Creamy Shrimp Scampi Dip

The bright, savory, garlicky flavors of classic scampi join forces with decadent and creamy molten cheese for the ultimate game day dip or elegant appetizer. Creamy Shrimp Scampi Dip is everything that a party dip should be, warm, luscious, and begging for double dipping.

Shrimp scampi is one of my favorite seafood dishes. The bright and sunny burst of lemon and white wine combined with the aromatic kick of garlic is the perfect accent for sweet shrimp. The flavors are the ideal accents without overpowering shrimp and other varieties of seafood like in Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp Scampi. Whether you’re serving up Grilled Clam Dip or this cheesy version of an Italian-American Classic, with the Super Bowl just around the corner it’s time to get your dip on!

While You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s no denying my love affair with all things scampi. It’s a versatile dish with simple ingredients that can be served up as an appetizer or tossed with pasta for a quick main course. Using the basis of a traditional shrimp scampi for the core flavors, this hot shrimp dip gets taken over the top with a trio of melty and molten cheeses.

• Easy Process – There is nothing complicated about making this shrimp dip. A little chopping, sautéing, stirring, and quick bake time just to melt the cheesy top, and it’s done. Any level of cook can make this dish.
• Make Ahead – Portions of this dip can be made ahead of time, with the final bake being done just before serving to both warm it up and melt the cheese.
• Budget Friendly – Because the shrimp is chopped in this recipe there is no need to invest in colossal sized shrimp. You also don’t need a full pound of shrimp because of the other ingredients.
• Familiar Flavors – The core of this recipe starts with making a quick shrimp scampi. All of the classic flavors are there. Garlic, white wine, lemon, parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes.

What is Scampi?

It doesn’t get any more coastal inspired than scampi. While we’ve all been to the place with the never-ending breadsticks and our local Italian restaurants and seen multiple variations of scampi on the menu, scampi actually refers to a crustacean called the Norwegian lobster or Dublin Bay Prawn.

The dish shrimp scampi is an entirely Italian-American creation where seafood and sometimes chicken are prepared with a white wine, garlic, butter, and occasionally parmesan sauce. Whether it’s served on its own with crusty bread for dipping or tossed with pasta, it’s all about the light, bright sauce.

Ingredients

Most baked cheese dips start with the same general base, cream cheese, sour cream, and often mayo. This shrimp scampi dip skips the mayonnaise but uses buttery and melty fontina cheese for richness.

• Shrimp – Skip the U8 and colossal shrimp and go with smaller medium or large shrimp for this recipe. They will be more tender and also more budget friendly.
• Lemon Zest – The citrus oils in the lemon zest bring instant flavor to the shrimp. Unlike the acid in lemon juice that cooks the shrimp and changes the texture the zest can be used to marinate the shrimp for a long period of time.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – Adds a kick that balances the richness of this dip.
• Garlic – The aromatic and pungent trademark of shrimp scampi makes this shrimp dip incredibly savory.
• Fine Sea Salt – The cheeses and Worcestershire bring their own level of saltiness, so it doesn’t take much to season this creamy dip.
• Unsalted Butter – If you only have salted butter leave out the sea salt in this recipe.
• Shallot – Adds a delicate onion note without overpowering any of the other ingredients.
• Dry White Wine – Helps thin the thick and creamy sauce while adding instant sunny brightness.
• Worcestershire Sauce – The anchovies in Worcestershire pair naturally with seafood. Adds both umami and salt.
• Lemon Juice – Cuts through the decadence of the cheeses and wakes up the whole dish.

• Cream Cheese – Tangy, melty, and creamy. This helps bring keep the dip from breaking while also making it lump free.
• Sour Cream – Adds tanginess while also thinning out the cream cheese.
• Fontina Cheese – This Italian cheese is mild, buttery, a little nutty, and incredibly melty.
• Parmigiano-Reggiano – Adds nutty saltiness to every bite.
• Parsley – Grassy, fresh, and herbaceous, it brings balance to the flavors.

How to Make Creamy Shrimp Scampi Dip

You will be the MVP of your Super Bowl party when you score the winning touchdown with this baked seafood dip. Whether you dive in with crusty bread or spread it on a cracker, its creamy texture and savory flavors will have you shoveling it into your face.

• Starting Line Up – Mix together your chopped shrimp, lemon zest, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Allow the shrimp to marinate at least while you prepare the rest of the ingredients, but ideally for an hour or more. Stir together the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Add the shredded cheeses and stir to combine.
• Warmup – Sauté your shallots until they’re tender and translucent. Add the shrimp mixture and cook them until they just turn opaque.

• Spike – Add the white wine and bring to a simmer. Let the wine cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced. Add the Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. The mixture will still be a little saucy.

• Score – Add in the cheese mixture and stir until melted and combined. If you decide to serve the dip later remove from the heat at this point. Stir in your parsley.

• Halftime – Sprinkle extra cheese and parsley over the top. Bake for 10-15 minutes until completely melted.
• Touchdown – Serve with your favorite dippers!

How to Serve Shrimp Scampi Dip

• Crostini/Charred Bread – Since you already have your grill fired up go ahead and toss baguette slices on! I like to brush both sides with a combination of olive oil, fresh parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
• Crackers
• Tortilla Chips – Who doesn’t love chips and dip? Feel free to dive into this dip with your favorite crispy and crunchy chips.
• Crudites – For a low carb option serve up your favorite veggies. Mini sweet peppers are the perfect scoops for this and their sweet flavor pairs well with the sweet shrimp.

Substitutions for Creamy Shrimp Scampi Dip

• Mozzarella Cheese – If you don’t have fontina or can’t find it, mozzarella cheese can be used in this recipe. Pick a block style, low moisture mozzarella as the fresh mozzarella won’t melt the same and emulsify into the dip.
• Broth/Stock – Most of the alcohol in this dip cooks away but if you don’t want to cook with wine you can substitute the white wine with seafood stock, chicken broth, or vegetable broth. It won’t have quite the same bright punch so feel free to add a little extra lemon juice.
• Lower Calorie – This is an ooey gooey, rich, cheesy dip meant to be shared for a special occasion. However, you can cut a few calories by using low fat cream cheese and sour cream without sacrificing any flavor.

Tools

This shrimp scampi dip recipe can be prepared on the grill or on the stove and finished in the oven. You will want to pick an oven safe baking dish. I love cast iron for a recipe like this because it goes from stove/grill to table and keeps the dip warm for quite awhile.

Storage

Portions of this hot shrimp dip can be prepared ahead of time. You can prepare your shrimp up to a day in advance. Keep it covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dip itself can also be made up to the point of baking the day before. Allow it to fully cool and hold off adding the top layer of cheese and parsley until just before baking. Keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. You may need to cook it a little longer as it will be cold, and the cream cheese will have hardened.

Tips from the Beach

When it comes to using citrus zest, always purchase organic when you can. Most non-organic citrus has a slight coating on the outside of it.

Want even more flavor and juice from your lemons? Give them a quick char on the grill. This will intensify their natural sugars while adding a slightly smoky note and making them that much easier to squeeze. This holds true with all citrus.

Citrus isn’t the only thing with a coating on it. When making a recipe where cheese is going to be melted, take the extra step of shredding your own cheese. Preshredded cheese has a coating on it to prevent it from sticking. It also prevents it from melting into that sumptuous creamy and dreamy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shrimp Scampi Dip

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