Various types of crab preparations, species and superfamilies are used, as are a variety of added ingredients.

[9][10][12] Bread crumbs may be used to top the dish, which may be browned during the cooking process creating a crust.

[22] Crab dip can be prepared in advance, refrigerated, and cooked at a later time.

[1][7][10] The Nationals Park baseball park in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the home ballpark for the Washington Nationals, offers a sandwich prepared with a half-smoke, Maryland crab dip and Virginia ham called "The DMV" as part of its concessions.

[23] It was reported in August 2014 that Byrd Stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland planned to offer a large 700 g (1+1⁄2 lb) soft pretzel baked with crab dip and melted cheese that serves four people as part of its concessions.