Bake up this decadent hot shrimp dip made with a mixture of buttery shrimp, red bell peppers, green onions, cream cheese, mozzarella, cocktail sauce, and garlic. It's creamy with chunks of juicy shrimp in each bite! This hot appetizer dip is a definite crowd-pleaser!
Prepare shrimp by patting them dry and sprinkling each side with salt and pepper. If frozen and thawed, make sure to really pat well.
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped scallions, garlic, and red bell pepper. Bring out the flavor with a pinch of salt. Saute for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened. Add the dried and seasoned shrimp in an even layer. Saute for 2 minutes, flip, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until just pink. They will continue to cook while baking and we don’t want them overdone and chewy.
Remove the pan from the heat and either transfer the shrimp to a cutting board or (my preference) use kitchen shears to cut the shrimp into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, lemon juice and zest, cocktail sauce, white pepper, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste. To make this easier, feel free to use a hand mixer.
Stir the veggie and shrimp mixture into the cheese mixture until completely combined. Feel free to taste test and adjust salt levels as needed.
Spread the mixture in a small baker. Optional: top with a sprinkle of additional mozzarella cheese (or even grated parmesan) before baking.
Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and slightly golden brown. Garnish with sliced green scallions and fresh parsley as desired. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, pita bread, or crostini as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Pre-cooked Shrimp: roughly chop and mix in the dip without sauteing.