This Spinach Artichoke Dip with crunchy smoky bacon will disappear in a flash at your next party! Make this for football parties, game nights with friends, or any gathering that needs a dip on the table.
When I was out for a friend’s birthday recently, we ordered some spinach artichoke dip for the table. The dip was warm and creamy—and a great accompaniment for the crispy tortilla chips that came with it. It was devoured within minutes.
Though it certainly satisfied me and my friends after a couple rounds of drinks, I found myself wanting a more classic, homemade—and dare I say better?—version of this beloved dip.
I went back to my kitchen and got to work making what I personally crave when I think of spinach artichoke dip.
Better-than-Restaurant Spinach Artichoke Dip
The restaurant’s dip was a little soupy, as if it were held together only by a thin cheese sauce, so I knew I’d need to tinker with that part. I ended up using cream cheese for the rich creaminess it adds to any dip (but especially this one!), along with an Italian cheese blend, which included mozzarella, Parmesan, Asiago, Provolone, and Romano cheeses.
This mixture melts nicely and gives you that picture-perfect cheesy pull with every scoop.
Bacon Makes Everything Better
I also wanted to add something a little extra, something to make it stand out from all the other dips and appetizers crowding the buffet table at a party. The first thing to come to my mind? Bacon. It truly does make everything better.
In addition to pieces of crunchy bacon mixed right into the dip, I add some extra smokiness and bacon flavor by cooking the artichoke hearts and spinach in the rendered bacon fat. So good.
What to Serve with Spinach Artichoke Dip
This spinach artichoke dip with bacon makes a great appetizer for a game day party or movie night. I like serving this dip with pita chips, but tortilla chips, crackers, or celery sticks could also work well.
However, be warned: depending on your friends and how hungry you are, this dip will disappear fast! My roommate ate half of it once I was finished taking photos, and it took everything I had not to finish the other half myself. For a larger party, I’d recommend doubling this recipe.
Make-Ahead Spinach Artichoke Dip
This dip can be fully prepared up to 24 hours ahead and transferred to the casserole dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to eat. Remove the plastic wrap and heat as per the recipe in the oven, adding on a few extra minutes to the total time.
Leftover Spinach Artichoke Dip
This dip is best eaten right away while hot. If it cools a bit and starts to firm up, microwave it for a minute or two to melt the cheese again.
Leftovers can be covered and stored for up to 5 days, but won’t be quite as good as when the dip was fresh. You can warm it up in the microwave it, eat it as a cold dip with vegetables, or spread it on sandwiches.
Spinach artichoke dip does not freeze well and is not recommended.
More Tasty Dips for Your Party!
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Hot Reuben Dip
- 7 Layer Bean Dip
- Slow Cooker Brats and Beer Cheese Dip
- Caramelized Onion Dip
Spinach Artichoke Dip with Bacon Recipe
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups
My Italian cheese blend used mozzarella, Parmesan, Asiago, Provolone, and Romano cheeses, but any blend of Italian cheeses is fine.
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon (about 1/3 pound), chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed, drained, and chopped, or 1 12-ounce bunch fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or slightly less table salt)
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
- 8 ounces shredded Italian cheese blend
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Pita chips, tortilla chips, crackers, or celery sticks, for serving
Method
1 Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
2 Cook the bacon: Place the chopped bacon in a skillet and cook over medium heat until crispy, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain, leaving the rendered bacon fat in the skillet. Set some of the bacon aside for sprinkling over top the dip.
3 Cook the vegetables: Add the garlic to the pan and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the artichoke hearts, spinach, red pepper flakes, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until artichokes are warmed through and the spinach has wilted, about 5 minutes.
4 Combine with the cheeses: In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, shredded Italian cheese blend, sour cream, reserved bacon, and spinach-artichoke mixture until thoroughly combined.
5 Bake and serve: Transfer the mixture to a 1- to 2-quart baking dish and bake until bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then sprinkle with reserved bacon and serve with pita chips.
This dip is best eaten right away while hot. If it cools a bit and starts to firm up, microwave it for a minute or two to melt the cheese again.
