Ensure your cream cheese is fully softened for a smooth texture and easy spreading.
• Cocktail sauce: Store-bought cocktail sauce gets its fiery kick from grated horseradish. It comes in mild and spicy varieties, so choose one that suits your tolerance. Better yet, use homemade cocktail sauce so you can adjust the intensity to your liking.
• Cooked salad shrimp: Frozen precooked shrimp are ready to use after thawing—no peeling or cooking required. Once thawed, pat the shrimp dry to keep excess moisture out of the dip. Salad shrimp are small, so if you use medium or large shrimp, chop them into bite-sized pieces and don’t forget to remove the tails.
• Shredded mozzarella: Mozzarella is mild and creamy, adding extra cheesiness without overpowering the other flavors. You can substitute shredded mild cheddar if you don’t have mozzarella.
• Chopped veggies: Layers of crisp green bell pepper, juicy tomato and aromatic green onion cut through the richness of the creamy base and add color and fresh flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Make the creamy base

In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise with a rubber spatula or a handheld mixer until the mixture is smooth.

Editor’s Tip: If you forget to take the cream cheese out of the fridge to soften, no worries! Follow our tips for quickly softening cream cheese in a microwave or air fryer.

Step 2: Assemble the shrimp spread

Spread the cream cheese mixture onto a 12-inch round serving platter using a rubber or offset spatula. Top with the cocktail sauce, leaving a visible border of cream cheese around the edges. Evenly layer the shrimp over the cocktail sauce, then sprinkle even layers of shredded mozzarella, green pepper, tomato and green onions.

Editor’s Tip: You can assemble the dip in a shallow serving dish or pie plate.

Step 3: Chill and serve

Keep the shrimp dip refrigerated until serving. Serve it with with crackers for dipping.

Editor’s Tip: Tortilla chips and sliced veggies are also great options for dipping.

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Shrimp Spread Variations

• Lighten it up: Turn this recipe into a skinny shrimp spread using reduced-fat cream cheese and substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream.
• Swap for the shrimp: Replace the shrimp with chopped crabmeat, lobster or a mixture of all three to create a seafood medley dip.
• Mix up the veggies: Mix yellow and green bell peppers for more color, add chopped jalapenos or red onions for kick, diced cucumbers for more crunch or sliced black olives for a salty garnish.
• Layer in seasoning: Make this shrimp spread extra zippy by sprinkling seafood seasoning or Cajun seasoning into the cream cheese mixture, or by tossing it with the shrimp before layering the dip.
• Make Tex-Mex shrimp spread: Season the cream cheese with taco seasoning and top it with red salsa instead of cocktail salsa. Top it with shrimp, shredded cheddar cheese, veggies, chopped jalapenos and fresh cilantro.

How to Store Shrimp Dip

If you have leftovers, tightly cover the platter or transfer the dip to an airtight container and store it in the fridge. Shrimp spread can last in the refrigerator for up to four days. The dip will get a little watery, and the veggies will soften the longer it sits, so it’s best enjoyed sooner rather than later.

Can you make this shrimp spread ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the shrimp spread up to one day in advance and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it. For peak freshness, we recommend adding the veggie toppings just before serving.

Shrimp Spread Tips

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

What size shrimp works best with this shrimp spread recipe?

You can top this dip with any size shrimp you prefer. Small, bite-sized shrimp are just right for scooping onto a cracker. You can use medium or large shrimp and chop them into smaller pieces. Just make sure the shrimp are peeled, deveined and fully cooked. We also recommend pinching the tails off for easier scooping and serving.

Should you use precooked or uncooked shrimp?

You can’t beat the convenience of frozen, precooked shrimp for this easy shrimp dip recipe, but you can cook your own shrimp if you prefer. If you have a bag of frozen uncooked shrimp, boil, bake or air-fry the shrimp and then pop them in the fridge to cool off before layering them in with the other dip ingredients.

How do you serve shrimp spread?

This layered shrimp spread tastes excellent served with a variety of dippers! We love pairing it with buttery round crackers (like Ritz), club crackers or crostini. Other good options include tortilla chips, pita chips, corn chips and fresh celery sticks. Set the shrimp spread out with a spoon or butter spreader to keep the dip free from crumbs.