Game Day Appetizer: Easy Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip


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Baked spinach dip made by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

Is there a better comfort food than a warm baked spinach dip? I really don’t think there is– especially not when it’s paired with homemade crostinis. My older brother (who used to work at a restaurant) showed me how easy it is to make a really really good baked artichoke dip at home, and now I capitalize on every possible opportunity to make it. Not only is it perfect for intimate dinner parties and get-togethers, it’s the perfect game day appetizer and is practically made for tailgating, too. So, with the big game only a few days away, I thought now would be a good time to share my recipe with y’all. Keep reading for my tried-and-true baked spinach dip recipe!

Easy Baked Spinach Dip

Spinach and cream cheese dip made by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

Probably my favorite thing about this easy spinach dip is that it’s easily re-heatable. I normally make mine the day before, cover and refrigerate, and then pop it in the oven at 250F for 15-20 minutes. It’s just as delicious as it is fresh out of the oven! 

Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make this easy spinach dip–

  • 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened– If you forget to take the cream cheese out of the fridge beforehand (which happens to me every single time), put it in a bowl and pop it in the microwave for 20-25 seconds. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than waiting an extra 30 minutes for the cream cheese to soften. 
  • 1/2 cup olive oil mayo– Regular mayo works fine, too– I just prefer the olive oil.
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan– You definitely don’t need to buy fancy grated parmesan. I use Kraft– it’s budget-friendly and works perfectly!
  • 12oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped– If you don’t like artichoke hearts, skip these altogether. The spinach dip will still be delicious!
  • 10oz box frozen chopped spinach, drained– Definitely feel free to add more spinach if you like more spinach flavor— or if you just want to add in some more greens.
  • 2 tsp minced garlic– If you don’t default to it already, buying pre-minced garlic is a huge and money time-saver. I get mine at Walmart for under $2!
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped– I love cooking with shallots, but small white onions work fine, too.
  • 1 sliced scallion, for garnish– This baked spinach dip has a lot of cream and a lot of cheese in it, so I take every opportunity to add in some fresh ingredients. Even though the scallion is just for garnish, it adds a nice little pop of freshness! 
  • Minced parsley, for garnish– Similarly to above, I prefer fresh parsley, but dried parsley works great, too! 

Here’s everything you need to make the crostinis–

  • 1 large baguette– If you don’t have a baguette handy (or if you don’t like crostinis), veggies, tortilla chips, and crackers work just as well for this cream cheese dip!
  • 2 tsbp olive oil– I use this gold self-pour spout to make sure I don’t use too much oil. Highly recommend!

Baked Spinach Dip Recipe

Hot artichoke dip recipe by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

This delicious baked spinach dip recipe takes less than an hour from start to finish, and trust me, you may want to just go ahead and double up on the ingredients. It’s always the first thing to disappear at parties.

To make this yummy spinach dip, start by preheating the oven to 350F. Next, use a silicon spatula to mix together the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl. Blend until smooth.

Step one of blogger Stephanie Ziajka's spinach dip with cream cheese recipe on Diary of a Debutante

Then, add in the chopped artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, spinach, garlic, and shallot. Mix well until fully combined.

Step two of blogger Stephanie Ziajka's easy spinach dip recipe on Diary of a DebutanteBlogger Stephanie Ziajka shows how to make the best spinach cheese dip on Diary of a Debutante

Next, spoon the spinach dip mixture into an ungreased 8×8″ baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until slightly browned. 

Blogger Stephanie Ziajka shows how to make baked artichoke dip on Diary of a DebutanteBlogger Stephanie Ziajka shows how to make the best spinach dip on Diary of a Debutante

Once the baked artichoke dip is ready, let is sit for about ten minutes to cool. 

Meanwhile, make your crostinis by slicing a baguette into roughly twenty-four slices. Drizzle the baguette slices with olive oil, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake at 400F for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. You may want to bump it up to 10-12 minutes if you prefer your crostinis crispier. 

Once everything’s warm and ready to go, top the baked spinach dip with green onions and parsley. Serve with warm crostinis and enjoy!

