Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

Well it's been decided and the big game is just a week away! So of course instead of football I'm thinking about the appetizers I'll be serving during the game. You can all see that I have my priorities in order, clearly. This hot spinach and artichoke dip recipe is a must try!

Plus, because there's spinach and artichokes in it so I can call it healthy, right? TOTALLY. If you're looking for a great dip with tons of flavor then this is the one for you! Your guests will be raving about it long after the game has been played. It's become a frequent ask by our friends, and we're always happy to oblige because it's so quick and easy. And delicious. Bonus points for using simple ingredients that I pretty much always have around the house!

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained well*) OR 10 ounces fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan, plus more for topping
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• dash of cayenne pepper, or more to taste
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Directions:

1. In a large skillet heat butter on medium high. Once melted add minced garlic and cook 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
2. Add spinach to the pan and toss a bit to let the garlic and butter soak in. Remove spinach and garlic from the pan but leave the liquid/butter mixture. Set spinach aside in a large bowl.
3. Add artichokes in the liquid/butter mixture and heat for 1-2 minutes. Remove artichokes and place them in the bowl with the spinach.
4. Add cream cheese to the pan and stir continuously until cream cheese is melted and creamy. Add shredded Parmesan and cayenne pepper, stir. Cook until Parmesan is fully melted then pour over spinach and artichokes.
5. Stir to combine then add sour cream and mayo to the mix. Spread batter into a 9×9 baking dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes, until top is slightly browned and bubbling.
6. Serve hot with crackers, bread, or chips!

* Tip: Grab 2-3 paper towels and layer them on top of one another. Put the thawed frozen spinach on top of the paper towels and squeeze very well to drain the spinach completely. Alternately, just use a salad spinner with small slats.

This cooks up totally dippable with a warm, gooey texture that works equally well with tortilla chips, crackers or even pita. It gets extra super MEGA bonus points for being easy to serve to a crowd and take along to a party. Just cook it in advance, carry it in a tote bag and pop it in the oven or the microwave to heat it up real quick on-site. If you have one of those warmer bags, it actually holds its heat pretty well for a fair amount of time. When I'm taking this to go, I cook it in one of my Pyrex glass baking dishes that come with a lid.

This one's a touchdown ALL the way!

What's your favorite game day appetizer?