Creamy, warm, cheesy, and garlicky, this Roasted Garlic Spinach-Artichoke Dip is so good that you’re going to need to keep a close eye on the dip bowl.
This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite.
Roasted garlic is the magic ingredient in this crazy-good, crowd-pleasing spinach dip. Oven-roasting transforms garlic; mellowing it into a caramelly, butter-soft paste that infuses its sweet, fragrant flavor throughout - taking classic spinach-artichoke dip to a whole new level.
Recipe Updated July 22, 2021 (Originally published July 2, 2013)
How to Make Roasted Garlic Spinach-Artichoke Dip
The first thing you need to do to prep for the spinach dip recipe is roast the garlic.
How to Oven Roast the Garlic Cloves
Preheat oven to 375°F [190°C].
Line a heavy baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. We find that we like the outcome better on parchment; however, any practical difference is negligible.
In a small bowl, toss garlic cloves in the olive oil to completely coat, and then spread the oiled garlic cloves evenly across the prepared baking tray.
Lightly sprinkle garlic cloves with kosher salt.
Roast 45-50 minutes, or until garlic cloves are golden brown.
Cooking times may vary, depending upon the size and variety of your garlic. Start checking after about 35 minutes. Cloves are done when they are caramel in colored and have a soft, creamy texture.
NOTE: We usually roast garlic a pound at a time, but you only need about 30 cloves for this recipe.
(For more detailed instructions, visit our post about how to roast garlic in the oven.)
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Spinach: We most often make this dip with fresh spinach, but frozen spinach works, too.
- Fresh: Use one (10-ounce) bag of fresh baby spinach. Blanche, rough-chop, and squeeze to drain before using.
- Frozen: Use one (10-ounce) bag of frozen spinach. Frozen spinach needs to be thawed and thoroughly squeezed to drain before using.
It is critical to the success of this dip that as much water as possible is removed from the spinach before mixing it into the dip.
Artichoke hearts: Use jarred, marinated artichoke hearts for the best results: they have more flavor than artichokes canned in water. (Recently, we found some amazing roasted artichoke hearts, and love what they add.)
Rough-chop artichokes to prep.
Canned artichokes packed in water or frozen artichokes can also be used.
Cream cheese: We nearly always use full-fat cream cheese, but light cream cheese or Neufchâtel will also work.
Sour cream: We use full-fat sour cream, but you can sub in full-fat greek yogurt.
Mozzarella: Substitute your favorite shredded cheese in place of Mozzarella.
Preheat oven to 250°F [121°C].
Put roasted garlic cloves, and soften butter and cream cheese together in a medium bowl.
Use a fork to mash the roasted garlic cloves into the cream cheese.
Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl with the garlic and cream cheese.
Stir to combine.
Place spinach mixture in a cooking vessel. Use any oven-safe cooking vessel. Our preference is our 10-inch cast iron skillet. The dip cooks up perfectly in it, and it makes a great serving dish.
Decorate the top of the dip with additional roasted garlic cloves if desired.
Bake at 250°F [121°C] for an hour or so, until the dip is warm and bubbly around the edges.
Serve warm with corn chips, sourdough bread cubes, baguette slices, pretzel chips, crudités, or anything else that sounds good to you!
This delicious, garlic-infused Spinach-Artichoke Dip recipe can be prepared up to a day ahead of time. Simply mix the dip up and keep it covered in the fridge until it's time to bake it up.
Roasted Garlic Spinach-Artichoke Dip
Ingredients
- 30 cloves roasted garlic
- ¼ cup butter
- 10 ounces chopped spinach blanched (or thawed) and squeezed to remove moisture
- 14 ounces jarred artichoke hearts drained and rough-chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 8 ounces sour cream
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 3 ounces mozzarella grated, about ¾ cup
- 2 ounces Parmesan grated, about ⅔ cup
- Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Roast Garlic
- Preheat oven to 375°F [190°C].Line a heavy baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. We find that we like the outcome better on parchment; however, any practical difference is negligible. In a small bowl, toss garlic cloves in the olive oil to completely coat, and then spread the oiled garlic cloves evenly across the prepared baking tray.Lightly sprinkle garlic cloves with kosher salt.Roast 45-50 minutes, or until garlic cloves are golden brown.Cooking times may vary, depending upon the size and variety of your garlic. Start checking after about 35 minutes. Cloves are done when they are caramel in colored and have a soft, creamy texture.
Mix Up Dip
- Preheat oven to 250°F [121°C].Put roasted garlic cloves, and soften butter and cream cheese together in a medium bowl. Use a fork to mash the roasted garlic cloves into the cream cheese. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl with the garlic and cream cheese.Stir to combine.
Bake Spinach Dip
- Place spinach mixture in a cooking vessel. Use any oven-safe cooking vessel. Our preference is our 10-inch cast iron skillet. The dip cooks up perfectly in it, and it makes a great serving dish. Decorate the top of the dip with additional roasted garlic cloves if desired. Bake at 250°F [121°C] for an hour or so, until the dip is warm and bubbly around the edges.
- Serve warm with corn chips, sourdough bread cubes, baguette slices, pretzel chips, crudités, or anything else that sounds good to you!
Notes
Nutrition
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Looking for more dip ideas? Try our Muhammara (Red Pepper Walnut Dip)!
THANK YOU for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. • Please PIN this post!
This.is.deadly. My only rule about Garlic is that everyone has to eat it so no one has bad breath. You know!?
Roasting the garlic does dramatically soften the blow of the garlic, so to speak - you don't walk around the party with that sharp, pungent "just ate Garlic Dip" aroma seeping out of your pores; nevertheless, it is always a good thing when everyone shares!
Glad to meet you, Sarah, and thank you for hosting the hop - I'm enjoying the opportunity to meet and read new folks!
Sounds yummy! So I assume the yield of 2 quarts was just enough for a party... how many people do you think it should end up serving so I can plan to share this with the right amount of people?
Yes, the recipe as given yields roughly 8 cups. I have no idea how many it would serve, but I would ballpark it at about 1/4-1/3 cup of dip per person. I did a little experimenting, and it is also good in omelets and as a sandwich spread with roasted vegetables, so leftovers wouldn't be much of a problem.
This looks so yummy! I found you through SITSSummer. I've been trying to go vegetarian for years now, but I'm just so lazy and hate to cook! I'll be following your blog now 🙂
Good to hear from you, Jenn! I've been trying to go for years myself, but I don't think I'll ever make it completely to the other side; however, unlike many, bacon is not my Kryptonite - Salmon is! So the closest I will get is pescatarian, with a yearly foray into Veganland during the Vegan Mofo.
This looks so good! one of my favorite things when we got out to eat. Now I can make it! Love your blog...will be returning often. 🙂 Stopping by from SITS
Thanks for stopping by, Sadie! I checked out your blog, and guess what?!? I have 5 daughters too! (Plus a step-daughter who I would call my own in a heartbeat.) Life certainly gives a mom a lot to ponder on with all that estrogen flying around, doesn't it?