This Creamy Hot Spinach Dip is cheesy, melty, and perfectly seasoned! You can serve it with so many fun vessels like tortilla chips or slices of pita bread. If you're looking for a super easy appetizer, this is the perfect dish to make!
Look no further, this spinach dip is all you need for your next game day spread or celebration! This recipe is inspired by the spinach dip served at a restaurant chain called Cheddars; Tons of vibrant spinach nestled in a silky smooth cream sauce with just a kick of spice from the jalapeños.
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.71
- Total Cost (8 servings): $5.68
- Those Other Guys: $12.99 per serving
Ingredients
- Frozen Chopped Spinach - We're going to start with 16 ounces of frozen chopped spinach. Be sure to thaw and drain as much water as possible from the vegetables.
- Cream Cheese - A bit of cream cheese gives this dip a nice texture and tangy flavor.
- Sour Cream - Along with using sour cream inside of the dip, I also serve the final product with some fresh sour cream on top, similar to Cheddar's. You can substitute this with plain Greek yogurt!
- Heavy Cream - Just a touch of heavy cream brings everything together.
- Jalapeño - Using pickled jalapeños really gives spinach dip that perfect amount of spice without being too overpowering.
- Shredded Cheeses - A mix of mozzarella & Monterey jack shredded cheese gives us a perfect cheesy flavor and consistency. We'll also top the spinach dip with more cheese before baking!
Variations and Substitutions
Spinach & Artichoke Quesadillas: A tasty appetizer that's also handheld! These Spinach Dip Quesadillas are seared to golden-brown perfection.
Various Shredded Cheeses: Other cheeses that go fantastic in spinach dip are Romano, asiago, and fresh parmesan.
Hot Crab Spinach & Artichoke Dip: Filled with juicy, tender lump crab and seasoned artichoke hearts. This one is great for a special occasion!
Cream Cheese Substitute: No cream cheese? I've made this plenty of times with the store-bought creamy, spreadable cheeses like Boursin brand. If you use a flavored kind, I recommend holding out on adding the full amount of salt until you've tasted the mixture.
How to Make Hot Spinach Dip
It really couldn't be easier to make this delicious starter. This is a staple appetizer for when I'm hosting because of how low-effort it is.
Step 1: Start by adding all of your ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
Mix, and taste for any additional seasonings you would like to add.
If you're making this ahead of time, you can mix everything up in your baking pan like the photo shows!
Step 2: Once you're ready to go, sprinkle extra cheese on top.
Baked, covered, for about 30 minutes and then turn the oven on broil so the cheese on top gets nice and melty.
That's all there is to it! Serve alongside your favorite carbs like bread or chips.
Recipe FAQs
Yep, this is a great recipe to make ahead of time and take some pressure off of hosting on the day of your event!
Simply assemble the spinach mixture into the pan you'll be baking it in (this can be a cast iron skillet, a ceramic dish, or an aluminum pan) and then wrap with aluminum foil on top. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
When you're ready to serve, you can bake this straight from the refrigerator as directed.
It surely can! You can eat the mixture as is (just don't add the shredded cheese on top) or bake it per the recipe instructions, and then serve it cool.
The taste is great either way, it's up to you.
Other Game Day Appetizers You'll Crave!
If you tried this Creamy Hot Spinach Dip Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Creamy Hot Spinach Dip
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- 8x8 Casserole Dish or skillet, etc.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeños finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese reserve half for topping
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese reserve half for topping
Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients besides the seasonings (remember - reserve half of the cheeses). Stir well until completely combined and the mixture has a smooth consistency.
- Mix in the seasonings to your dip. Taste, and adjust any extra seasonings to your preference.
- Place the spinach dip in an 8x8 baking dish or cast-iron skillet. Top with the remainder of the shredded cheeses.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil, and broil uncovered for another 3-5 minutes until the topping is golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve hot with tortilla chips or crispy bread. Enjoy!
Gloria Becker says
Currently pregnant and *craving* spinach dip almost daily LOL. The photo on this recipe sold me - so I asked my husband to make a batch.
SO good!! It’s better than most restaurant dips we’ve had. The little one and I thank you!
Shani W. says
Haha thank you so much Gloria & hubby! And congratulations to your family!