Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip

This creamy spinach artichoke dip is warm, cheesy, and easy to make with frozen spinach, canned artichokes, cream cheese, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, garlic, sour cream, and mayo. Bake it until hot and bubbly, then serve it with tortilla chips, crackers, toasted baguette, or fresh vegetables.

It is the kind of appetizer that works for holidays, game day, potlucks, and casual get-togethers because it can be prepped ahead and baked right before serving.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This spinach artichoke dip is rich, creamy, and full of flavor without being complicated. The cream cheese gives it a thick, smooth base, while the mozzarella melts into the dip and the Pecorino Romano adds a salty, sharp bite. The combination of flavors is seriously addicting.

It is also easy to make ahead. You can mix everything together, spread it into a baking dish, refrigerate it, and bake it when you are ready to serve.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Frozen spinach: Thaw the spinach first, then squeeze out as much liquid as possible. This keeps the dip creamy instead of watery.
• Artichoke hearts: Canned artichoke hearts work well here. Drain them, squeeze out extra moisture, and chop them before mixing.
• Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese creates the thick, creamy base for the dip.
• Sour cream and mayonnaise: These help loosen the cream cheese and make the dip smooth, rich, and scoopable.
• Mozzarella cheese: Mozzarella melts beautifully and gives the dip its cheesy texture.
• Pecorino Romano: This adds a salty, savory flavor that balances the creaminess.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the dip more flavor than garlic powder.
• Olive oil: Used to sauté the garlic and spinach before mixing everything together.

How to Make Spinach Artichoke Dip

Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then sauté the garlic for about 1 minute, just until fragrant.

Add the thawed, squeezed spinach and cook for 2 to 3 minutes to remove any extra moisture. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, mix the cooked spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Pecorino Romano, and mozzarella until well combined.

Spread the mixture into an 8×8 baking dish or a 1.5-quart casserole dish. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the dip is hot, creamy, and bubbling around the edges.

Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, toasted baguette slices, pita chips, or fresh vegetables.

Tips for the Best Spinach Artichoke Dip

• Squeeze out the moisture: Extra liquid from the spinach can make the dip loose or watery, so press out as much moisture as you can before adding it to the mixture.
• Drain the artichokes well: Artichoke hearts hold moisture too, so drain and gently squeeze them before chopping.
• Use softened cream cheese. Cold cream cheese is harder to mix and can leave lumps in the dip.
• Get that cheesy top: Bake it until it’s golden and bubbly. For a more golden top, sprinkle a little extra mozzarella over the top before baking or broil briefly at the end. Watch closely so it does not burn.

Make Ahead and Storage

To make this spinach artichoke dip ahead of time, assemble the dip in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. When baking from the refrigerator, add a few extra minutes if needed, until the dip is hot all the way through.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a covered baking dish in the oven until warmed through.

What to Serve With Spinach Artichoke Dip

This dip is best served warm with something sturdy enough for scooping. Tortilla chips, pita chips, crackers, toasted baguette slices, and crostini all work well.

For a lighter option, serve it with celery sticks, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, cucumber slices, or other fresh vegetables.

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Other Great Appetizers to try:

• Chicken Enchilada Dip: This dip is a perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and cheesy, making it the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any fiesta or game day gathering.
• Spinach Artichoke Pull-Apart Bread: Imagine the comfort of spinach and artichoke dip wrapped up in warm, soft bread—this pull-apart bread is a fun and delicious way to serve up this classic combo.
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip: Creamy, sweet, and just the right amount of spice, this pumpkin dip is perfect for fall gatherings, especially when served with graham crackers or apple slices for dipping.