Spinach Artichoke Dip
Creamy and cheesy, this baked Spinach Artichoke Dip is a classic savory party dip. Serve it hot with chips, pita, or veggies for an appetizer guests won’t be able to resist!
Easy Homemade Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
This baked Spinach Artichoke Dip is one of my family’s favorite hot appetizer dips, and it’s so easy to make!
My dear friend Annmarie is famous for making spinach artichoke dip for gatherings. I go back for a second helping every time she makes it, so of course, I had to get her recipe.
With this recipe I’m sharing today, I took all of my favorite elements of the best spinach artichoke dips I’ve tried (including Annmarie’s) and created the creamiest, cheesiest, perfectly melty party dip. It’s made with frozen spinach and canned artichoke hearts for ease. There’s a bit of mayonnaise and sour cream for extra creamy tang, plus the perfect mixture of cheeses for a fabulous combination of flavor and the ultimate level of cheesiness.
Whether you’re looking for a game day appetizer or just a cheesy start to dinner, this easy spinach and artichoke dip is the answer!
What Makes this Spinach Artichoke Dip So Good?
There are many reasons I love Annmarie’s recipe, but here are the top ones:
- Easy. This recipe doesn’t take much skill to make. You literally just mix things together and bake!
- Impressive. Despite being easy, everyone will be impressed that you made spinach artichoke dip from scratch. You’ll get some “oooo, fancy!” comments for sure.
- Tasty. This dip is compulsively eatable. As I said, I always go back for seconds!
- Fun. You can serve this dip with so many things every bite can be totally unique. Crusty bread? Pretzels? Chips? All of these items and more are a definite go.
What You’ll Need
Besides spinach and artichokes, you’ll need a few different kinds of cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise create the cheesy, creamy texture of this party dip. Below is a quick overview, with specific amounts in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Cream cheese – Soften for easier, lump-free mixing.
- Mayonnaise – Be sure to use a good quality mayonnaise like Hellman’s. Do not substitute with Miracle Whip. This adds creamy texture and a tangy flavor.
- Sour cream – Adds a little more creaminess and tang, plus a lightened texture.
- Cheese – This creamy, cheesy dip uses a combination of gouda, Parmesan, and whole milk mozzarella. For the creamiest, meltiest dip, shred cheese straight off the block, as pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt quite as well.
- Spinach – Frozen spinach works best for this recipe. Thaw, squeeze to drain any excess liquid, and coarsely chop.
- Artichoke hearts – These recipe uses canned artichokes (so easy!). If you like to eat fresh artichokes, be sure to check out my roasted artichoke recipe.
- Garlic – I love the flavor of fresh garlic. It’s beautiful in this baked dip!
- Black pepper
Can I Use Fresh Spinach?
Yes, you can make spinach artichoke dip with fresh spinach. You’ll need to steam the spinach first, then blanch it in cold water. Squeeze the moisture from it and finely chop, just as you would the frozen spinach. You’ll need 6 to 10 ounces of fresh spinach for this dip.
How to Make Spinach Artichoke Dip
With a few minutes of prep and 20 minutes in the oven, this spinach dip can be ready in under 30 minutes!
- Prepare the creamy cheesy mixture. First, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Second, stir in the gouda, Parmesan, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Finally, fold in the spinach, artichokes, garlic, and black pepper.
- Bake. Spread the mixture into a baking dish and top with mozzarella. Bake until the dip is hot and bubbling, about 20 minutes or so.
- Serve. Let the dip cool for a few minutes then serve with tortilla chips, pita, crackers, and/or fresh veggies.
Tips & Variations
If you want to make this appetizer dip a bit spicy or a little lighter, here’s how.
- Make it spicy. If you want to give your spinach and artichoke dip a little kick, add some minced jalapeno pepper or dried pepper flakes.
- Make it lighter. While this dip is meant to be rich and creamy, if you want to make it a little lighter you can use low-fat sour cream and cream cheese. Greek yogurt can also be used in place of the sour cream. Just know that changing these ingredients will result in different flavors and textures.
- Prevent the cheese from burning. If the cheese is blistering more than you’d like, lightly tent the dish with foil. If you’d like more cheese blistering, place dish under broiler for a bit.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve this savory appetizers dip with any variety of chips or bread or, for a lighter snack, with veggies. Here are a few ideas:
- Sturdy tortilla chips – So they don’t break when you dip.
- Pita wedges
- Pretzels
- Toasted baguette slices
- Crusty bread
- Sliced sweet peppers
- Carrots
- Celery
- Broccoli
Can I Make This in Advance?
You can prepare the spinach artichoke dip in advance as directed above. Instead of baking it, cover with foil and place in the fridge for up to a day. Let it come to room temperature on the counter, then pop it in the oven and bake as directed.
How to Store & Reheat
- How to store leftovers. If you happen to have any leftover dip, you can store it in the fridge for up to four days. Store in an airtight container or tightly cover the baking dish with foil.
- How to reheat leftovers. If you’re reheating a small amount of leftovers, you can just microwave a portion in a small bowl. If reheating a large amount, you can reheat in the oven until heated through. I recommend covering the dish with foil to prevent the cheese from burning.
More Dip Recipes:
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, well softened
- ½ cup good quality mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 ounces shredded gouda cheese
- 4 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese, divided
- 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain excess liquid, and coarsely chopped
- 14 ounces canned artichoke hearts, drained, squeezed with paper towel to drain excess liquid, and chopped
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 1-quart baking dish that is low and wide with non-stick spray.
- In a medium bowl, stir together cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream.
- Fold in the gouda, Parmesan, and half of the mozzarella cheese, followed by the spinach, artichokes, garlic, and black pepper.
- Spread mixture evenly into prepared baking dish and sprinkle remaining mozzarella over the top. Bake until heated through and the mozzarella on top is lightly blistered, about 20 to 25 minutes. If the cheese is blistering more than you'd like, lightly tent the dish with foil. If you'd like more cheese blistering, place dish under broiler for a bit.
- Let the dip cool for a few minutes before serving with sturdy tortilla chips, pita wedges, toasted baguette slices, crackers, or crisp, firm veggies.
This recipe for the dip is oh so good! In  fact, I don’t think any other dip will compare! I made it for my family at Christmas and they all raved over it!Â
Do you think I could use marinated artichoke hearts?
Yes! :)
5 STAR