This healthy spinach artichoke dip always surprises everyone. It’s rich and creamy, ultra-savory, and tastes cheesy without any dairy. Yes, it’s dairy-free! And the perfect appetizer everyone can enjoy.
Why You’ll Love This Spinach Artichoke Dip
I’d like to think I’ve mastered my line of classic party dips, including hummus, guacamole, French onion dip, and 7 layer dip. And while I love a traditional spinach artichoke dip, this healthier, dairy-free version has become a hands-down favorite when I’m entertaining guests with different dietary needs or for those who just want something a little lighter. So what’s my secret? Cashew cream! When raw, soaked cashews are blended until smooth, they make my favorite vegan cheese alternative. Then, when it’s mixed with mayonnaise, spinach, artichoke hearts, onion, and garlic, it delivers that same creamy, savory flavor you’d expect from the classic (just without the dairy). You’ll also love that this recipe is:
- Really easy. Just blend, mix, and bake until golden!
- Make-ahead friendly. I love prepping this healthy spinach artichoke dip as a Christmas appetizer, Thanksgiving appetizer, or Super Bowl appetizer. Make it the day before and bake it fresh when guests arrive.
- Perfect for everyone. Vegetarian, dairy-free, vegan (with vegan mayonnaise), yet always a crowd-pleaser.
Spinach Artichoke Dip Ingredients
- Cashews: These create a creamy, cheesy base. Grab raw cashews (not roasted) and be sure to soak them first, so they blend up silky smooth.
- Mayonnaise: I always use my homemade mayonnaise for the freshest flavor. Use a vegan mayo to keep this dip fully vegan.
- Water: You’ll use just enough to help the cashews blend into a smooth cream.
- Spinach: You can use fresh or frozen. I prefer frozen since it’s faster and easier. Just make sure it’s fully thawed and squeezed dry. If using fresh, just steam it, blanch in ice water, then squeeze out all the liquid.
- Artichoke hearts: Canned or jarred, both work great. Just drain and roughly chop them.
- Onion and garlic: These add that classic savory depth that makes spinach artichoke dip so irresistible!
Optional dairy-light option: If you tolerate small amounts of dairy, adding 4 ounces of goat cheese is delicious here. It melts beautifully, adds tang, is more easily digestible, and still keeps the recipe on the lighter side compared to traditional versions.
How To Make This Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip
Step one: Blend the creamy base. Add the soaked cashews, mayonnaise, and water to a food processor and blend for 1 to 2 minutes, until completely smooth and creamy.
Step two: Stir everything together. Transfer the cashew cream to a large bowl and stir in the spinach, artichoke hearts, onion, garlic, and seasonings until well combined.
Step three: Bake away. Spoon the mixture into an oven-safe dish and bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 20 minutes, until warm, bubbly, and lightly golden on top. This recipe makes about 4 cups of dip, which is the perfect quantity for a party!
My Favorite Ways To Serve
What’s a good dip without something crunchy? My favorite homemade option is my herbed cassava tortilla chips. They’re sturdy, savory, and perfect for scooping. You could also use my seed crackers, though they’re a bit more fragile.
If you want something lighter and fresher, I love serving this with sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, or bell peppers. They’re just as delicious and add a nice, refreshing crunch.
Make Ahead & Storage Tips
This dip is perfect for prepping ahead (I do this all the time for parties). Simply assemble the mixture, cover it, and refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready to serve, pop it straight into the oven and bake as directed.
And if you somehow end up with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze the dip for up to 3 months and reheat it later for an easy appetizer on demand. So yum!
More Healthy Appetizer Dips
- Cauliflower Hummus: A low-carb hummus option.
- Pico De Gallo: So fresh and easy.
- Black Bean Dip: More flavorful than you think!
- White Bean Dip: Light, fresh, and so tasty.
If you try this vegan spinach artichoke dip recipe, let me know how it turns out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight
- 1 ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup water
- 16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 (13.5-ounce) jar artichoke hearts, chopped and drained
- ⅓ cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Blend the sauce. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Add the cashews, mayonnaise and water to a food processor. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, until creamy.
- Mix the dip. Transfer the cashew mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add the frozen spinach, artichoke hearts, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Bake the dip. Transfer the dip to a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with tortilla chips, cucumber slices or other vegetables.
