If you’ve ever fallen head over heels with Houston’s or Hillstone’s decadent, gooey, sinful spinach artichoke dip, this is bound to make your whole week. It has every ounce of creamy richness, melty cheese pull, and comforting restaurant flavor that we all want.
My favorite part is that it’s unbelievably easy to make ahead of time. If you’re the host for game night (or an introvert who just wants to stay warm and snuggly in the winter), you’ll bring everyone directly to the table with a smile with this dip.
Why You Will Love This Houstons Spinach Dip
This dip is so rich, creamy, and cheesy! You’ll find melty pockets of mozzarella and swiss that deliver all the warm cheese goodness you crave.
The spinach and artichoke are a tender, savory bite that compliment all the delicious cheesy goodness, and the seasoning provides just the right amount of kick!
This dip taste just like the restaurant classic you may know, which makes it all the more comforting and irresistible.
Ingredients Used in This Houstons Spinach Dip Recipe
Veggies & Base
- 16 oz frozen spinach, microwaved and squeezed dry
- 16 oz frozen artichoke hearts (not marinated), cooked and chopped
- 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
Cheese
- 8 oz Monterey Jack, shredded
- 8 oz mozzarella, shredded
- 6–8 oz Swiss cheese, shredded
- Parmesan, for topping
Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Essential Kitchen Equipment Required
- Cast-iron mini skillets or casserole dish
- Mixing bowls
- Microwave-safe bowls
- Skillet for onions
- Rubber spatula
- Baking sheet
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 7–15 minutes
How To Make Houstons Spinach Dip
1. Prepare the Spinach
Microwave the spinach for just about 4 minutes. Drain and squeeze out as much water as you can to keep the dip creamy instead of watery.
2. Sauté the Onion
In a skillet, melt the butter and sauté the sweet onion until tender and fragrant. Remove from the heat and stir in the spinach.
3. Shred Cheese
Shred Monterey Jack, mozzarella, and Swiss cheese. These cheeses yield the flavor most like the restaurant version.
4. Prepare the Seasoning
In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, cayenne, onion powder, and garlic powder.
5. Prepare the Artichoke
Microwave frozen artichoke hearts, drain very well, and chop into bite-size pieces.
6. Build the Dip Base
In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese with the seasoning. Then add the artichokes, chopped spinach, and onion mixture. Finally fold in all the shredded cheese until thoroughly combined.
7. Bake
Transfer the mixture to mini cast-iron skillets, or a casserole, and if desired, top with Parmesan cheese, and bake at 450°F. 7–10 minutes for small skillets, 15 minutes for a large casserole, Bake until hot, bubbly, and perfectly melty.
8. Serve Warm
Serve with tortilla chips or pita chips, pico de gallo or salsa, and, on the side, don’t forget the lemon wedges, just like in the video!
Notable Tips to Make This Houstons Spinach Dip Recipe Perfect
Here are some notable tips, that can help you to make this recipe perfect in the very first attempt. Check below
1. Squeeze the spinach really well. The dip will be creamy, not watery.
2. Use soft cream cheese. It mixes so much easier.
3. Chop the onions small so they melt into the dip.
4. Don’t skip sautéing the onions. It makes the dip sweeter and nicer.
5. Shred your own cheese. It melts better than bagged cheese.
6. Taste the mix before baking. Add a little salt if you need it.
7. Don’t use marinated artichokes. They make the dip too wet and sour.
8. Bake until the top gets bubbly. That’s when it’s perfect.
9. Let the dip rest for 2–3 minutes so it thickens a bit.
10. Serve it hot. This dip tastes the best when it’s warm and gooey.
Some Delicious Ways to Enjoy This Houstons Spinach Dip
Whether it’s a party, family function or you are enjoying this Houstons Spinach Dip at your home, the following serving ideas can make your meal more comfortable and delicious to enjoy.
