Are you looking for a dip that eats like a meal? You’ve found it in this Hearty Hot Spinach Dip Recipe!
I’ve told you before that I really, really love dip. Cold dips, hot dips, dessert dips… If I can scoop it onto a chip, cracker, or cookie, I’m in heaven! Not only do I love easy dip recipes for appetizers, I’ve also been known to make dips for dinner. This hot spinach dip is especially great for that because it has all your food groups covered in one cheesy, tasty pan.
Some people like going out for dinner for a treat, but for me, eating spinach dip for dinner is a way better evening. Going out for dinner means finding a babysitter (expensive), getting dressed up with makeup (a lot of work), and paying restaurant prices for food and drinks (even more expensive). Let’s compare that to sitting in my living room with my honey in comfy clothes eating dip and drinking reasonably priced wine. Why would I ever want to go out?? Dip for dinner is a way better option.
I served this hot spinach dip with thin wheat crackers, but it would also be great with toasted baguette slices or tortilla chips. You could even stir in cooked pasta and another can of tomatoes and transform it into a pasta casserole, but that’s another recipe! Speaking of modifications, I thought of a couple shortcuts for this recipe if you are short on time or ingredients:
- Try using Italian dressing mix in place of all the seasonings added to the meat.
- Use bulk Italian sausage in place of ground turkey and leave out the seasonings completely!
Whether you’ve got a party, potluck, or just want a fun dinner, this hearty hot spinach dip is the answer!
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Hearty Hot Spinach Dip
This hearty dip is loaded with meat, vegetables, and cheeses to make it nutritious enough for a meal on its own!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 16 oz. ground turkey or lean beef
- 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
- 1/4 tsp. ground thyme
- 15 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes with garlic drained
- 5 oz. fresh baby spinach
- 1 c. shredded Italian blend cheese or mozzarella divided
- 4 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese
- 1/2 c. plain yogurt fat free is fine
- 3 oz. reduced-fat feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13″ pan with cooking spray.
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Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add ground meat, and stir in Italian seasoning, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, and thyme. Brown and crumble meat until cooked through.
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Stir in tomatoes and spinach, and reduce heat to medium. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Stir in 1/2 c. Italian cheese, cream cheese, and yogurt. Continue stirring and cooking until cheese is completely melted and incorporated.
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Spread hot mixture into prepared pan, and sprinkle remaining Italian cheese and feta evenly over the top. Bake in preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and starting to brown. Serve warm with chips or bread.
- Prep Time: 30
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Italian
Becca from It's Yummi! says
Oh my gosh, Andi… you hit the nail on the head! Give me a fork… I’m going in for DINNER :)
PINNED this recipe!
Andi says
I love having dip for dinner and don’t even feel bad about it when it’s packed with nutrition like this one! Thanks so much for your comment and pin :)
Ginnie says
Mmm … this looks so good! I love the addition of feta (my fave).
Andi says
Thanks, Ginnie! The feta adds a nice flavor, which I’m sure you can imagine since you are a fellow feta fan :) Thanks for stopping by!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Love spinach artichoke dip Andi! I’ve never add tomatoes to it though, but it is genius, especially with the fire roasted! YUM! Pinned. :)
Andi says
Thank you, Krista! I love just about any kind of dip, which might be obvious from looking at me ;)
Sarah & Arkadi says
this dip looks super hearty indeed!
Andi says
Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Oh my! This spinach dip looks so scrumptious. You definitely had me at hearty :).
Andi says
Thank you, Kathi! I can’t resist a dip, and this one didn’t disappoint. Thanks so much for your visit :)
Kelly says
This dip looks incredible Andi! We are big fans of spinach dip and I love how you kicked up the heat with all the extra add-ins and spices – it sounds really good!
Andi says
Thanks, Kelly! I added the Cajun seasoning because I was trying to replicate “Zesty” Italian dressing mix. It wasn’t spicy, but it did pep it up a bit :)