Get Cooking: Spinach, Crab, and Artichoke Dip
Well, the weather outside is still stuck in meh mode—cold, rainy, and basically refusing to let spring do its thing. The clouds are clearly living their best dramatic lives, blocking the sun like it's their full-time job. So, on gloomy days like this, I like to turn up the cozy factor with something warm, cheesy, and guaranteed to make everyone in the house happy.
Enter: my Spinach, Crab, and Artichoke Dip! 🧄🧀🦀
It’s creamy, dreamy, and downright addictive—especially when you scoop it up with toasted naan (yes, naan! Because why not be fabulous?). I used Beth Entertaining’s recipe as my inspo, but of course, I added a few jazzy twists of my own.
🛒 Shopping List Time!
Produce
1 bag of fresh spinach
1 - 2 garlic cloves - minced (I like mine with a bit more garlic so I use 2.)
1 lemon - for 1/4 teaspoon of zest and 1 teaspoon of juice (roughly half lemon juiced)
1/2 yellow onion - diced
1 shallot - diced
Dairy
1 - 2 tablespoon of butter
8oz. of cream cheese (1 box), softened
1 1/2 - 2 cups of Italian style/blend cheeses (I buy 2 bags of Italian Style cheese and that usually suffice)
Canned Goods
1 can of artichoke hearts
1 can of crab meat (OPTIONAL: you can use jumbo crab lumps if you’d like but I would only use half of the jumbo amount)
Condiments/Extras
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
Naan bread, tortillas, or bread of choice to eat with the dip!
Instructions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.Place 1 tablespoon of butter into a saute pan over medium heat. Once butter has melted, toss in the diced shallots and diced onions. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sautee for 3 minutes or until translucent.
3. Once onion and shallot mixture has sauteed, add in the bag of spinach. Mix them all together until the spinach wilted, over medium high for 2 -3 minutes. Tip: If it’s looking a little dry, go ahead and add that extra 1/2 tablespoon of butter—live your best buttery life. Then, let it cool slightly.Once done, move the pan to let spinach cool down.
4. In a mixing bowl, add softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, half of the Italian cheese blend, salt and pepper (to your taste - but for reference, I added 2 pinches of salt and 1 pinch of pepper). Using a wooden spoon is the best to mix all of these ingredients together. Mix thoroughly so it’s even distributed.
5. After evenly mixed, add the spinach mixture, the artichoke hearts and crab meat. Give the mixture another mix to ensure everything is evenly distributed again. TIP: I like to chop the artichoke hearts into bite-sized pieces—makes it easier for the kiddos (and adults who like snackable chunks). But hey, if you're a fan of big, dramatic artichoke moments, leave 'em larger!
6. Scoop that delicious mixture into a baking dish (I used a 10” round one—nice and cozy). Then sprinkle the rest of your Italian cheese on top like you're tucking it in with a warm, cheesy blanket. 🧀
7. Slide that beauty into the oven uncovered (we want the top golden and bubbly!) and bake for about 25–27 minutes. Depending on your oven’s personality, it might need a couple extra minutes. Just keep an eye on the cheese so it gets gooey—not crispy critter style.
8. While your dip is getting all melty and magical, chop up your naan bread into cute lil’ triangles. I give mine a quick pan-fry to get them perfectly toasted and dip-worthy. (You could totally skip this, but trust me—pan-fried naan hits different.)
9. And ta-da! Once it’s baked and bubbly, take that baby out and get ready to wow the crowd.
✨ Optional Fancy Touch: Sprinkle on some green onions or chopped parsley to make it look extra gourmet (and add a little pop of color).
And there you have it! A cozy, crave-worthy dip perfect for rainy days, game nights, or just because you deserve something delicious. Let me know if you give it a try—bonus points if you pair it with a glass of wine or your favorite fizzy drink. Cheers! 🥂💃
