Creamy One‑Bowl Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

The best quick and easy spinach artichoke dip you can make at home—simple ingredients, one bowl, ready in about 20 minutes. Rich, creamy, and cheesy, it’s perfect for spreading or dipping.

This warm, indulgent dip is a crowd-pleaser for parties, game day, weeknight dinners, or a polished appetizer at a dinner party. Serve it with crisp vegetables, crackers, or toasted bread. It also works beautifully baked in a bread bowl for a festive presentation. Its versatility—use as a dip, spread, topping, or filling—makes it a year-round favorite.

Key ingredients

• Artichokes – Canned artichoke hearts are convenient; drain and chop them before adding.
• Spinach – Frozen works great; thaw and squeeze out excess liquid. Fresh spinach can be used if wilted, drained, and chopped.
• Mayonnaise – Use full fat for the creamiest texture.
• Sour cream – Full fat gives the best richness.
• Seasonings – Keep it simple with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Cheeses – Cream cheese for body, plus shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan for melt and flavor.

Variations

• Slow cooker – Combine ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for about 2 hours, stirring once.
• Oven baked – Spread in a casserole dish, top with extra mozzarella, and bake at 350°F for 5–10 minutes until bubbly and golden.
• Extra cheesy – Add more cream cheese or swap in cheeses like Asiago, Gruyère, or Swiss.
• Herbs & spices – Smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, or extra garlic add depth.
• No artichokes – Omit them for a classic creamy spinach dip.
• Sour cream substitute – Greek yogurt increases protein and adds tang.
• Spicy – Add red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne.
• Add bacon – Top with crumbled cooked bacon before serving.
• Add seafood – Stir in cooked diced shrimp or crab for a heartier dish.

How to make the best easy one-pot spinach artichoke dip from scratch

1. Soften cream cheese – Place cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and warm in 30-second increments, stirring until smooth.
2. Combine – Stir in drained chopped artichokes, thawed and squeezed spinach, mayonnaise, sour cream, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly mixed.
3. Heat – Microwave the mixture another minute or until the cheeses are melted and the dip is warmed through. Alternatively, transfer to a casserole dish and bake at 350°F until bubbly and lightly browned on top.
4. Serve – Transfer to a serving bowl or bread bowl and enjoy with crackers, chips, or vegetables.

What to serve with this hot dip

• Classic dippers: crackers, tortilla chips, pita chips, or crostini.
• Vegetables: carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, cucumber slices, and celery.
• Bread options: bread bowls, slices of baguette, flatbread, naan, or breadsticks.
• Other uses: Spoon over baked chicken breasts, stuff into a butterflied chicken before baking, toss with pasta for a creamy sauce, or thin with a little milk to make a dressing.

Tips and techniques

• Spinach choice – Frozen spinach saves time and is reliable. Thaw and squeeze well. If using fresh, blanch briefly, shock in ice water, then squeeze and chop.
• Artichoke choice – Canned or jarred artichoke hearts are easiest; drain them well. Fresh artichokes require steaming and trimming.
• Drain thoroughly – Excess liquid from artichokes or spinach will make the dip watery. Squeeze and drain until the mixture is thick.
• Full fat ingredients – For maximum creaminess and flavor, use full fat cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream.
• Avoid marinated artichokes – They can alter the flavor; plain-packaged artichokes in water or oil are best.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Refrigerate – Store in a sealed container for up to 2 days.
• Freeze – Not recommended; the texture separates and becomes watery when thawed.
• Reheat – Microwave in short intervals, stirring between, or reheat in an oven-safe dish until warmed through.
• Make ahead – Mix ingredients and refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat before serving.

More one pot appetizers

• Grape Jelly Little Smokies (One Pot)
• Crockpot Little Smokies (Cocktail Sausages)
• Bacon Wrapped Smokies (One Pan)
• Bacon Wrapped Dates (One Pan)

Recipe