1. Warm Tortilla Chips – Our go-to. Scoop it up while it’s still bubbling – it sticks perfectly to the chips.
2. Toasted Baguette Slices – When we’re hosting, this feels fancier and makes the dip stretch further.
3. Fresh Veggie Platter – Carrots, celery, and mini peppers add a nice crunchy contrast that balances the richness.
4. Loaded Baked Potatoes – We’ve spooned this dip into hot baked potatoes, and it turns into a full meal.
5. Quesadillas – Spread a thin layer inside a tortilla, pan-toast it, and it becomes insanely melty.
6. On Grilled Chicken – We’ve used this as a topping on plain grilled chicken, and it instantly upgrades it.
7. Pretzel Bites – The saltiness of the pretzels with the creamy dip is always a crowd favorite.
8. With Pita Chips – When we want something sturdier for scooping, pita chips never fail.
9. Alongside Chili or Soup – We serve this at game days with chili, and people always dip their bread into both.
10. As a Pizza Topping – Spread a thin layer on pizza dough with extra mozzarella – surprisingly delicious and totally worth trying.
How to Store and Reheat This Houstons Spinach Dip Properly
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. When reheating, warm in the oven at 350°F until hot and cheesy again. The microwave works too, but the oven brings back the best texture. If the dip thickens in the fridge, stir in 1–2 tablespoons of milk before reheating for extra creaminess.
FAQs on This Houstons Spinach Dip Recipe
Here, we’ve got you covered with some common questions about the Houstons Spinach Dip Recipe that people often ask.
1. Can I use fresh spinach instead of frozen?
Yes, absolutely. When we’ve used fresh spinach, we just sauté it down until all the moisture cooks off. You’ll need a lot more fresh spinach because it shrinks quite a bit.
2. Do I have to use the exact cheese blend?
Not really. We love the Monterey Jack–mozzarella–Swiss combo because it tastes closest to Houston’s, but you can swap in what you have. Just make sure at least one cheese melts really well.
3. How do I keep the dip from getting watery?
The trick is squeezing as much liquid as possible from the spinach and artichokes. We’ve found that excess moisture is the number one reason dips turn soupy.
4. Can I make this dip ahead of time?
Yes! We make it a day early all the time. Just assemble everything, keep it covered in the fridge, and bake it right before serving.
5. What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?
We usually pop it into a small oven-safe dish and heat it at 350°F until it’s melty again. The microwave works too, but the oven gives a nicer texture.
6. Can I freeze Houston’s spinach dip?
You can. We’ve frozen it both before baking and after. The texture stays surprisingly good, especially if you use full-fat cream cheese.
7. Can I make it less spicy?
Yes-just cut back on the cayenne pepper. We’ve done that for guests who prefer mild flavors and it still tastes great.
8. What do you serve with this dip?
We’ve tried everything: tortilla chips, pita chips, crackers, sliced baguette, even veggies. Honestly, it works with almost anything crunchy.
9. How do I get that restaurant-style browning on top?
A quick broil at the very end usually does the trick. Just watch it closely-this dip can brown fast.
10. Can I add extras like bacon or jalapeños?
Definitely. We’ve experimented with both and they taste amazing. Just keep the add-ins small so they don’t overpower the creamy base.
This duplicate recipe for Spinach Dip from Houston’s puts the restaurant magic right in your home with simple steps and big flavor! Perfect for game days, family gatherings, or any night that you crave something comforting and warm. I hope that you try it, enjoy it with your favorite people, and then tell me how it turns out-I love to hear your kitchen success stories!
houstons-spinach-dip-recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Microwave the spinach for just about 4 minutes. Drain and squeeze out as much water as you can to keep the dip creamy instead of watery.
- In a skillet, melt the butter and sauté the sweet onion until tender and fragrant. Remove from the heat and stir in the spinach.
- Shred Monterey Jack, mozzarella, and Swiss cheese. These cheeses yield the flavor most like the restaurant version.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, cayenne, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Microwave frozen artichoke hearts, drain very well, and chop into bite-size pieces.
- In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese with the seasoning. Then add the artichokes, chopped spinach, and onion mixture. Finally fold in all the shredded cheese until thoroughly combined. Bake until hot, bubbly, and perfectly melty.
- Transfer the mixture to mini cast-iron skillets, or a casserole, and if desired, top with Parmesan cheese, and bake at 450°F.7–10 minutes for small skillets 7–10 minutes for small skillets
- Serve with tortilla chips or pita chips, pico de gallo or salsa, and, on the side, don’t forget the lemon wedges, just like in the video!
Video
Notes
You can find more delicious options to try like Honeygrow Spicy Garlic Sauce Recipe and more.
Please drop a comment on the blog below with your thoughts-I can’t wait to hear how you enjoyed it.
Looks Delicious
Thanks
Creamy, flavorful, crowd-pleasing dip that tastes just like Houston’s classic.
Thanks