Creamy Spinach Dip Recipe
You are going to love this easy, creamy spinach dip recipe. When I need to bring an easy appetizer to a party, this is the one!
If I’m hosting a party, I’ll make one of these crab meat recipes, something from this list of mini savory tarts, and spinach dip. Those snacks, along with cocktails and wine, and I’m set!
Spinach dip is a staple of many restaurants for a good reason – it tastes delicious!
The perfect blend of savory spinach with creamy cheeses makes an amazing dip with crackers, bread, or chips.
This creamy spinach dip recipe is perfect for parties, a quick appetizer, or comfort food at any time. Even better, it’s easy to make with simple ingredients. You may even have the ingredients in your kitchen right now!
There’s never a bad time to whip up a batch of this savory dip. It can be a perfect last-minute party favorite when company pops by. Once you try this simple homemade spinach dip recipe, it will be one of your go-to standards.
Why This Recipe Works
Simplicity is the name of the game here – just a few ingredients are needed. Because it is such a popular dish at restaurants, everyone will know what you mean when you say you’re mixing up some of this delicious dip.
With a short prep time, this cheesy spinach dip recipe is perfect to make at the last minute. It has so much flavor and is a classic appetizer that everyone is sure to love.
What Goes Into This Spinach Dip Recipe
Key Ingredients
Spinach: We used fresh but frozen is okay.
Cheeses: Parmesan, Mozzarella, and cream cheese. The mozzarella cheese makes it gooey, the cream cheese makes it creamy, and the parmesan cheese adds a dash of salty tang to this dip.
Spices: Granulated onion, garlic, and salt. These simple spices that you have around the house provide a dash of extra flavor for this dip.
See recipe card for quantities and full directions.
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: If you’re using fresh spinach, sauté a handful at a time in a frying pan without oil. As the spinach is soft, transfer to a bowl and sauté another handful. Continue until all the spinach is cooked.
If you are using frozen spinach, thaw until soft.
Step 2: Whether you are using the cooked fresh spinach or thawed frozen spinach, squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach.
You should have dry spinach before you add anything!
Step 3: Finely chop the spinach and place in a medium bowl.
Step 4: Add the cream cheese, Parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, granulated onion, and salt to the bowl.
Step 5: Mix the ingredients until combined.
Step 6: If desired, chill the spinach dip so it thickens up, and then serve with a dusting of shredded Parmesan and fresh herbs or chopped green onions as a garnish.
Serve with crackers or you choice of dippers.
Variations
Not a fan of spinach? You can use a variety of leafy greens instead including kale, arugula, Swiss chard, or collard greens. For any these fresh greens, you will want to cook them until they are tender.
Looking for a spicy twist? Add a can of Rotel tomatoes, a jar of salsa, red pepper flakes, some chopped jalapenos, or a splash of hot sauce.
For added substance, add chopped artichoke hearts, chopped water chestnuts, crumbled bacon, or slices of chicken. The flavors of the spinach dip go well with so many options. Be creative!
This dip can be served cold, at room temperature, or as bubbling hot spinach dip. It can be presented in a dish or, for some added fun, in a bread bowl where the bread can be used for dippers.
Frequently Asked Questions
With the green leafy spinach, you might think that this is a healthy option, but because of the large amounts of cheese in it, this isn’t really a healthy food. This creamy dip still is delicious, and we have to splurge every now and then, right?
Although you can use either, fresh spinach provides a heartier flavor than frozen spinach. Baby spinach works best as it isn’t as bitter as other fresh spinach.
Spinach dip can be used with a variety of dippers including baguette slices or sourdough bread, tortilla chips, carrot sticks or bell peppers, pita chips, or crackers.
Top Tips
If your spinach dip is watery, add some extra cream cheese or sour cream to thicken it. This is why we squeeze the excess moisture out of the spinach first. As long as you do this, you shouldn’t have a watery dip.
Especially if you’re using frozen spinach, it is essential to squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible. One easy way to do it is to put the spinach in paper towels and wring it out.
Have leftover dip? Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Leftover spinach dip also makes a great filling for omelets. Want some with dinner? A small scoop can be added on top of chicken or beef. Yum!
More Delicious Dips
Spinach Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2/3 cup cream cheese
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan We used part skim
- 1/3 cup grated mozzarella
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
- 1/2 tsp granulated onion
Instructions
- If you’re using fresh spinach, sauté a handful at a time in a frying pan without oil. As the spinach becomes soft, transfer to a bowl and sauté another handful. Continue until all the spinach is cooked. If you are using frozen spinach, thaw until soft.
- Whether you are using the cooked fresh spinach or thawed frozen spinach, squeeze the excess liquid from the spinach. You should have dry spinach before you add anything!
- Finely chop the spinach and place in a medium bowl.
- Add the cream cheese, Parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, granulated onion, and salt to the bowl.
- Mix the ingredients until combined.
- If desired, chill the spinach dip so it thickens up, and then serve with a dusting of shredded Parmesan and fresh herbs or chopped green onions as a garnish.
