Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip in a Bread Bowl

Name: Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip in a Bread Bowl
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 Ounces Cream Cheese - softened to room temperature; 8 Ounces Parmesan - finely grated; 10 Ounce Frozen Spinach - thawed, drained, and all water squeezed out; 14.5 Ounce Can Artichoke Hearts - drained & chopped; 1/2 Cup Sour Cream; 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise; 1 Teaspoon White Pepper; 1/2 Teaspoon Salt; 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder; 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1/4 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes; 1 King's Hawaiian Bread Bowl

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This creamy spinach and artichoke dip is a classic Southern appetizer that can be made in just 10 minutes. Served cold in a Hawaiian bread bowl, this dip is perfect for any occasion. The combination of creamy spinach and tangy artichokes makes for a delicious and indulgent dip that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

I guarantee you there are others like my husband and I that could just make a meal out of dips and spreads. Who needs a full dinner when you can dunk a warm pretzel bite into Kentucky beer cheese? Or scoop out a serving of creamy whipped feta drizzled with honey on crusty bread. Or what about a classic like a pimento cheese?! Give them all to me - bless it!

OK, maybe you should serve some protein with this, but goodness, you never can go wrong with a cheesy dip of any kind!

The next time you are having friends over, going to a party, or heck, need a 10-minute dinner (just kidding 😉 ), this creamy spinach and artichoke dip should be your go-to back-pocket recipe!

Creamy spinach and artichoke dip inside a bread bowl with cubed bread around it and plates behind.

Loaded with cream cheese and parmesan, and the convenience of frozen spinach (no cooking down 10000 pounds of fresh spinach here!) and canned artichoke hearts, plus the kick of some spices to round everything out - this spinach artichoke dip is served cold and can be made in just 10 minutes. Plus IMO the real star of the show is what it is served in. A King's Hawaiian bread bowl! What is better than being able to eat the serving vessel and all?!

You and your guest will love this cold dip recipe and it won't last very long. Let me show you just how to make!

A hand scooping out some spinach dip on a bread cube.

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Ingredients Needed
How to Prepare the Bread Bowl
Step by Step of How to Make
Frequently Asked Questions
Recipe

Ingredients Needed

6 ingredients plus some spices and the bread bowl are all that is needed. The prep and quality are important for ensuring the best outcome and flavor, so be sure not to skip out on anything.

Cream Cheese - lay out your cream cheese about 30 minutes before making this recipe so that it softens a little making it easier to mix.
Parmesan - I highly recommend buying a block of parmesan and grating it on a fine grater yourself. It will result in a better flavor and texture of dip than buying a bagged pre-shredded kind.
Frozen Spinach - no cooking down 10 bags of fresh spinach here for this recipe! We are leaning toward convenience on this one. You will just need 1 box of frozen spinach. Be sure to thaw BEFORE you make the recipe according to the package directions (I like to lay mine out on a plate in the fridge the night before I plan to make it). You will also need to drain and remove all the excess water really well!
Canned or Jarred Artichoke Hearts -like the spinach, convenience, and ease win here! Purchase jarred or canned artichoke hearts. Drain in a colander and roughly chop to make smaller bite-size pieces.
Sour Cream - I recommend using a high-quality brand like Daisy for this recipe to give it a more rich and full flavor. Use full fat as well.
Mayonnaise - Just like the sour cream, use a high-quality mayo like Duke's for the best flavor.
Spices - white pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper - a combo of all of these will round out the flavor of this dip and give it a little something special...especially the white pepper.
King's Hawaiian Bread Bowl - the star of the show! These are usually found in the bakery section of your grocery store, along with the other King's Hawaiian bread options. See the pictures below for how I cut the bread bowl for this dip.

King's Hawaiian bread round, sour cream, cream cheese, parmesan, mayo, spinach, canned artichoke hearts and chopped frozen spinach on a white table.

Pro tip for removing moisture from spinach: use a cheesecloth, paper towels, or your hands - gather the thawed spinach together and squeeze in a tight ball until no more water remains. You do not want any excess moisture in the spinach.

How to Prepare the Bread Bowl

The best part of this recipe is that you can eat it all - the serving bowl AND the dip - yes, please! Cutting the bread bowl is easy to do and there are no real rules to it, let me show you how I like to prepare in 3 easy steps.

FIRST - Remove the bread bowl from the pan. With a serrated knife, cut about an inch inside the edge and about an inch deep into the bowl.

SECOND - Run the knife towards the middle of the bowl and then gently lift the top off the bread creating a "bowl". Cut more of the middle out creating a large bowl and hollow centered without cutting into the bottom or sides.

THIRD - Cube the middle into bite-size chunks that will be used to serve the dip on. Spoon the dip inside the bowl. Serve with a cheese knife so that your guest can scoop out some onto the bread cubes to enjoy.

A round bread loaf on a cutting board with a knife and empty bowl beside it. — Remove the bread round onto a cutting board.

Cutting out the middle of a round bread loaf to create a serving bowl for a dip. — With a serrated knife, gently cut in about an inch from the edge and an inch down. Remove the top creating a rough bowl shape.

Cubing up bread pieces on a cutting board. — Cut the top into cubes and set aside in a bowl for later.

A hollowed out bread round making a bowl for a dip and the insides cut into cubes for dipping. — Cut deeper into the bread round to create more of a deep bowl shape. Cube up any of the inside bread and set aside along with the other cubes for serving later.

Spinach dip inside a bread bowl. — Spoon the spinach and artichoke dip insdie the bread bowl and spread out evenly.

Step by Step of How to Make

In a large bowl, add the softened cream cheese and grated parmesan along with the thawed and drained spinach, drained and chopped artichoke hearts, and the rest of the ingredients.
Stir until the dip is completely smooth and everything is completely mixed.
Spoon the dip inside the bread bowl and spread out evenly across. Place on a serving platter with the inside bread cubes around it.
To serve, spoon some of the dip onto the bread cubes and enjoy!

Ingredients for spinach and artichoke dip in a bowl before mixing it all together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Fresh Spinach?

This recipe calls for frozen spinach. You technically could use fresh but you would need at least 4+ bags of fresh and to cook it down to achieve the same amount in a frozen spinach box.
Using frozen spinach saves you time and effort. Just thaw according to the package directions (I like to place mine on a plate in the fridge overnight before making the dip) and squeeze all the excess moisture out with your hands. There is no cooking time required for this recipe making it quick and easy.

Can I Freeze?

Cold spinach and artichoke dip unfortunately does not freeze well. This is best made and served fresh.

How to Store Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the bread bowl, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge for 1-2 days. If any extra bread cubes are remaining, store in a zip-top bag to preserve the freshness.

How to Make Ahead of Time

To prepare ahead of time, make the dip completely but store in an airtight container up to 24 hours before serving (do not put in bread bowl yet - wait until right before serving for best results and freshness). When you are ready to serve, prepare the bread bowl and spoon the dip inside right before needed.

Can You Use This Without a Bread Bowl?

Absolutely! If you cannot find a King's Hawaiian bread round, you can serve in a regular bowl. Cube up regular King's Hawaiian Rolls to serve alongside, or serve with crackers, pretzel things, french bread, or fresh veggies.

Spinach and artichoke dip inside a bread bowl on a green table. Bread cubes with dip on it on a plate beside it.

Recipe