Savory Warm Cream Cheese Spinach Dip Recipe
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This delicious Cream Cheese Spinach Dip recipe is a wonderful way to use fresh spinach. Even if you don’t have any in your garden right now, you should be able to quickly find the ingredients for this recipe to make a perfect afternoon snack.
Cream Cheese Spinach Dip Recipe
Cream Cheese Spinach Dip is a simple, delicious, warm dip recipe that is made from fresh spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella, and some other spices. It’s a great appetizer to serve at parties or just to make for an afternoon snack.
One year, when my family had a BBQ to celebrate Memorial Day, I wanted to bring a dish I had never made before, so I made spinach dip with cream cheese.
The great thing about this dip is that it contains spinach! Spinach is an excellent green leafy veggie so we can pretend that this dip recipe is healthy, right?
If you have plenty of spinach in your garden, this is a perfect way to use it in a non-typical way. Even if you don’t have any in your garden, you can use spinach from the grocery store to make this tasty appetizer.
Are you ready to make this recipe yet?
Cream Cheese Spinach Dip Ingredients
- Baby spinach leaves. If you have these in your garden right now, that makes this recipe super easy! I have not tried frozen spinach leaves with this recipe. It might make it very runny.
- Butter.
- Cream Cheese. You could also try using homemade Yogurt Cheese if you have it.
- Garlic. Fresh is best but you could substitute powdered garlic as well if that’s all you have on hand right now.
- Mozzarella. If you don’t have mozzarella, you might be able to substitute it with another melting, stretchy cheese.
- Salt, pepper, and your favorite seasonings. You really can customize this dish to your tastes or keep it simple with just a bit of salt and pepper. It’s good either way! You can give it an extra kick by adding red pepper flakes or stick with more basic seasonings like onion powder that will help give it more depth of flavor.
Try adding some cooked, chopped bacon, too!!!
Cindy, Little House Living reader
Step by Step Instructions for Making Cream Cheese Spinach Dip
Sauté spinach and garlic in butter until the spinach leaves wilt.
Transfer to a colander. Press firmly until all the water runs out. (this might take about 10 minutes, but it’s worth it! — unless you want your dish to be soggy).
Spoon into a 10 oz baking dish or into another bowl first before transferring to a baking dish if you find that easier. Mix in the cream cheese and stir until well combined. Season your mixture well.
Sprinkle mozzarella over the top. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes in the oven.
Served with crackers, corn chips, pita chips, or toast. Enjoy!
This was so tasty! I was looking for an easy recipe when I craved spinach dip today. Added onion powder, paprika and some cayenne. Thanks!
Ashley, Little House Living reader
What to Serve with Cream Cheese Spinach Dip
If you want to make your own homemade crackers to go with this dip recipe. You might want to check out this Homemade Wheat Crackers recipe. Or, for something gluten-free, try these Homemade Rice Crackers. There is also a big list of Homemade Cracker Recipes here. If you just want a super easy cracker recipe, go for these Homemade Saltine Crackers.
You can also serve this recipe with tortilla chips.
If you want to serve this dip with something healthy instead of crackers or chips, you could use carrots that are cut into sticks (or baby carrots) or celery sticks for dipping.
Excellent recipe, not only because it’s delicious, but it is a small and doesn’t serve a crowd. Since no fresh spinach was to be found in the house, I used chopped artichoke hearts. A little cayenne, and I was good to go. Thanks for the recipe.
Wingsandbeaks, Little House Living reader
Gluten Free Cream Cheese Spinach Dip
This recipe is gluten-free, as written! No need to change any ingredients here. Just make sure whatever type of cracker that you serve it with is gluten-free. Most of the recipes listed above can be made gluten-free, or you can use your favorite gluten-free crackers from the store.
Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Spinach Dip
Since this recipe is mostly made of dairy, I have not tried to make a dairy-free version. You might have some success using dairy-free cream cheese and mozzarella with a buttery spread substitute.
Need to print this recipe to put in your Recipe Binder? Grab it below!
Cream Cheese Spinach Dip Recipe
How to make a deliciously easy cream cheese spinach dip recipe!
Ingredients
- 6 ounce baby spinach leaves
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 ounce cream cheese slightly softened
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella grated
- salt
- pepper and/or your favorite seasonings
Instructions
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Sauté spinach and garlic in butter until the spinach leaves wilt.
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Transfer to a colander.
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Press firmly until all the water runs out.
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Spoon into a 10 oz. baking dish.
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Mix in the cream cheese.
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Season well with salt and pepper or your choice of seasonings.
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Sprinkle mozzarella over the top.
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Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.
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Serve with crackers, corn chips, pita chips, or toast.
Storing Leftover Cream Cheese Spinach Dip
Store any leftover spinach dip in the fridge.
Questions About Making Cream Cheese Spinach Dip
Why is my spinach dip runny?
If you used frozen spinach or if you did not drain your spinach properly after cooking, it could make the rest of the dip runny.
Is spinach dip good for you?
Spinach is good for you in a cooked or fresh form. While this dip is only made with whole food ingredients, it would be considered clean, but like all treats, it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
More Easy Dip Recipes
- Try Cream Cheese Taco Dip
- Or 7 Layer Taco Dip is always a good one too!
- Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Dip Recipe for a nice dessert-style dip recipe.
- Homemade Queso Dip is always another favorite of course!
- Homemade Dill Dip Recipe is a great recipe to use with your summer vegetables.
- Jalapeno Popper Dip Recipe is a favorite at parties and get-togethers!
- Simple 5 Ingredient Recipe for White Cheese Dip this one is similar to the queso dip above but SO easy!
Did you make this Creamy Spinach Dip? What is your favorite warm dip to make?
Merissa Alink
Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This Cream Cheese Spinach Dip recipe was originally posted on Little House Living in June 2013. It has been updated as of April 2024.
This looks so yummy! I will give it a try the next time my customers come over to stamp and scrapbook. TFS.
Looks good. Could you just skip the saute step by using thawed frozen spinach? I know you would have to drain and press to remove the water, too, just like with fresh. I’m visiting from the Just Us Four link party.
Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life
I don’t see why not!
I just love the flavor of this dip. Have a fantastic week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Try adding some cooked, chopped bacon, too!!!
This looks so good. I would have to make two. One for me, and one to share, lol!!!
Could you use canned spinach instead of fresh?
I’m not sure of the taste difference but you should be able to.
This was so tasty! I was looking for an easy recipe when I craved spinach dip today. Added onion powder, paprika and some cayenne. Thanks!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Could I serve this dip chilled? I am not crazy about warm dips but it looks really yummy and want to give it a try.
Yes it could be, you just may want to leave off the cheese on the top (unless you don’t melt it) but it could be hard and chunky to get through if chilled.
Love this — your recipe looks so good! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing it at Motivation Monday on Mom Home Guide.
Excellent recipe, not only because it’s delicious, but it is a small and doesn’t serve a crowd. Since no fresh spinach was to be found in the house, I used chopped artichoke hearts. A little cayenne, and I was good to go. Thanks for the recipe.