What to Serve with Baked Spinach Dip

Blogger Stephanie Ziajka shows what to serve with baked spinach dip on Diary of a Debutante

I personally love crostinis. Baguettes are amazing enough as is, but when you bake them in slices, ugh– amazing. Plus, I feel like crostinis elevate just about any appetizer they’re part of. I know they’re not for everyone, though, so if you aren’t a big fan of crostinis, anything with a crunchy base works well, too. Here are a few great dipper substitutes–

  • Fresh veggies
  • Crackers
  • Tortilla chips
  • Pita chips

Easy baked crostinis recipe by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a DebutanteBaked spinach dip recipe by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

baked spinach cheese dip recipe created by blogger Stephanie Ziajka on Diary of a Debutante

Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 38 minutes
Total Time: 43 minutes

This savory cream cheese dip is easily re-heatable and the definition of a crowd-pleaser! It's perfect for all occasions, too-- from large game day snack spreads to intimate parties and get-togethers. Serve this smooth and creamy baked spinach dip with homemade crostinis or opt for fresh veggies, tortilla chips, or crackers instead!

Ingredients

  • 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup olive oil mayonnaise
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan
  • 12oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 10oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed of excess liquid
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 1 sliced scallion, for garnish
  • Minced parsley, for garnish
  • 1 16oz baguette
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
    2. Use a silicon spatula to mix together the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl. Blend until smooth.
    3. Add in the chopped artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, spinach, garlic, and shallot. Mix well until fully combined.
    4. Spoon the spinach dip mixture into an ungreased 8x8" baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until slightly browned. Allow to cool.
    5. While the baked spinach dip is cooling, slice a baguette into roughly 24 slices. Drizzle the baguette slices with olive oil, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake at 400F for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown.
    6. Sprinkle sliced green onions and minced parsley on top of the baked spinach cheese dip for garnish. Serve with warm crostinis and enjoy!

Notes

Probably my favorite thing about this easy spinach dip is that it’s easily re-heatable. I normally make mine the day before, cover with tin foil and refrigerate, and then pop it in the oven (while still covered in tin foil) at 250F for 15-20 minutes. It’s just as delicious as it is fresh out of the oven! 

If you aren’t a fan of crostinis, anything with a crunchy base, such as fresh veggies, tortilla chips, crackers, and pita chips, works well as a dipper, too. Choosing another dipper will likely decrease the total calorie count, too (the nutritional value for this recipe includes a 16oz baguette).

Some simple substitutes are regular mayo for olive oil mayo (the calorie count will be about the same, but olive oil mayo is gluten-free, low in carbohydrates, and free from seed oils) and a small white onion for the shallot.

Nutrition Information
Yield 9Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 300Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 17mgSodium 752mgCarbohydrates 35gFiber 4gSugar 3gProtein 11g

Nutritional information isn't always accurate and can vary based on a number of factors, including but not limited to discrepancies among brands, precision of measurements, and freshness of ingredients.

More Game Day Appetizers to Try

The big game deserves its own game day snack spread. If you need more game day appetizer recipes, here are a few more of my favorites–

  • Bourbon Pulled Pork Sliders with Homemade Coleslaw– If you’re into Game Day crock pot recipes, this one’s for you! The pulled pork is so gosh darn tender– and it’s absolutely delicious with homemade cole slaw and spicy bourbon maple pickle chips on top!
  • Sweet and Spicy Game Day MeatballsThese delicious sweet and spicy beef meatballs are perfect for large parties and game day gatherings! They make a great family-friendly dinner served over rice, too.
  • Baked Pimento Cheese Dip– If you’re from the South and are looking for more Game Day dips, this one’s a must-try!
  • Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs Made with flavorful pimento cheese, these creamy pimento cheese deviled eggs literally disappear at parties. They’re just so gosh darn good. 
  • Game Day Snack Board– This fun and easy snack board is shaped like a football with green fruits and veggies surrounding it. 

 


 
Anyways, thanks so much for reading, y’all! Also, please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any problems with this baked spinach dip recipe or any of my others. I love hearing from you guys, and I’m happy to help! 

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11 thoughts on “Game Day Appetizer: Easy Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip

  1. Ellen

    That looks so good! I love that you use fresh tomatoes in it. I don't think I have a go to dish during the holidays. I guess I need to find one!

    Reply
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