Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor. 

This warm, creamy, cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip is easy, make ahead, bursting with fiestalicious spices and quite possibly the BEST Spinach Dip ever!  AKA your new back pocket crowd pleasing appetizer for every occasion!

Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip with chip


 

Don’t you just looooove Spinach Dip?  Its creamy, cheesy, comforting and just plain addictingly delicious.  I love it so much I’ve already made a Brie Spinach Dip, a Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread, Spinach Artichoke Dip and now this Mexican Spinach Dip!

Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip in cast iron skillet.

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 deliciously popular as ever – but even more delicious with this festive Mexican twist with multidimensional flavors!   Bring this Mexican Spinach Dip to Thanksgiving, Christmas, your holiday parties, game day, etc. and it will be the hit of the night and so crazy good you will be craving it long after the last chipful.

Mixing ingredients for Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip.

This Mexican Spinach Dip was born out of an experiment.  I was making Spinach Dip for a baby shower (along with my Key Lime Cheesecake Dip, Mini Strawberry Pies and Whipped Roasted Red Pepper Feta Dip) and although it was good, I thought it was somewhat predictable.  Been there, tasted that.  I wanted to put a fresh twist on Spinach Dip so I added some black beans, Rotel tomatoes, red bell peppers, handpicked Mexican seasonings, Pepper Jack cheese and this glorious Mexican Spinach Dip was born. Can we say flavor?!  This Mexican Spinach Dip tastes wonderfully fiestalicious without being too spicy for all your guests.  If you want to kick it up, then feel free to add hot sauce to taste.

Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip with avocado.

What I love almost as much as the taste of these cheesilicious Mexican Spinach Dip, is that it is a stress free, make ahead appetizer.  You can prep the entire appetizer up to the point of baking and then stick in the fridge until it’s party time. Or fiesta time.  If you are making the Dip beforehand, I would add an additional 5-10 minutes cooking time, just to ensure the dip is nice and bubbly hot in the center.  As this hot Mexican Dip should be.

Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip showing layers.

As far as the reception of this twist on a classic at the baby shower?  This Mexican Spinach Dip was the runaway hit of the party with everyone begging for the recipe. And now they will be begging YOU for the recipe!

Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip with chip and avocado and tomato.

Want to try this Mexican Spinach Dip?

Pin it to your APPETIZER, GAME DAY or MEXICAN Board to SAVE for later!

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

This warm, creamy, cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip is easy, make ahead, bursting with fiestalicious spices and quite possibly the BEST Spinach Dip ever AKA your new back pocket crowd pleasing appetizer for every occasion!

Cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip

This warm, creamy, cheesy Mexican Spinach Dip is easy, make ahead, bursting with fiestalicious spices and quite possibly the BEST Spinach Dip ever!  AKA your new back pocket crowd pleasing appetizer for every occasion!
Servings: 12 servings
Total Time: 35 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 15 oz. can black beans rinsed and drained
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 10 oz. can tomatoes with green chilies drained, (Rotel)
  • 1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach thawed and thoroughly drained/patted dry
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 tsp EACH ground cumin, salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp EACH dried oregano, cayenne pepper
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise (I use reduced-fat)
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened (I use ⅓ less fat)
  • 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 cup freshly grated Pepper Jack cheese divided
  • 1/3 cup sour cream (I use reduced-fat)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat in a 12” oven proof skillet.* Add onions and sauté for approximately 3 minutes or until soft. Add red bell pepper, black beans and garlic and sauté for two additional minutes.
  • Stir in tomatoes/green chilies, spinach, all seasonings/spices and mayonnaise until well combined and spinach is warmed through. Reduce heat to low and stir in cream cheese until melted followed by half of cheddar until melted and half of Pepper Jack until melted. Stir in sour cream until well combined.
  • Top dip with remaining cheddar and Pepper Jack. Transfer to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Broil until cheese is golden if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.

Notes

*If you don’t have an oven proof skillet, you can prepare in another skillet and transfer to an oven safe dish.

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8 Comments

    • Jen says

      yay! We share the same foodie loves! I am so excited you are going to make this for the holidays! Happy Thanksgiving!

  1. OML says

    When do you add the beans? Do those get cooked in the pan or do you just put them in the baking dish?

    • Jen says

      Hi there! You add them in step 2 with the bell pepper. Enjoy!

  2. Kareena says

    Hi! Can i use fresh spinach instead?

    • Jen says

      Yes! You will want to saute it with the red bell peppers. Enjoy!

  3. Lauri says

    Hey, can I freeze this recipe?

    • Jen says

      Generally creamy dips don’t freeze well, so I wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re not a stickler for texture, then you can certainly try!