Behold the power of Spinach Artichoke Dip: Even people who normally won’t go near spinach OR artichokes will gobble up heaping chip-fuls of the cheesy, gooey condiment. (It is a condiment, right? We’ll go with that.) It’s the failsafe when you want to bring something to a party, but you don’t want to be the “I love Diet Coke so here’s a 2-liter of Diet Coke” girl or the “Umm, I got some half-eaten Doritos” guy. (Though both have their necessary place at any party. Parties NEED Diet Coke and Doritos. Maybe not the half-consumed kind, but still.)
Plus, it’s an easy way to inch yourself from Pop Tart-burning novice to I-can-cook-anything gourmand. The end result seems labor-intensive, but it’s really a classic “Dump & Stir,” as the TV chefs call it: You mix all the ingredients together, pop it in the oven, and make everyone within a half-mile radius jealous of that cheesy goodness wafting through the air.
Oh, did I mention it takes 20 minutes to make? When it’s this easy to make, you might have to institute a rule to keep cream cheese out of your apartment, because otherwise you might start making this every day. The Truffle Shuffle isn’t cute when you’re older than 14.
Note: Recipe adapted from Collegecandy.com
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) reduced fat cream cheese
- ½ package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 can (14 ounces) quartered artichoke hearts, drained
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Oven Method: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In an oven-safe dish (1.5 quarts or 8"x8" works well), combine all ingredients except ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Stir thoroughly.
- Cook in oven for 12 minutes. Carefully take it out using oven mitts, stir, and sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Turn oven to broil and cook for 4 minutes, or until cheese has melted and is lightly browned. Let cool 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Microwave Method: In a microwave-safe dish, combine all ingredients except ¼ cup parmesan cheese, stirring thoroughly. Heat for 4 minutes, stir, then heat for another 4 minutes.
- Stir in parmesan cheese and cook for 2-3 more minutes, or until the cheeses are mostly melted. (Sadly, this version will not create a browned, cheesy crust, but it's just as tasty.)
More Great Party Foods:
- Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Food Hack: The Easiest Bruschetta We’ve Ever Made (And So Good!)
- S’mores Campfire Cookies
[…] Spinach Artichoke Dip […]