Cheesy Crab Appetizer Recipes

Steps:

• Pour the oil into a large heavy-bottomed pot fitted with a deep-frying thermometer.
• Combine the mozzarella, cream cheese, garlic salt and crushed red pepper in a food processor. Pulse until a thick paste is formed, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the pizza dough to form a 16-by-12-inch rectangle. Use a 3-inch round cutter to cut out 10 to 12 rounds of dough. Use your fingertips to gently stretch each round of dough into a 4-inch circle. Top a round of dough (slightly off-center) with 1 heaping teaspoon of the cheese mixture and 1 teaspoon crabmeat. Fold the dough in half over the filling to create a half-moon. Press the edges together to seal the pocket and crimp with the prongs of a fork. (See Cook's Note.) Repeat this process with the remaining circles and filling.
• Preheat the vegetable oil to 350 degrees F and line a plate with paper towels.
• Working in batches, carefully lay the pizza pockets in the hot oil. Fry until deeply golden brown, 1 to 1 1/2 minute on each side. Remove from the hot oil to the lined plate to cool slightly.
• Garnish with fresh parsley.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, hot sauce, seafood seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper in a bowl; stir to combine.
• Drain crab; pick out and discard any shells. Add crab to cream cheese mixture, along with bell peppers and onion; mix thoroughly. Transfer into a baking dish and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 20 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil until the top is a nice golden brown color, about 5 minutes.

Steps:

• Mix together the first 5 ingredients.
• Slice muffins in half horizontal.
• Spread each muffin half with the cheeze/crab mixture.
• Place under broiler and brown (WATCH CAREFULLY SO IT DOESN'T BURN).
• Cut each muffin half into quarters when cool enough to handle.
• (I keep a bag of these in the freezer for when unexpected guests show up. Just broil as instructed above, place on a cookie sheet to freeze, then transfer to freezer bags. When guests arrive, place in microwave to heat up and then serve).