Easy Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese (in bread bowl)

A cold creamy spinach dip that is made without mayo and with cream cheese! It is one of my top party dips and so easy to whip up. I like to make it ahead of time and then add it to a freshly cut bread bowl when guests arrive!

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Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese (no mayo!)

7 minutes!

That’s all you need to make this cold spinach dip! And maybe some hungry bodies!

It’s one of those recipes that you’ll want to whip up again and again!

I love cream cheese based dips. And this recipe is the best cold spinach dip I have come across because it uses cream cheese. (And I’ve tried a lot!) My version is made with not only cream cheese but also sour cream! And NO MAYO at all! Any appetizer dip that is easy to make ahead and can be served cold (or room temperature) is a winner in my house!

I like to put my dip in a sour dough BREAD BOWL! It looks so festive this way! Plus you don’t have to worry about asking for your bowl or Tupperware back if you bring it to a party! I’ll typically serve the bread bowl with veggies and sometimes pita bread on the side.

Simple, creamy and SO delicious!

How To Make Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese

There are a few staple ingredients that almost every spinach dip has. You can use all of the following ingredients or just a few. The top 2 are “staples”. Either way, this dip is super versatile so you should feel free to add and substitute ingredients as you please.

Ingredients

Spinach dips typically contain some or all of the following ingredients:

• chopped frozen spinach OR fresh spinach leaves
• cream cheese (Philadelphia is my favorite. Full fat or fat free)
• mayo (this is found in most recipes)
• sour cream (it is amazing in almost every dip)
• shredded cheeses (experiment with multiple cheeses)
• seasoning (onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, nutmeg, etc.)
• tomatoes (adds some color and sweetness)
• red peppers (adds some color, sweetness AND crunch)
• sauteed onions
• caramelized onions
• fresh garlic
• water chestnuts (adds a fresh crunch)

How to INTENSIFY the flavors of your dip!

You can intensify the flavor of your dip by adding any of the following:

• Worcestershire sauce
• Cayenne seasoning
• Hot sauce
• Chili powder
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• paprika
• Dijon/Mustard Powder
• Soy Sauce
• Knorr dried soup mixes (veggie flavor)

How To Quickly Thaw Frozen Spinach

I use FROZEN chopped spinach leaves for this recipe.

Why? Because it is super cheap AND does not require you to cook your spinach or chop it. If you used raw spinach leaves, you would need to cook them down OR chop them up before you add them to your dip. Especially if your spinach leaves are super large.

Here are some tips on ‘Defrosting Chopped Spinach’.

Squeezing The Water From Your Frozen Spinach

You are going to need to defrost your frozen spinach first. You can quickly do this in the microwave or let it sit in the fridge overnight in a bowl. Then you will need to SQUEEZE all of your water out before you add it to your dip! I like to use a thin towel, cheese cloth OR paper towels to do this. If you don’t squeeze the water out, your dip will be watery!

This video shows you the best way to get water out of frozen spinach!

Fresh Spinach vs. Frozen Spinach

Fresh spinach will work in this recipe BUT you will need to chop it down before you go any further. Some fresh spinach leaves are so large, if you just throw them in the dip as is, you’ll get a “stringy” spinach dip…and trust me…no one likes “stringy” dips. You can also saute your fresh spinach before you add it to your dip. It will help the leaves to break down a bit resulting in wilted spinach which is what you want for this dip.

How To Make Your Spinach Dip Healthier

You can easily swap out the full fat versions of both the cream cheese and sour cream for the fat free versions. Another way to cut fat is to use PLAIN YOGURT instead of sour cream! It will stay just as creamy! If you use Greek yogurt, your dip may be too thick so keep this in mind when swapping!

What Can You Serve With Spinach Dip?

Everyone has their own dipping go-to’s. I like serving this dip with multiple dipping options to satisfy all my guest’s dietary needs. Most men go for the more substantial dippers. You know..the ‘carby’ dippers, like bread or crackers! So think about who you’re serving.

