Creamy Stovetop Spinach Dip (No Bake, Quick & Easy)
This Stovetop Spinach Dip recipe is a reader favorite since 2009. It’s so delicious for so many reasons and best of all, it takes less than 20 minutes to make! But it depends how fast you cut your onions. If you’re speedy, then this dip will only take about 15 minutes.
Video: Hot Stovetop Spinach Dip Recipe
Stovetop Spinach Dip Recipe
I’m admitting that I have an eating issue when it comes to anything warm, rich, cheesy and gooey. Add a bold red glass of wine and a crusty baguette, I’ll inhale a big bowl of any cheese dip that was accidentally left in front of me.
It’s not often that I make my appetizer dips outside of the oven. But when my brother #2, who also happens to be my #1 dip fan, made one of my appetizer dips on the stove op, I screamed out loud in dip mutiny. How could he rip apart my recipe and cook it in 15 minutes in a FRYING PAN?! I’ve always nurtured all my dips in the oven for about one hour and patiently waited out the long bake time. I never, ever considered changing my cooking technique. Why mess with perfection?
“It’s good, try it,” he told me. Brother #2 has always been a quiet, gentle guy of few words. So when he made the effort to share his ideas, it was powerful enough to convince me to pull out my cast iron pan, think out side of the oven and give my warm spinach dip a try via the stove top.
Quick and Easy Spinach Dip in less than 20 Minutes
Lo and behold, he was right on the money. I made my stovetop spinach dip in a frying pan and within 10 minutes I had a rich, cheesy, beautifully melted and flavored dip that rivaled the 60 long minutes of oven cooking. I couldn’t believe how fast, and well combined all the ingredients came together in the frying pan. The flavors of this spinach dip were actually BETTER in this stove top method because I was able to caramelize the onions and garlic until they became fragrant. The oven version never had that same caramelized epiphany.
I’m completely hooked to my brothers fast technique on this stovetop spinach dip and am thankful for his bachelor style cooking methods. But I blame him for making me eat this spinach dip more often because it’s so EASY! Thanks Bro! – Diane
Stovetop Spinach Dip Recipe in 20 Minutes (or Baked)
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion , minced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced or crushed (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 8 oz. (227 g) canned water chestnuts , drained & chopped
- 10 oz. (284 g) package frozen chopped spinach , thawed & squeezed dry of excess water
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) fresh cracked black pepper , or to taste
- 8 oz. (227 g) cream cheese
- 1/4 cup (56 g) mayonnaise
- 1 cup (100 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese , or more for a broiled top
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
- chips, crackers, or vegetables for dipping
Instructions
- Chop onions, garlic and canned water chestnuts. Set aside.
- Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2 Tablespoons oil. When oil is hot, add the minced onions and garlic. Cook the onions and garlic, stirring frequently, until they are light brown but not burnt, about 2 minutes. If you're using garlic powder, add it after the onions are browned.
- Add chopped water chestnuts, spinach, 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes until ingredients are combined well.
- Add 8 oz. cream cheese, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup of milk. When cream cheese begins to melt, turn heat to low.
- Slowly stir and simmer ingredients until all cheese is completely melted and dip becomes creamy and well combined. Cook for about another 2-3 minutes to blend flavors together.
- At this point you can serve warm and enjoy. Serve immediately when it's warm with bread, crackers or tortilla chips.But if you want a crispy cheese crust, then continue to next steps in recipe.
- Add about 1/2 cup cheese over the dip.
- Broil or bake at 500°F/260°C for about 5 minutes or until cheese melts and creates a crust.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving.
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
More Easy Dip Recipes:
If you enjoy this hot spinach dip recipe, then here’s more appetizers to devour. Here’s our artichoke spinach dip if you prefer artichokes over water chestnuts.
- kiwi margarita pairs great with this dip
- spinach bacon salad is a fantastic high protein salad that’s low carb and keto friendly.
- This is for corn lovers: stovetop fresh corn dip with cheese
- try our stove top crab dip
- tuna spinach bruschetta
- creamy avocado dip
- this recipe was originally published in 2009 and it’s an oldie but goodie.
This was a really awesome dip. I also loved how easy this was to make.
Great recipe. Quick and easy. Have used fresh spinach when I make it (chop before adding to pan and give 5 mins extra to boil down/soften) and have added sliced almonds instead of chestnuts too. A handful of grated cheese increases the gooeyness.