Today’s recipe share is more sentimental than anything. It’s old school and so good.
OLD SCHOOL FAVORITE APPETIZER
WHO GREW UP WITH THIS OLD SCHOOL APPETIZER? A big block of cream cheese covered with spicy cocktail sauce, often topped with shrimp or crab. Growing up, we had this every single New Year’s Eve and most parties. It’s still a family favorite today!
Show of hands…how many of you grew up with this and love it?
This appetizer takes about two minutes to throw together. It isn’t fancy and won’t be winning a beauty contest or fancy prizes, but dang it’s good and a winner in my book.
Now, if you want to get all fancy, you can spread the cream cheese in a bowl or on a plate and add some tiny shrimp or crab meat. I like to keep it simple – just cream cheese and cocktail sauce.
I’ve been eating this since I can remember (born in the 70s) and plan to continue the tradition for decades to come.
PINNABLE IMAGE
Old School Cream Cheese and Cocktail Sauce Spread
Ingredients
- 8 oz block of cream cheese
- 1 jar of cocktail sauce – 12 ounces (you can make your own – see link below)
Directions
Sharing this recipe at Weekend Potluck.
Sharon S
Love this, it was a staple every Christmas Eve mostly growing upye. I add a can of baby shrimp to it. We also use whatever jam instead of the cocktail sauce and serve with Nilla wafers. Taste like a bit of cheesecake.
Karen
I have never heard of this but going to try it this week/ thanks
Sue Arnold
I’ve never heard of this , must be a Northern thing.
Grammasue
We always made this with cream cheese spread on a plate, topped with lump crab meat (drained and picked thru for bones), then topped with spicy-hot cocktail sauce and sprinkled with green onions. We still make it occasionally when family comes over–the Grandkids love it!
colleen a culver
We did it with pepper jam!
Sherry
Omg yes!!! Literally have this every holiday get together or football game!! We call it Crab Ball! Add in a can of crabmeat to the cream cheese mix together let chill add the cocktail sauce! Always serve with chicken in a biscuit crackers and Enjoy!!
Sandra
also good with Wheat Thin crackers and topping the cream cheese with steak sauce or pepper jelly, the jelly is really pretty at Christmas time because you can get the jelly in red or green.
s
Sabrenia Collins
Cream cheese 1/2 block and can of tuna drained with a sprinkle of pepper stirred all together served on club crackers amazing and cheap
Debbie
We still do this but now it’s with Trappers hot pepper jelly! OMG SO GOOD❤️
Marlene Hestand
We make it by spreading the soft whipped cream cheese on a glass pie plate, topping it with cocktail sauce, and then topping it with shredded crab meat. It looks so much nicer and appetizing. We also use Wheat Thins. So delicious!
Bobi
I think just about anything on cream cheese is fantastic. Mom used chili sauce over her cream cheese. She bought Homemade Chili Sauce brand sold in a round jar. I can taste it now. Lots of great ideas from the comments! My favorite way to serve it is to pour Robert Rothschild Ginger Wasabi sauce over the brick.
Thanks for the memories!!
Kim
Yes! My mom would “treat” herself with these little shrimp cocktails every once in a while. And the little glasses; as young kids, we used those for our beverages at dinnertime. Memories, for sure!
Debbie
I kept the jars and I still have them. I use them for my younger grandkids, they are small and fit their tiny hands really well. ☺
Di
Try using red pepper jelly instead of cocktail sauce, also yummy and easy!
Dot
Di, Yes! That is so good!
Tina Kassel
We also used strawberry preserves over 8oz of cream cheese and served it with crackers
Diane Cummings
I mix the cream cheese with a can of crabmeat and a small onion! My favorite and easiest appetizer!
Mary Beth Procaccini
Try Cream Cheese and Pickapeppa Sauce (it’s with all the hot sauces & tabasco sauce) – It’s amazing and addictive.
Nancy Swilik
Love Pickapeppa Sauce
Michelle
In the old days you could buy coctail sauce with shrimp in it! It came in little jelly like jars that people would collect! Memories!!!!
Anonymous
At first, when I saw this, I thought the sauce was crushed strawberries. 🙂
Anonymous
Honey and red pepper flakes, the best
Anonymous
Picante Sauce, yes!
Anonymous
Instead of cocktail sauce I use hot pepper jelly
Anonymous
I use 2 Blocks of cream cheese, one can of small shrimp, one can crab meat, 2Tbls whorchester 1tsb lemon juice, mix well form a ball
top with cocktail sauce
kat.wise
I love this! I made it for Christmas. My variation is 2 blocks cream cheese – softened, 3/4 cup Duke's mayo, small minced onion. Stir well. Spread in pie plate. Pour a jar of cocktail sauce over it. Sprinkle 2 cans drained minced clams over the top. Refrigerated. I actually used one can minced clams with one can tiny shrimp.
Anonymous
Add minced clams.
Leasa
Instead of cocktail sauce, try Tabasco brand pepper jelly. It's fabulous!
Sandy
Try this the Sweet Thai chili sauce, yum
Martha @ A Family Feast
Thanks so much for linking to our Cocktail Sauce recipe Mary! Can't wait to try this recipe!
Yoli
I found a chipotle/raspberry sweet marinade that is to die for. Dip with crackers or chips. Delicious!😋
Nancy Marshall
I was looking for an appetizer & I came across this one. Years ago, I made this but had forgotten about it. I made it with the canned crab meat, as you suggested. It was ALWAYS a
favorite! Thank you for solving my problem!
Lisa Moore
Yes! Raspberry chipotle sauce is the best..