Classic Knorr Spinach Dip Recipe (In a Bread Bowl)
Watch guests dive in when you bring this Knorr spinach dip recipe in a bread bowl to the table. It’s creamy, a little retro, and the kind of party dip everyone secretly hopes will show up.
Quick to make, fun to serve, and gone in a flash.
What to expect
This dip is all about big flavor with minimal effort. With just 5 simple ingredients – It’s creamy with plenty of texture, looks cool in a bread bowl, and can be made ahead so the flavors mingle even more.
The bread bowl isn’t just for show — it makes the perfect built-in serving dish and doubles as extra dippers once the dip starts disappearing.
The party-perfect spinach dip recipe makes enough for a crowd (16–20 servings), and if my experience is any guide, you won’t have leftovers for long.
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
- Spinach: I use frozen chopped spinach (a 10-ounce bag) for this recipe. Fresh spinach instructions are included in the recipe card if you prefer).
- Package of vegetable soup mix: If available, I use Knorr brand as it has a simple ingredient list and no artificial flavors. Other brands will work, although onion or leek versions will give a stronger onion taste.
- Sour cream: Full-fat will produce a richer dip. To lighten it up, use low-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
- Mayonnaise: Use full-fat or light mayonnaise both will work.
- Water chestnuts (optional): Adds wonderful crunch without altering flavors. They typically come in a can, peeled and sliced, in the canned vegetable section of your grocery store.
- Bread bowl (optional): This is a great serving option. Use a sturdy bread like pumpernickel bread or sourdough bread. Buy an unsliced round or oblong loaf of bread so you can hollow it out for the dip and use the bread pieces for dipping..
Variations
- Add lemon zest for brightness
- Stir in chopped artichoke hearts (tangy)
- Replace the water chestnuts with toasted chopped nuts for crunch
- Use spices for heat, such as hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or chili crisp
- Mix in fresh herbs like dill, basil or thyme for extra flavor (dried will work too)
- Make it cheesy: Stir in cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, or gruyere, especially in a warm, gooey version of this dip (see recipe card for instructions).
Step-by-step instructions
Bread bowl tips
- Make ahead: If cutting up the bread bowl and pieces ahead of time, seal them in an airtight bag to keep them fresh.
- For a fun presentation: Slice the sides of the bread bowl at 1-inch (2.5 cm) intervals before serving. Guest can tear off pieces once the dip is almost finished – no waste, not mess – and the cold dip won’t seep through the cracks.
Shortcut
Skip the bread bowl and serve the spinach dip with crackers or veggies. The prep time for the dip is only 10 minutes or so without the bread bowl.
What to serve with Knorr spinach dip recipe
I love serving the dip in a soft, fesh bread-bowl – the torn pieces make the best dippers. If you prefer us a regular bowl, here are some other great dipper options:
- Fresh vegetables: celery and carrot sticks, broccoli florets, red bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices
- Crunchy snacks: Crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, breadsticks, melba toast, puff pastry cheese twists.
- Bread: Homemade naan bread or a sturdy loaf cut in pieces
What to serve alongside the spinach dip? More appetizers of course!
- In keeping with a retro spread, consider baked brie with preserves and a classic shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce.
- To keep things vegetarian, check out our full list of vegetarian appetizers and serving tips.
- Or for a potluck, how about some easy potluck appetizers under 30 minutes?
Recipe FAQs
Yes, blanch fresh spinach in boiling water for 1-2 minutes or pop it in the microwave, covered, for a minute. Then, squeeze out excess moisture and chop the spinach before adding it to the dip.
Absolutely. Bake in an oven-safe dish at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes, or microwave in short bursts, stirring once or twice in between. Spoon into a bread bowl for serving if you like.
Yes, you can make a vegan or dairy-free version of Knorr spinach dip. Replace the sour cream and mayo with plant-based alternatives like vegan sour cream or dairy-free yogurt. Use a vegetable soup mix that is also vegan or dairy-free.
Knorr spinach dip is not gluten-free as the vegetable soup mix lists wheat on the package ingredients. Check labels carefully for soup mix ingredients.
More recipes with spinach
If you follow Two Kooks recipes, you will know that we add fresh baby spinach (or frozen) to a LOT of dishes for extra nutrition and color! Here are a few favorites:
Please leave a 5-star rating ***** with a comment in the recipe card below if you like the recipe. Thank you so much!
Knorr Spinach Dip (In a Bread Bowl)
Ingredients
- 10 ounces frozen spinach, Note 1
- 2 cups sour cream, Note 2
- 1 cup mayonnaise (full fat or light)
- 1 package Knorr vegetable soup mix, Note 3
- 8 ounces sliced water chestnuts in a can (one can)
- 3 green onions, chopped (optional)
Bread bowl (optional)
- 1 unsliced pumpernickel or sourdough bread, round or oblong. about 8 inches/20 cm diameter
Instructions
- PREPARE SPINACH: Microwave frozen spinach, covered, for 3 minutes to blanch it. Drain in a mesh sieve, pressing out water with a spoon. Then put in paper towels or a tea towel and squeeze further. Remove as much excess water as possible.
- MIX SPINACH DIP: Place spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, vegetable soup mix, water chestnuts and green onions (if using) into a large bowl and mix well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 2 hours (or more).
- MAKE BREAD BOWL (OPTIONAL): Slice top off bread, leaving base of bread at least 2 inches (5 cm) high. Slice around the bowl 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) from edge. DON'T slice through bottom of base. Using your fingers, lift off the inside of bread, ending up with a bread 'bowl'. Cut bread, including top into bread cubes for dipping. Note 4.
Recipe Notes
- To use fresh spinach, blanch 1 1/2 pound of fresh spinach in boiling water for 1-2 minutes or pop it in the microwave, covered, for a minute. Then squeeze out any moisture (well!) and chop the spinach before adding it to the dip.
- Sour cream alternatives: Use full fat (richer taste) or, for a lighter version, use light sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
- Vegetable soup mix: Use a packet of Knorr or another brand. You can also try leek or onion soup mix, but the dip will taste more like an onion dip.
- Bread bowl tips:
- Freshness: Keep the empty bread bowl and cut up bread pieces in a sealed bag to keep them fresh if cutting it up ahead of time. This will keep it fresh.
- Fun presentation: Slice the sides of the bread bowl at 1-inch (2.5 cm) intervals for guests to rip off when the dip is almost finished. Don’t worry – the cold dip won’t seep through the cracks.
- Variations:
- For a vegan or dairy-free version: Replace the sour cream and mayo with plant-based alternatives like vegan sour cream or dairy-free yogurt. Use a vegetable soup mix that is also vegan.
- For a warm spinach dip: Transfer dip (without bread) to a baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes or until it’s heated through. Alternatively, heat in microwave for a minute or two, stirring in between. Spoon into a bread bowl if using.
- Add-in options:
- lemon zest
- chopped artichoke hearts (tangy)
- toasted nuts – these can replace the water chestnuts for crunch
- spices for heat – hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or chili crisp
- fresh or dried herbs like dill, basil or thyme
- cheeses – cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, gruyere – use if making a warm dip version.
- Shortcut: Skip the bread bowl and serve dip with crackers, naan, cheese twists, or fresh vegetables.
- Make-ahead: It is best to make the Knorr spinach dip at least 2 hours ahead to allow the flavors and dry package soup mix to blend. If making a day or two ahead, don’t put it in a bread bowl (if using) until serving time or an hour before. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not freeze.
