Easy Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread (+ Video!)

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!

SPINACH DIP FRENCH BREAD RECIPE VIDEO

Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread with stringy cheese as it is pulled e apart.


 

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, American party food:  Artichoke Dip Bites and 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!

A side view of Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread showing the layers.

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 with many variations such as Spinach Artichoke Dip  and now this Spinach Dip Stuffed  Bread!  Its the quintessential dip made 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…”

Showing how to make Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread preparing the french bread.

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…

Showing how to make Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread mixing cheeses in a pan.

Spoon spinach dip into you French bread bowl…

Showing how to make Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread melted adding cheeses to the bread


And blanket with mozzarella cheese…

Showing how to make Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread adding another layer of cheese.

And bake until the cheeses are golden and bubbly…

Toasted Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread fresh out of the oven.

Happy dance commence.

Cutting a Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread

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.

Looking for more appetizer recipes?

Close up showing a knife cutting Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread


Showing a piece of Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread being pulled apart.
Easy Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread is your favorite cheesy dip baked right into the loaf! Crazy delicious side or easy crowd pleasing appetizer!

Easy Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread

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!
Servings: 12 servings
Total Time: 43 minutes
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

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Ingredients

  • 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 ⅓ 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

Instructions

  • 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 ½ 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

Video

Notes

Don’t miss the “how to make” recipe video at the top of the post!
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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37 Comments

  1. Dorothy Dunton says

    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! 🙂

    • Jen says

      Awesome Dorothy! I am so excited you are making this! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

  2. Auntiepatch says

    Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread

    Let bread sit approximately minutes to cool then slice. How many minutes???

    • Jen says

      You just need it cool enough so you don’t burn yourself 🙂 I would say 5 minutes

  3. Keiko says

    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!

    • Jen says

      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

  4. Jay @ IndustryEats says

    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

    • Jen says

      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 🙂

    • Jen says

      hahaha – yes not a diet food – but a reward you for your diet food 🙂 Thanks Sara!

  5. Leanne says

    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.

    • Jen says

      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!

  6. Stephanie says

    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!!!!

    • Jen says

      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!

  7. Raj says

    Hi Jen! Could I leave the mayo and the Waorcestershire sauce out?

    • Jen says

      Hi Raj, yes you can leave the Worcestershire sauce out. As far as the mayo you will want to substitute it with something else – I would suggest increasing both the sour cream and cream cheese to make up for the 1/2 cup you will be leaving out. Hope this helps!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Natalie! I hope you can try it soon!

  8. sara says

    Can it be kept in the freezer before going in oven?

    • Jen says

      Hi Sara, I would make the dip and refrigerate it separate from the bread so the bread doesn’t get soggy. It can keep several days in the refrigerator and then add the additional cheese on top before baking. Hope this helps!

  9. Louise says

    Making this over the holidays, thank you for the recipe!

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome, enjoy!

  10. Aqsa says

    Can you make this seperately without the bread?

  11. Theresa says

    The spinach dip stuffed french bread is a favorite around my house. Everyone loves it and I make it whenever I need something to take that I know people will like. It always goes fast! Best recipe ever and I’m always asked for the recipe. Thank you for publishing it!

    • Jen says

      What an awesome comment, thank you so much Theresa! I’m thrilled it is a family and party favorite!

  12. Katy says

    Hi! Do you think I could add a small can of artichokes to this?

  13. S. Marie says

    Made this today for cookie exchange appetizer. Only one crust left! I thought I had picked up a small jar of basil pesto….was just basil. Added 1 T. and some Italian seasoning. Everyone had compliments!

    • Jen says

      Awesome Marie, I’m thrilled this spinach dip French bread was such a huge hit! Thank you!

  14. Brigitte Robert says

    Good morning,
    Just wondering if we can freeze this .

    • Jen says

      Hi Bridgette, unfortunately I don’t recommend freezing because it becomes an unpleasant grainy texture.

  15. Melinda L says

    Can you use shredded fresh spinach instead?

    • Jen says

      Absolutely! Just sauté it first.

  16. Susanne Ford says

    Tried this appetizer last night and it was the hit of the party! I doubled the recipe since I had two French bread loaves to fill – phenomenal! Such perfect flavor- thanks so much for sharing this recipe!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear that it was a hit!