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Spicy Southwestern Spinach Dip – a spicy warm spinach dip packed with flavor. Serve with bread, chips or crackers. Easily mixed up ahead of time then baked when ready to serve.
This post makes me smile … because this spinach dip makes me happy.  This dip also makes other people happy, when I share it with them. Spicy, cheesy deliciousness is always a great choice for kicking back watching football, or the last few baseball games of the season, or watching somebody (I live with) do yard work.  You don’t need a special occasion to enjoy this crazy good dip, any day is fine.
In addition to cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and a few other ingredients, it has a whole box of spinach mixed in! Â Seriously good for you spinach – so this dip must be good for you, in some small way. Â Use whole grain chips to scoop it up and there’ll be no regrets!
I divided the dip into three small baking pans. Â Once I shot a few photos, Â I took one pan to my son’s house down the street. Â Even before I got home, two blocks away, I was getting text messages praising this as the best dip ever – super delicious, fantastic, etc. Â Silly kids, maybe they forgot I’ve made this spinach dip many times before. Â I’ve been making it for at least 20 years but perhaps I haven’t made it often enough!
This was one of the first recipes I posted on the blog almost 5 years ago. Â The photos were so awful I thought it was time to do an update. Â You’re now up to date!
Spicy Southwestern Spinach Dip
Ingredients
- 1 9 or 10 ounce Box of frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel Tomatoes (with green peppers), slightly drained (do not discard the liquid)
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese grated, divided
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes divided (optional - more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.
- Thaw the chopped spinach and place in a colander to drain. Gently press the spinach with the back of a spoon to remove the excess water.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, cilantro, onion, Rotel tomatoes, spinach, half the grated Monterey Jack cheese, and 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes. Mix on medium speed until combined. Add some of the reserved liquid from the tomatoes to thin if needed.
- Pour into a greased casserole dish or 9-inch pie plate. Top with remaining Jack cheese and red pepper flakes if using.
- Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and dip is bubbly.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Don’t forget your PIN!
We adore cheesy dips in our house so this gorgeous Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce is going on our table too!  Cheese and chips are always a great choice for an easy to share treat.
Here are a few more of our favorite appetizers you might like:
- Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins with Blue Cheese Dip
- Sweet Corn Salsa
- Southern-Style Pimento Cheese
- Mini Cheese Quiche Recipe
Have a terrific week and thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Mahima |
Tried this today! My family loved it!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Mahima! I ADORE this dip – really find it addictive. I still make it at every opportunity. Thanks again!
Susan
I’m so happy you posted this again since I didn’t know you and your blog then! Spinach dip is one of my favorite splurges and the flavors in this one are wonderful. So pretty in your All Clad bakers! I’ll be trying this at the first opportunity!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Susan – I am so glad we’re virtual friends now. I always feel good when I read your lovely posts and really enjoy the great recipes. I know you will love this – just look at the ingredients 🙂 Have a super weekend.
Kim
Can this recipe be made in a crock pot?
Tricia Buice
I haven’t tried it in a crockpot so I’m not sure. It won’t be golden brown on top but should still be tasty. We LOVE this dip and hope you do too.
Colette
I am getting ready to tailgate. I am going to make this in a cast iron skillet and cook it on the grill!! I bet the smokiness will make it even more delicious!!
Tricia Buice
That is brilliant Colette! I am so excited to hear how it turns out – hope you enjoy and I also hope your team wins 🙂 Thank you!
ZazaCook
Wahou! What a beautiful and delicious spinach dip!
Your photos are gorgeous!!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Zaza – thank you for stopping by!
Gerlinde/Sunnycovechef
Who doesn’t love spinach dip? I love to have some right now . I am also adding your recipe to my dip list.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Gerlinde – have a wonderful weekend!
Beth
Your dip sounds delicious. I should probably redo some of my early posts too!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Beth – the dip is wonderful! Hope you can give it a try sometime 🙂
Abbe @ This is How I Cook
I’m adding this to my dip list. I figure that if I’m drooling-just like that cheese sliding over the dish-well, that must be a sure sign that this is incredible!
Tricia Buice
You are going to love it Abbe. I could eat this everyday – love the spicy!
Kennedy Cole| KCole's Creative Corner
Just seeing all of that delicious cheese melting off the sides of that (gorgeous) pan, is making me want to dig right in! This, my friend, is comfort food at its finest! I love a good dip, and this one looks like a great one to try! Just let me wait until I can gather 10 other people together. That way, I don’t eat it all myself ;D
Tricia Buice
Leftover dip is a good thing and this is actually very good spooned on top of scrambled eggs for breakfast – or smeared on toast or eaten right out of the pan. Yummy stuff. Hope you make it soon and I hope you love it. Thanks for stopping by Kennedy!
Becky Green
OH MY!!!! This looks SO GOOD, Tricia!!!!! 😉 TOTALLY YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Becky – it is soooooo good! Have a great weekend
Monique
My family would love this.
I love your presentation in that beautiful All~ Clad.
Splenderoso:)
Tricia Buice
Thank you Monique – Hope you get the opportunity to make this dip soon – so yummy!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
It would have made me very happy too! Looks so very delicious and gorgeous presentation too.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Angie – hope you have a wonderful weekend! Happy baking!
Dom
love the silver dish!… not as much as the spinach dip, that’s a stunner!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Dom – we love these mini-casseroles. And we love this spinach dip! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
I missed this yesterday — it’s my kind of food! I think I might add some chicken to it to please my husband and serve it for dinner!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
LOVE your pan, by the way!
Tricia Buice
I love this little casseroles. They cook everything so well – and such a great size – especially for pictures 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
Tricia Buice
Chicken sounds like a great plan to turn this into a fantastic meal – I love the way you think!
2 Sisters Recipes by Anna and Liz
Sound cheesy delicious! We will have to put this on our list of things to make. Tricia, we need to update some photos from the very beginning of blogging as well. Thanks for the reminder! Love the serve dish you used- so darn pretty!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Anna – I don’t think you will regret making this dip – so good! Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!
Monica
There really is something magical about spinach dip, Tricia! Everyone loves it and if this is a recipe you’ve been making for 20 years, I seriously need to take a very close look. My fellas would love this while watching a game over the weekend. Plus, I love how you split it up into 3 pans and shared. That is very wise, and it certainly makes for some very happy recipients!
Tricia Buice
You are so right Monica – spinach dip is usually loved by one and all. I hope you will give it a try – this is really an outstanding recipe. I love to share – as I know you do too. If we lived closer I would share with you 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend. Rain is coming our way for a few days but I’m ready.
Chris Scheuer
Oh, I know we would love this. Looking at the ingredient list, what’s not to love? I’m pinning it for next time I’m looking for something scrumptious!!
Tricia Buice
It is a great all-around dip Chris – and I have served it many times – always a favorite. Just make sure to let it cool a bit before digging in – it is a hot one!