Cheesy Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip — 🧀🥬🙌 This baked spinach artichoke dip with cheese disappears at parties and is a crowd favorite! It’s topped with mozzarella, because who doesn’t love cheesy dips?
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Baked Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
I could make a meal out of dip. And baked spinach artichoke dip is my absolute favorite.
The old expression about liking a little bit of coffee with my cream rings true with this hot spinach artichoke dip. I like a few bites of chips or crackers with the dip but really, they’re not necessary. Just give me a spoon.
I pile the baked spinach artichoke dip on so thick and sky-high that I break chips. Oh well, who needs them?
It’s a super easy dip to make and loosely adapted from my Creamy Baked Double Cheese and Sweet Onion Dip. Stir all the ingredients together in one bowl, transfer to a baking dish, and bake until it’s golden brown and bubbly. Or in my case, a little past golden brown in some places because I was multitasking. It happens.
You don’t have to top the dip with mozzarella if you’re a spinach and artichoke purist, but I think everything is better with a little mozzarella on top.
It’s creamy, cheesy, gooey, and everything I want in a baked spinach and artichoke dip!
Can’t Get Enough Spinach Artichoke?
This easy baked spinach artichoke dip recipe is a classic version that’s even richer than this cheese-filled dip. Or, try my crockpot spinach and artichoke dip for a hands-off version of this crowd-pleasing recipe!
What’s in Baked Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip?
For this dip, I used all the classic ingredients you expect to find and added plenty of cheese. Here’s everything you need:
- Cream cheese, softened – Use brick-style cream cheese. Full-fat will result in a rich taste and creamy texture, but light will also work
- Mayonnaise – Use full-fat or lite mayo based on your preferences. Sour cream will also work
- Mozzarella – For the best flavor and texture, buy a block of cheese, and shred it yourself
- Artichokes – I used frozen artichoke hearts that come in a 12-ounce bag from Trader Joe’s. I used half the bag, about 1 1/2 cups. Let them thaw, roughly chop them, and you’re ready. I make sure not to over-mince because I like the chunkier texture. If you don’t have a TJ’s, check your grocer’s freezer case for frozen artichoke hearts because they’re so versatile
- Frozen spinach – Frozen spinach is so much easier to mince than fresh spinach
- Ground black pepper
- Cayenne pepper – This adds lots of depth without making the dip spicy
- Salt – Adjust to taste. I don’t typically add any salt, because the other ingredients contain plenty. To eat their own, though
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make This Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
Quick and easy to make, this is one of the most delicious dips you’ll ever taste. It’s the perfect vehicle for tortilla chips, pita chips, baguette slices, carrots, and celery sticks! Here’s an overview of the process:
- Combine the cream cheese and mayo in a bowl, stirring to combine. The softer the cream cheese, the easier this step will be!
- Add part of the cheese, and stir to distribute it evenly.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish, and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Evenly sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake until the dip is golden brown and bubbly, and cool just a few minutes before serving.
What to Serve with Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip
Recipe FAQs
If you don’t have shredded mozzarella on hand, you’re welcome to use fontina or another kind of cheese that melts well. I also sometimes top my dip with parmesan cheese!
Feel free to include extra seasonings, or include minced garlic for a boost of savoriness.
Extra cheese spinach artichoke dip will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be reheated gently in the micro or used as a cold dip.
I don’t recommend it! The dairy doesn’t thaw well and won’t taste great.
Baked Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, very well softened (lite okay)
- 2 cups mayonnaise, lite okay
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (or fontina or a favorite easy-melting cheese)
- 1 ½ cups artichokes, roughly chopped (I used 6 ounces frozen artichoke hearts from TJs, chopped; oil-packed artichokes in a jar may be substituted)
- 1 ½ cups frozen spinach, thawed
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a 9-inch pie dish (or 1o-inch, or similar-sized oven-safe baking dish) with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, mayo, and stir to combine. The softer the cream cheese is, the easier this is.
- Add 1 cup cheese (reserving remainder to be sprinkled on top), and all the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Turn mixture out into prepared dish, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
- Evenly sprinkle reserved 2 cups cheese over the top.
- Bake for about 40 minutes, or until top is golden browned, bubbly, and dip is done to your liking. Allow dip to cool momentarily before serving.
Notes
- Dip is excellent warm and fresh, but extra will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be reheated gently in the micro or used as a cold dip.