Lisa’s Tips
- If you tolerate some dairy, adding 4 ounces of soft goat cheese makes it super creamy and keeps it healthy!
- Make sure to squeeze out all liquid from the spinach and artichoke hearts, as you don’t want them watery.
- I love the mini casserole dish you see pictured, and it fits the quantity of this dip perfectly!
- If you want to make this vegan, make sure to use a vegan mayonnaise option.
- Serving size is about 1/4 cup. The recipe makes about 4 cups, which is the perfect quantity for a party!
- Storage & make-ahead tip: This dip can be made up to 1 day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. Bake just before serving. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and reheated until warm.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published February 2016, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
I haven’t had this in years because I can’t eat dairy. I made this for thanksgiving and my whole family (who eats dairy) LOVED THIS! I am obsessed and will be remaking!
Yay! I’m glad you found a winning dairy-free spinach artichoke dip you and your family loves :)
So I totally missed the part where you said to just cook the day of and I don’t need it for another day. Can I store in the fridge in an airtight container and reheat? Sorry it’s been a long day.
Hi Nicole – yes, you can store this either in the fridge or freezer.
Could i make this the day before and then bake it the next day for a party?
I’d say it’s best to make this the day of. But, you can make the entire recipe the day before and just reheat in the oven!
This was so good and was quick and easy to make!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Belinda!
I want to make this for my friends as one is vegan. How much is a serving? There will be about 7 people including myself and I just want to make sure I make enough. Thanks!
Hi Amanda- This serves about 8 servings which is around 1/2 a cup each :)
Hi love your site. I am a complete novice in the kitchen. What form do the artichoke hearts come in? Canned, fresh, frozen? Thanks, this is my favorite dip and I can’t wait to try your recipe. Made your Hummus for Mother’s Day and it was a great hit.
Hi Marilyn – I use canned artichoke hearts in this recipe. Hope you love it! And glad the hummus was a success as well. :) x
Holy cow, this dip is amazing!!! I thought it would taste like a ‘healthier version’ of the classic dip, but it tastes just like a decadent version you’d get at a restaurant! I’m shocked by how rich the flavor is even though it’s healthy and with minimal, clean ingredients. Well done Lisa! I added some Parmesan on top for the last few minutes of baking and it tastes great.
Hi Katie – So glad you enjoyed this spinach artichoke dip! I always try to nail the flavors, especially when it comes to dishes like these :)
Hi id like to make this vegan; do you have a vegan recipe for the mayonnaise as i can’t use egg for my in laws who are strict vegans
Thanks
Hi Ashanthie – I don’t have a recipe yet for vegan mayonnaise, but you can use a store-bought version.
What can I substitute if I can’t eat nuts?
Hi Kristen – unfortunately the cashews are a main ingredient in this recipe and needed. :)
Personally I would suggest using Greek yogurt if you’re not vegan, you’d have to water it down a bit but it’s rich and creamy and low in lactose (won’t irritate a lactose intolerance)
Loved the creamy texture! Definitely a recipe I will make for our next gathering.
Hi Angie – So glad you enjoyed this one! Definitely a great appetizer to make for any friend/family event :)
Thank you so much for this recipe Lisa! I have been vegan for 3 months now and wow your spinach dip is the best! Very easy to do and got some leftovers that were eaten straight from the fridge, so yummmmy
Hi Sephora – Amazing! I’m so glad you found a delicious recipe that’s vegan :)
Its not vegan if it has eggs in it? (mayo)
Hi Colby – This can be vegan-friendly if you use a vegan mayo :)
Hi. My husband and I have picked up many pointers from your videos. We are hooked on Downshiftology!!
Is the nutritional info for the entire dip or per a portion?
We also made ginger orange scallops and weren’t sure what size portion the nutritional information represented. Thx in advance
Hi Jo – So glad you’re loving everything you two have come across on my channel :) The nutrition info is always per serving for every recipe. As for the scallops, it depends how many and how big your scallops are, but should be around 3 large scallops!
This recipe is an absolute winner! I made it for NYE and it disappeared before all the other wonderful offerings at the table. Unfortunately, one of my friends couldn’t be there to enjoy it, so I made another batch a week later. Again, it was a huge hit.
