If you like spinach dip, you’re going to love this cheesy bacon spinach dip. Studded with bacon and lots of melty cheese, it’s the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer!
If there’s spinach dip on a restaurant menu, you better believe I’m ordering it. There is no better appetizer than a ramekin full of creamy, lava-hot dip, studded with just enough vegetables to make me believe it has nutritional value.
And, as we all know, there are a few surefire ways to improve upon things that are already delicious: add cheese and/or add bacon. It works every time. So that’s what I’ve done here.
I firmly believe this cheesy bacon spinach dip will become one of those recipes everyone asks you to make. You may even grow to resent me for it after you’ve been asked, “Can you bring that dip?” one too many times. But after one bite, I’m confident all will be forgiven, because it’s just that good.
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Ingredients
I’m sure you can anticipate most of the ingredients this dip calls for. It’s deceptively simple for how incredibly tasty it is. To make it, you’ll need…
- Bacon! I prefer a low-sodium, thick cut variety for optimal texture and flavor.
- Cream cheese. Full-fat, please. Now is not the time for Neufchâtel.
- Sour cream. Again, just go for the full fat. This is not meant to be health food.
- Shredded cheese. This recipe is good with just about any cheese, but whatever you choose, I urge you to buy a block and shred it yourself to avoid the anti-caking agents found in bagged, pre-shredded cheese. I know it’s dreadfully annoying (in fact, it’s my least favorite kitchen task), but you will be rewarded in full with a supremely melty dip.
- Frozen chopped spinach. One standard-sized package will do. I prefer using frozen spinach for this dip because it’s much easier than chopping, cooking and cooling my own.
- Chives and garlic. For extra flavor!
- Your dipping agents of choice. This dip could reasonably be eaten straight off a spoon, so any dipping vessel is welcome. Crackers, sliced baguette, or veggies are all worthy contenders.
Instructions
You’re not gonna believe how easy it is to make this cheesy bacon spinach dip. Here’s what you’ll do:
- Cook the bacon. You know how to do this, right? Crumble it up and set it aside.
- Whisk your softened cream cheese in a medium bowl just to loosen it up. Then add all the other ingredients, reserving a small amount of cheese for topping, and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Scoop the dip into a small, greased baking dish and top it with that extra cheese. Bake it for about 20 minutes until it’s nice and melty and bubbly.
- That’s it! Keep it warm until serving or eat it right away.
Substitutions and Variations
You can use any cheese you’d like for this. I used a combination of white cheddar, Gruyère and Parmesan, but it’s really a choose-your-own-cheese-adventure type of situation.
You can try subbing full-fat Greek yogurt for the sour cream, though I haven’t tried it and therefore can’t fully attest to whether it would work.
I don’t recommend using fresh spinach in place of frozen spinach, simply because you’d have to chop it, cook it, cool it and then squeeze out all the moisture. If you’re okay with that amount of work, go for it! But frozen spinach cuts out many of those steps.
Expert Tips
If there’s one place this dip can go wrong, it’s the spinach. Frozen spinach, while easier than fresh, contains a lot of excess water that can make your dip watery. Once your spinach is thawed, place it in a fine mesh sieve and squeeze the life out of it until almost no water comes out. I mean, really squeeze it. We want our dip to be creamy and rich, not thin and watery!
Equipment Needed
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
To make this dip ahead, mix together all the ingredients as usual and place in the baking dish. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator up to a day in advance. When ready to bake, top with extra cheese and place in the preheated oven.
While it’s best enjoyed fresh, this dip reheats extremely well! Warm leftovers in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it’s bubbly and melty again.
FAQs
When working with frozen spinach, it’s important to squeeze out alllllll the excess water before combining it with other ingredients. Make sure you’re really wringing out your spinach before adding it to the dip to create a final product that’s creamy rather than watery!
More universally loved appetizer recipes:
Whipped Feta and Sundried Tomato Dip
Easy Homemade Hummus
Potato, Bacon and Caramelized Onion Galette
Did you make this recipe? If you loved it, please leave a ⭐5-star rating⭐ and/or leave a comment below the recipe card! And don’t forget to share a photo and tag me on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok — I love seeing you recreate my recipes.
PrintCheesy Bacon Spinach Dip
If you like spinach dip, you’re going to love this version studded with bacon and lots of melty cheese. It’s the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for any party!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8–12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (I used a combination of mozzarella, Gruyère and Parmesan—I recommend using some mozzarella for the perfect cheese pull)
- 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove all the water
- ½ cup chopped chives
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Crackers, vegetables or baguette slices, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 2-cup baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy and golden-brown. Remove to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Crumble into small pieces and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the sour cream, 1 ¼ cup shredded cheese, thoroughly drained spinach, crumbled bacon, chives and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to the greased baking dish and top with the remaining ¼ cup cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Serve hot with crackers, veggies and/or baguette slices for dipping.
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