- Read product labels to ensure all products are gluten-free if that’s a consideration for you.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Cheesy Dip Recipes:
Hot Cheesy Corn Dip — This easy corn dip recipe literally takes five minutes to stir together. It’s great for parties, football, and tailgating!
5-Minute Chili Cheese Dip — EASY, ready in 5 minutes, just 3 main ingredients, and made in the microwave! The CHEESE is irresistible! The perfect game day or easy party appetizer that everyone LOVES!
Creamy Baked Double Cheese and Onion Dip – One of my favorite dips, and I used to think I hated onions. Stir it together in one bowl in minutes and bake for cheesy comfort food.
Loaded Baked BLT Dip — This cheesy BLT dip is loaded with two types of cheese, bacon, fresh tomatoes, and more! It’s perfect for holiday parties and tailgating and is SO easy to make!
Loaded Baked Tater Tot Dip — Favorite baked potato fixings baked together in a dip!
Spicy Chorizo Queso – No processed cheese in this EASY cheese dip that’s ready in 20 minutes! Wonderfully spicy thanks to the chorizo! Great appetizer for holiday entertaining, parties, and game days!
Baked Triple Cheese and Salsa Tortilla Chip Dip — Loaded with 3 kinds of cheese and baked to browned, bubbly, golden perfection.
Easy Pizza Dip — If you’re a cheese lover or a pizza fan, you’re going to love this crust-less pizza dip!
Putting mozzarella on top of this dip is such a good idea! I often do make a dinner out of dip. In fact I had guacamole tonight, which left plenty of room for dessert :)
Guac & dessert (and a drink or two) is like…the perfect meal :)
YUM!!! I am loving all the savory posts lately, Averie!
My plan for 2014 was to bake less cakes, cookies, etc. therefore donate less cakes, cookies, etc. No one needs 5 sweets a week I decided. Some savory isn’t all bad :)
OH girl, you know the way to my heart!!! Love this and pinned :)
Spinach artichoke dip is one of my all-time faves and this mozzarella layer on top – LOVE it! Pinned!
Thanks for pinning, Trish!
For me a dip is totally considered a meal, for lunch today I made a dip with farmer cheese and green onions and finished it all myself, small bites with whole wheat ciabatta bread!
I looovveee spinach artichoke dip…but quite honestly I just want to peel off the top of that dip and eat that delicious baked cheese. Great recipe Averie!
Thanks Eric! So many ppl have said that about that layer of cheese – who knew! :)
Whoa! This dip is screaming to me! So cheesy, so creamy, I want some now!
How fabulous! I am such a sucker for dips like this! Off to pin :)
Thanks for the pin, Jenny!
omg that cheesy layer on top-killlliing me! I looove spinach artichoke dip and this looks like….SOOOO goooood!
Ooh yum! This looks awesome! You’re photography is beautiful too!
Thanks!
this looks so decadent – all that cheesy goodness!
Yes, who needs the chips when you’ve got this dip! Is it weird that I would like to eat it for lunch right now? Even though I’ve already eaten lunch? :) It looks seriously delicious!
That’s what happens when you read food blogs :)
Oh I can definitely make a meal out of dip too! Especially when it looks as amazing as this one does! That cheesy top is calling my name!
One of my most favorite things on this planet is the golden melted cheese. I love this dip and have made it many times for parties. I would love to get my fingers messy and dig in right now. Yum
Incredibly delish!
I DO make a meal out of dip. One night, my girlfriend came over and we had a meal of guac, roasted red pepper hummus, and all the fixings to go along with it. Warm spinach artichoke dip is one of my all time favorites though. Look how cheesy this is! You got me hooked on those artichokes, Averie. I bought a pack of them whenever you suggested I buy them a month or so ago. I’m forever grateful. So damn good! Beautiful pics. I always have trouble shooting cheesy foods (mine always look orange!) – shooting one today! You make it look easy.
I’m so glad you tried the artichokes! Love those things. Always have at least 2 bags in the freezer at all times! And I love your story…”one night, my…” For me, that’s not one night. That was half the nights in my 20s :) Along with plenty to wash all that dip/chips down with, of course :)
Oh this shoot was not my fave, trust me. The day I shot it, it was SO BRIGHT out. Like a 100 ISO was still too much. It was glare city on the cheese and tons of focusing issues but I got a few keepers. Thank you for saying you like the images! xo