Yay, Lisa!
Hi Alan – I’m so glad this was a winning recipe for NYE and after! :)
Love this recipe! Love artichoke! 😍
Thank you for all that you do, your recipes and ideas are wonderful, will look forward to try them! ❤️
Hi Tina – I’m so glad you loved this recipe! Can’t wait for you to try more :)
I made my mayonnaise with tofu and no,egg….that’s vegan.
Hi Laura – Yes, that’s a great way to make a vegan mayo as well!
I truly love your webpage and you are extremely talented….thank you for your hard work and healthy tasty recipes….One thing is, I am vegan and I got super excited about this particular dip recipe…However, it has mayo, that contains egg…so it’s not truly vegan…. and I can not try it. Any suggestions on how to make it without mayo? Big thank you,
Ally
Hi Ally – This will be vegan with a vegan mayonnaise :)
You are very patient with people Lisa 🙏
Lisa, So happy I came across your website. The recipes you provide, is there any one of your cookbooks that have these. Or, which cookbook would you recommend to start with?
Hi PJ- I don’t have a cookbook just yet, but I hope to get it in the works soon!
sounds great but its not vegan unless you use a vegan mayonnaise .
Yes, correct. :) I added an additional note to clarify. Thanks!
I love your healthy eating model and tons of your recipes. I am allergic to tree nuts, though, so it would be very helpful for me if you could include an alternate ingredient for people like me. Thanks for sharing all your tips and recipes!
Hi Meg – I’m happy you love my recipes! Unfortunately, not every recipe has an easy replacement for tree nuts (many times it would require developing a whole new recipe). But you can sort by “nut-free” on my recipe index page for those recipes that are already nut-free. :)
This looks perfect for a party – love the idea of adding some goat cheese in there too.
Hi Caroline – Goat cheese in this is my favorite! You’ll definitely need to try it!
When did you add the goat cheese? Was it in the blender it when you mixed it all together?
Hi Karina – You will just add in the goat cheese when you are mixing everything together in a large bowl, before baking :)
This is so good. I’ve never added cashew before to my spinach and artichoke dip, but I’m totally loving this version.
Hi Anita – It’s the best, since it almost tastes like the real thing!
This is a great lighted up version of spinach and artichoke dip without missing all the taste!
Hi Sharon – Absolutley! This recipe almost tastes just like the real thing and you wouldn’t even notice that it’s dairy-free!
Such a great recipe and I love that it’s dairy free! Your herbed cassava chips sound like perfection with this spinach dip. Pinning and can’t wait to make it!
Hi there – It’s the best with the cassava chips! Can’t wait for you to throw this together :)
Such a favourite dip of mine – it is always a hit when I entertain. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Alexandra – So glad to hear this appetizer has been a hit every time!
Oh wow! I made this for a Christmas Party and then had to make it again because my husband liked it soooo much! When hubby loves it, I know it’s a real winner! It’s hard to believe it’s totally Dairyfree! It’s also one of those recipes where I can keep all ingredients on hand (cans, freezer, shelf) to make as a last minute healthy snack!
Hi Kathy – If it’s a winner with the hubby, that’s the best :) So glad you and your husband enjoyed this recipe!
this dip was a huge hit at our New Years Party :D soooo yum!
Hi Katharina – Thrilled to hear this was a hit at your New Years party!
Made this today. It was absolutely delicious. Thanks for the idea.
Hi Lacreasha- So glad you enjoyed this recipe :)
I made this twice over the holidays this year, it’s a hit! so good and easy to make, anything this good and easy to make is always going to be in my rotation.
Hi Diane – I’m glad to hear this was a hit over the holidays :)
This dip is delicious. I made it for a party and everyone who tried it, loved it. Thanks!
Hi Juliet – Happy to hear everyone at your party loved this appetizer! Definitely a good one to make for the holidays :)
Made this for Thanksgiving, it was a hit! so good, hard to walk away, definitely going in the rotation for next year.
Hi Diane – A classic recipe of mine! Happy to hear this was a hit for Thanksgiving :)
This recipe was fantastic. I read the ingredients wrong and only put 1/4 cup of mayo instead of 1-1/4 cup and it was still amazing and more than creamy enough. I loved it. Everyone else loved it. I’m going to keep the 1/4 cup amount!