These are my favorite items to serve alongside:

• Tortilla Chips
• Pita Chips
• Mini Crostini
• Grilled pita bread (this is my favorite dipper!)
• Crackers
• Celery
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli

How To Make A BREAD BOWL

Get yourself a nice round loaf of sour dough bread. If you can’t find sour dough, any round loaf will work!

Then cut out the inside using a large serrated knife. Point the knife on a downward/inward angle and cut a circle around the top portion. Be careful not to cut too much off the top!

Then, using your hands, pull off the top. Rip out any extra breading inside the loaf. You want to create a hole. Be careful not too cut or rip out too much. All you need is a medium sized hole to fit the dip inside.

Here are 8 other dips you can also make in a bread bowl!

Can You Make This Cold Spinach Dip Ahead Of Time?

Why of course you can! You can make any dip ahead of time. The real question is, “Can you pull this straight out if the fridge as guests arrive??

YES!

Because this dip is served COLD, it can be stored in the fridge until your ready to serve it! In fact, storing it overnight will give the flavors time to infuse!

How Long Does Homemade Spinach Dip Last?

It is best to stick to the 3-4 day rule. Most dips will stay fresh as long as they are kept in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container!

Can Leftover Spinach Dip Be Frozen?

Yes! Cream cheese freezes well. Just place your dip in a freezer-friendly container and place a piece of saran wrap directly over your dip and place the top on the seal it. Then freeze as is. It should stay fresh for up to 6 weeks.

Total Cost of This Spinach Dip

Frozen spinach: $0.98

Cream cheese: $1.59

Sour Cream: $1.00

Seasonings: $0.50

Tomatoes: $0.75

Total Price: $4.74 (the bread bowl is additional)

Other COLD party dips you might like!

Garlic Oil Cannelini Dip

Greek Red Pepper Feta Dip

The Best Bread Dipping Oil

Healthy Roasted Eggplant Dip

Cold Taco Dip With Cottage Cheese

Need a new serving bowl?? Here are a few of my favorites from Amazon.

Also make sure to check out these party dips!

Easy Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese

Easy Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese (in bread bowl)

This Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese is super creamy! It is a family favorite that pairs well with vegetables, crackers and/or pita bread. Served in a sour dough bread bowl, it has been a family favorite for years!

4.32 from 22 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cream cheese, dip, spinach

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 177kcal

Author: Aleka Shunk

Ingredients

• 1 8 oz. Package Cream Cheese
• 1 10 oz. Package Frozen Chopped Spinach (1.5 cups squeezed) ((thawed))
• 1 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
• 2 Medium Tomatoes (1 cup) ((Small Diced))
• 2 Scallions (1/3 cup) ((Chopped))
• 1/2 Tsp. Onion Powder
• 1/2 Tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/4 Tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/2 Tsp. Salt (*or to taste)
• 3/4 Tsp. Pepper

Fresh Round Loaf of Ciabatta or Rye Bread (Optional)

Instructions

• Thaw spinach and squeeze out ALL excess water using a towel or paper towels. (You can defrost in the microwave if you need to do it quickly)
• Add spinach and all other ingredients to a mixer and mix until fully incorporated.
• Prepare your bread bowl if using. Cut off the top and scoop out the middle.
• Add dip to desired serving bowl and serve cold with veggies, crackers, bread and/or pita!

Recipe Notes

Tips*

If refrigerating before serving, allow dip to come to room temperature before serving. (The cream cheese will be too stiff to scoop if immediately taken out of the refrigerator.)

Grill your pita or toast your bread for a crispy and warm element!

Stick a small serving spoon in the dip so you don’t have to worry about the double dippers out there! 🙂

Save the inside of your bread bowl! Freeze and use as croutons or to make meatballs later!

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4.4g | Fat: 16.1g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 1.2g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Have you checked out my Ultimate Guide To Serving Finger Foods?