Easy Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread is your favorite cheesy dip (with three cheeses!) baked right into the loaf! Crazy delicious side or easy crowd pleasing appetizer!
With Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and football games galore, I’ve had party food on the brain – hence recent Mexican party food: Cheesy Chili Taco Dip, Asian party food: Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls, French party food: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches – and now all American party food – Easy Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread!
I was watching a Facebook video where breakfast bread boats are made by hollowing out the bread, filling it with a whisked egg/cheese mixture then baking it. I loved this idea and was obsessing over what else would be completely delectable baked into a a warm French bread cocoon – something that belongs with bread, is eaten with bread, is better with bread – Spinach Dip!
Spinach dip has been an American favorite appetizer since the 1950’s, back when Lipton published the recipe on the back of their vegetable soup mix. History in the making. Today, spinach dip is as delicious as ever – and more delicious with the dimensional flavor of three different cheeses and even more delicious when creamy and warm nestled in warm French bread. And even more delicious when your realize just how easy it is to make!
You can wow your guests simply by hollowing out about 2 inches to create a French Bread “bread bowl…”
Mixing together spinach, sauteed onion, bell peppers, garlic, pesto and a splash of paprika that you creamify by stirring in sour cream, mayonnaise and cream cheese. And then comes glorious Parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar cheese…
Spoon spinach dip into you French bread bowl…
And blanket with mozzarella cheese…
And bake until the cheeses are golden and bubbly…
Happy dance commence.
Or I should say party dance commence because its all about the party. And this Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread will be the life of the party. Or just the reason to party – should you need one.
| Prep Time | 8 minutes |
| Cook Time | 35 minutes |
| Servings | servings |
- 1 loaf French bread
- 1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained/patted dry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons prepared pesto (I use Basil pesto from Costco)
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use reduced-fat)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened (I use 1/3 less fat)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (I use reduced-fat)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Slice about 2 inches deep through the top of the bread, and continue to cut a large rectangle. Remove top of bread and hollow out 2 inches deep to create a shallow rectangular bread bowl. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions and sauté for approximately 5 minutes or until soft. Add red bell pepper and garlic and sauté for one minute.
- Stir in spinach, pesto, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, pepper and mayonnaise until well combined and spinach is warmed through. Reduce heat to low and stir in cream cheese until melted. Stir in sour cream, Parmesan cheese and cheddar cheese until combined.
- Spoon spinach dip into prepared French bread and top with 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake on a baking tray at 350 F degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Let bread sit approximately 5 minutes to cool (just so you don't burn yourself) then slice. Best served warm
You can prepare spinach dip in advance and store in the refrigerator separate from bread. When ready to bake, heat dip in microwave until warm then spoon into French bread and bake as directed.
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Homemade Cheesy Chili Taco Dip
Pretzel Bites With Cheesy Jalapeno Ranch Dip
Easy Garlic Parmesan Butter Breadsticks
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Hi Jen! I actually have everything on hand to make this – just picked up a jar of basil pesto the other day to use on an escargot dish I’m making for Christmas Eve! My husband is in the kitchen as I type making French baguettes! YAY! 🙂
Awesome Dorothy! I am so excited you are making this! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Happy dance indeed, this looks heavenly. I can almost smell it! Merry Christmas to you and yours Jen. 🙂
Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread
Let bread sit approximately minutes to cool then slice. How many minutes???
You just need it cool enough so you don’t burn yourself 🙂 I would say 5 minutes
Happy New Year, Jen!
This was really yummy! I didn’t have sour cream, so used plain yogurt, and it was a hit in our house!
I can’t wait to make it again!
Happy New Year Keiko! I’m so happy you made this and want to make it again 🙂 Thanks so much for your Christmas Card – your family is adorable! xo
Hi Jen!
I just had to comment. I’ve had this page sitting in an open tab on my computer for about a week. Your photos caught my eye and my stomach has been growling ever since. Today was finally the day I went out to purchase all the ingredients I’ll need to make this wonderous recipe and I think tomorrow will be the day. I’m extremely excited. Of course, I’ll write a post about my experiences and I’ll also come back here to let you know what happened. Looking forward to it.
Jay
Hi Jay! I am so excited for you to make this Stuffed French Bread- and hopefully you have by now and hopefully it lived up to the week open page hype 🙂
Oh yum! Definitely going to have to try this after my diet is over haha! Thanks for sharing 🙂
hahaha – yes not a diet food – but a reward you for your diet food 🙂 Thanks Sara!
Do you think I could leave the pesto out or substitute it with anything else? I like pesto but I don’t normally keep it stocked because I don’t use it that much, so I don’t know if I want to buy it for only two tablespoons if not absolutely necessary.
Hi Leanne, I would add some extra garlic powder, dry basil and parsley to make up for the pest – that should do the trick! ENjoy!
Oh my sweet deliciousness ❤️ Made this tonight and it was soooooooo yummy!!!!!
I’ve made several of your recipes and every single one has been a hit!!!!
Hi Stephanie, sorry for my delayed response as I am just getting back from Lake Powell without any service but I LOVED coming home to your comment! I am thrilled this was a hit and I especially love hearing you have enjoyed several of my recipes – yay! Thank you!