Easy Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese

A cold spinach dip that is made without mayo and with cream cheese! It is one of my top appetizers for parties and so easy to whip up. I like to make it ahead of time and keep it cold in the fridge until guests arrive! Then serve it with grilled pita bread or crackers!

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Cream Cheese Spinach Dip Served Cold

How can I have a party food blog without a SPINACH DIP appetizer? But this isn’t just ANY spinach dip…it is the BEST!

I’m Greek, so growing up whenever my family would get together, a spinach dip was NOT part of our “normal” appetizer spread. Instead, you would see a tzatziki dip. Or an eggplant dip that my aunt made so well. Or meatballs. Or shrimp. Or sausage. Or spanikopita. But spinach dip? Nada.

I would go to other friends parties or family gatherings and always seemed to find a spinach dip somewhere at the party. I always enjoyed it but never LOVED it. Maybe it’s because most versions are too “mayo-ee” OR just too bland.

As I got older, my mother branched out a bit and started making a spinach dip of her OWN! She would serve it when she hosted parties and since, I’ve developed a huge love for it!

This recipe is a slightly tweaked version of my moms. I love how quick it is to prepare, that you can serve it COLD plus, you can serve it with so many different “dippers”. It has become one of my favorite last minute dips for any crowd!

How Do You Make Spinach Dip?

Spinach dips typically contain some or all of the following:

• frozen or fresh spinach leaves
• cream cheese
• mayo
• shredded cheeses
• seasoning

You can intensify the flavor of your spinach dip by adding Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, cayenne seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, etc.

This spinach dip is supposed to be served cold so the shredded cheese is not necessary.

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 spinach dip recipe is a COLD spinach dip that can be stored in the fridge until your ready to serve it! Hooray to not reheating something for a change! 🙂

And in my opinion, the creamier the spinach dip, the BETTER!

So what typically makes a spinach dip creamy? In most recipes it will be the mayonnaise.

With that said, you wont find me in a corner with my finger inside of a mayonnaise jar. But peanut butter??? NOW were talking. 😉

But unfortunately, peanut butter would be weird in this dip so lets talk about other options…

Cream cheese and sour cream are both very creamy and delicious so I used both to maintain that creaminess needed for the perfect spinach dip!

This recipe is a slightly tweaked version of my mother’s recipe so I really should give her the credit. It goes very well with sliced warm, crusty bread or some simple fresh veggies. Every time it is at a family event, we devour it!

Sour Cream and Cream Cheese

The sour cream is my favorite part. I am a HUGE sour cream fan. You should see what I do to my baked potato… 😯 

In this dip, the sour cream lightens up the cream cheese and adds a little tang so definitely don’t leave it out!

**I highly recommend using the full fat versions of both. I never buy fat free anything especially when it comes to dairy like cream cheese and sour cream. Some people don’t realize that your really just replacing the fat with more sugar, which is NOT a healthier option! And it does NOT taste better, so why buy it??

For this spinach dip recipe, I also added some chopped tomatoes which are not only delicious but also add a touch of color! I mean, we all eat with our eyes first right?!

If you have a mixer, I would recommend using it! Whether a standing or handheld mixer, either works. You can mix it all by hand but make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, otherwise it’s way too difficult to properly “cream” together and will end up turning this 7 minute spinach dip into a 20 minute spinach dip. 😉

Serve As A Cold Appetizer

What I like to do is chop up a bunch of veggies like peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery and carrots and keep them in a large Ziploc baggie. Then just grab the veggies and dip from the fridge when guests arrive and serve it COLD. No warming up necessary! Super easy, super fast and no need to binge on potato chips while waiting for dinner!

Can I Use Fresh Spinach Instead of Frozen?

I don’t recommend freezing many dips in general. Although cream cheese DOES typically freeze well but sour cream? Not so much.

You can but you will definitely want to cook them down in a saute pan. Then, make sure to squeeze out any excess liquid including the oil from the pan.

Keep in mind that I use FROZEN spinach in this dip recipe because:

1. It is cheaper
2. It is Pre-Chopped
3. It stays fresh for months!

What Do You Eat 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 with a spinach dip:

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

How Long Does Homemade Spinach Dip Last?

I have kept my dip up to 4 days and we are all alive and healthy! Lol! Stick to the 3-4 day rule and most dips should be fine as long as they are kept in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

Can Leftover Spinach Dip Be Frozen?

The most important thing to remember when using frozen spinach, is to thaw and drain your spinach! Otherwise, your dip will be watery.

Here are some tips on ‘Defrosting Chopped Spinach’.

Here’s how I made this dip…

Defrost your frozen spinach overnight in the fridge (or microwave last minute). Then squeeze out all the water in a thick paper towel or thin cloth.[/caption]

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix together until fully incorporated. Use a mixer if you have!

If using a bread bowl, cut your bread around the top on a downward angle.

Scoop out the middle with your fingers (they’re the best tools). Don’t waste it! Chop up this part into small croutons and bake at 400 F (until crispy) for dipping!

Fill your bowl and place in fridge or serve right away with choice of veggies, pita or bread/crackers.

Here is a video showing you how to drain your spinach.

Check out some more deliciously easy party dips below!

Garlic Oil Cannelini Dip

Greek Red Pepper Feta Dip

The Best Bread Dipping Oil

Authentic Greek Tzatziki Dip

Easy Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese

Easy Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese

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!

4.55 from 11 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: Bite Sized Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 8 oz. Package Cream Cheese
• 1 10 oz. Package Frozen Chopped Spinach ((thawed))
• 1 Cup Sour Cream
• 2 Medium Tomatoes ((Small Diced))
• 2 Scallions (Green Onions) ((Chopped))
• 1/2 Tsp. Onion Powder
• 1/2 Tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/4 Tsp. Garlic Powder
• 3/4 Tsp. Salt
• 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

Party 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