Creamy Cheddar’s Spinach Dip Recipe: Perfect Party Appetizer

Appetizers don’t get better than spinach dip. It’s just so flavorful, smooth, and creamy that you always find yourself craving more. A crowd-pleaser, our copycat Cheddar’s spinach dip recipe couldn’t be easier. All you need is a few basic ingredients and only half an hour of prep time. Just like their cheese casserole, Cheddar’s spinach dip recipe is a favorite of ours.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Tips
• Cheddar’s Spinach Dip Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

• Spinach — 1 package, 10 oz.
• Cream cheese — 1 package, 8 oz.
• Half-and-half — 1 cup.
• Monterey Jack cheese — 1 ½ cups.
• Salt and pepper — to taste.
• Garlic — 2 tsp., minced.
• Onion — ¼ cup, finely diced.
• Jalapeno pepper — 1 pc., chopped.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Add half-and-half and cream cheese in a bowl. Mix well until combined.

3. Add salt, pepper, Monterey Jack cheese, garlic, onion, and jalapeno.

4. Stir well, and then add the chopped spinach.

5. Cover and cool for an hour.

6. Transfer the mixture to a baking pan and bake for 30 minutes. The top should be bubbly.

Substitutions

• Half-and-half — Just like the original, our copycat Cheddar’s spinach dip recipe calls for half-and-half. It provides a rich flavor, with a creamy texture. Still, there are other alternatives, namely whole milk and heavy cream. The former has a noticeably lower fat content, but it’d still do the job. The latter, however, provides an even richer flavor and a creamier texture. Greek yogurt could be considered as well if you’re bold enough, but you’ll be losing some flavor.

• Monterey Jack cheese — A Cheddar’s spinach dip is incomplete without cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese is one of the best. It’s sweet but it doesn’t overpower your dish. You could also use parmesan or cheddar cheese, as both have mild flavors and melt nicely. Gouda cheese is another alternative, and its nutty flavor can provide some extra flair and taste.

• Cream cheese — This is the ingredient. If you must substitute, Greek yogurt could be your savior. It has a thick and creamy texture, with a tangy flavor. Mayo is another alternative, the same as sour cream.

• Jalapeno pepper — Jalapeno pepper is great overall. It brings a good amount of heat, with a rich flavor and taste. And we should probably mention that they’re kind of rich when it comes to their nutritional value. But, there are other viable options. Bell peppers still pack a good amount of flavor, though they are not as spicy as jalapenos. Chili flakes will be fine as well, though you should probably lower the amount used, as they pack a lot of spice.

Variations

• Richer — If you feel like this spinach dip could do with a few more ingredients, then we strongly recommend adding some herbs and spices to the mix. While basil and parsley will not disappoint, you could try cayenne pepper and chili powder. However, beware that when combined with the jalapeno pepper, it might result in too much heat!
  
  Some diced fruit won’t hurt as well, with apples and pears being the ideal choices. The same also goes for vegetables. Trying adding some chopped mushrooms.

Equipment

• Measuring spoons and cups.

• Mixing bowl.

• Baking pan.

• Oven.

Storage

• You can store the spinach dip in an airtight container in the fridge, for between 3 and 5 days. 

• If you want to freeze it, it can hold for 3-4 months in an airtight container.

Tips

• Drain — Make sure to drain the excess liquid from your dip before serving, especially if it has been stored in the fridge or freezer.

• Serving — A good dip should be served properly. While sour cream (if you hadn’t used it already as a substitution for cream cheese) pairs great with spinach dip, you might also want to consider crackers, chips, quesadillas, and pretzels.