Thanks for a great recipe!
Wonderful! I’m so happy you loved the dip Dorothy! And yes, it’s super creamy. :)
Can this be made with fresh spinach instead of frozen?
Hi Vivien – Yes! You can definitely use fresh spinach if you’d like :)
I used a baby spinach/baby kale mix and cooked it down. It was okay, but i felt it was missing something like maybe coconut aminos or some soy? instead of using it as a dip, it tasted really good on my eggs the next morning.
While soy sauce is not a typical ingredient in spinach artichoke dip, you can certainly add it to yours in the future. Recipes are all about tweaking them to our own liking. :) I’m happy you enjoyed it on your eggs the next morning though!
Can I use almonds instead of cashews? I wonder if it would be less creamy that way? I have a cashew allergy.
Hi Brittany – I’ve never tried this recipe with almonds, but based on the consistency I do think the almonds would be less creamy. Let me know how it goes, if you do give it a try!
What a delicious and healthy twist on this dip. So great for serving a crowd with mixed dietary needs. Love the generous amount of garlic. :-)
Thanks Valentina! I’m happy you loved the recipe. And yes, I’m always a fan of garlic – the more the better. ;) x
Spinach and Artichoke Dip is one of my most favorite dips! But I’m excited to try your dairy free version!
Thanks Jillian! It’s amazing how you don’t even miss all the cheese when you’re starting with fresh and healthy ingredients. Enjoy!
We are a mostly dairy free household so this was a great dip for us! I served it at a recent get together and it was a hit – so much flavour!
Awesome! I’m thrilled you loved the recipe Hope!
I am always in the lookout for more dairy free recipes, so this spinach dip is something I need to make soon. Thanks for sharing, and have fun in Portugal! :)
Thanks Anita! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Spinach Dip
We are known for bringing “healthier” dishes to events. I brought this dish and it was enjoyed by even the skeptics! The fat content is high for us but then again, it’s a snack, not a meal! It is a wonderful, clean alternative to traditional spinach and artichoke dip. Thank you!
Side note, I did not include the goat and it was still wonderful!
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed the recipe Danielle! And I agree that it’s always enjoyed by the skeptics as well. ;) x
I’m usually way to lazy to write reviews but I have to…this was friggin amazing!! My son developed a dairy allergy so I’m always looking for dairy free for him & us to enjoy! The texture was perfect , super creamy. I did add a jarred roasted red pepper slice to the processor to add a little pizazz.
Hi Regina – thanks so much! And I’m happy you did review and let me know. :) I’m glad you and your son enjoyed the dip and I love your addition of the roasted red pepper. Yum!
Do you have a carb count for this recipe ?
No, I don’t. But you could plug it into an online nutrition calculator for that info. :)
Wow-I lived in Portugal for ten years. Where did you go for the food photography workshop?
How lucky were you! I LOVED Portugal and can’t wait to go back one day. Here’s a post I did on the workshop: https://rmavxiou.top/food-lifestyle-photography-workshop-alentejo-portugal/ and another I did on Lisbon: https://rmavxiou.top/gluten-free-lisbon/ :)
Thank you so much for the post! I kept with dairy free, and added a good squeeze of lemon plus a can of water chestnuts..we are destroying it!! My Daughter is eating it like a casserole and I had to cut her off! Thx again.
Ooh, water chestnuts would add an awesome crunch! Sounds like a fab add. Thanks Michele – so happy you liked it! :) x
I love that this is much healthier version of spinach and artichoke dip! What exactly are the cashews soaked in?
They’re just soaked in filtered water. Place them in a glass bowl of water, cover and soak overnight. Super easy! Soaked cashews become very creamy when blended…like on my dairy-free cheesecakes. :) x
So sorry you’re experiencing such cold weather! It was 55°F here in Ohio – unseasonably warm, for sure. Weird weather! I’ll take it though – it’s normally super snowy and beyond freezing this time of year. Hang in there! And thank you for sharing this incredible dip recipe! I loooove Spinach-Artichoke dip.
Seems we’ve done a swap (though I’m happy to return your cold weather to you!) ;) Glad you like the recipe – I’ve been eating it all up today…so will have to make another batch for Sunday. x