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!
Okay I just made this and it is delicious! The mix before baking is very creamy, but it bakes perfectly. I used two 10oz frozen spinach packs. You don’t even miss the cheese. Dish is hubby approved which makes me happy. I had to go to a separate store for the raw cashews, but totally worth it. Thank you for this yummy dish.
I’m happy to hear you both loved it, and thought it was worth the extra grocery store run. :) Enjoy!
i’m sure it will be a hit, am watching what i eat, so this spinach dip, will be perfect for veggies, etc , for Super Bowl ! THANK you so much!!! my spouse bought me Brie Cheese, which i thought would be too tempting for me to eat so much! as i do for cheese ! i eat and eat, watching my weight, so i’ve decided not to eat the Brie, and to go for the spinach dip, and veggies! in moderation !! thank you Lisa!!!
lise
Hope you enjoy this healthier spin on spinach artichoke dip, Lise! Let us know how it turns out. :)
I love it …. usually go without because I cannot do dairy and gluten free too! Even those without allergies / intolerances loved this too! Brought it to Thanksgiving and it was a hit and then just made it this week because I wanted something comforting!
Hi Terri, that’s great to hear this spinach artichoke dip has been such a hit ever since you served it for Thanksgiving! It’s the perfect dip to enjoy anytime you want something a bit more comforting. Enjoy!
This is so good! I even remembered to soak the cashews the day before. The dip was a perfect addition to Christmas Eve appetizers. Will be making it for the NYE crew too!
Hi Terri – Wonderful! I’m glad this dip has been such a hit.
Here’s a rav
I made this Dip for Christmas, and it was an absolute hit! Creamy and flavorful, it was a perfectly balanced indulgence with wholesome ingredients. The spinach and artichoke combination brought a fresh, earthy flavor that paired beautifully with the rich and creamy base.
It vanished within minutes of being served! I’ll be making again and again for holidays, gatherings, or even just as a special treat.
If you’re looking for a healthier take on a classic favorite, this dip is a must-try!
Thanks so much, Brian! I’m happy you loved this dip. :) Happy holidays!
I made this dip for Thanksgiving dinner. It was excellent. I even made your mayonnaise recipe.. My son and I really enjoyed it. Thank you
Hi Diane – sounds like you’re on top of it if you made the mayo from scratch and then whipped up this spinach artichoke dip. Well done! And Happy Thanksgiving!
Always a hit! Friends always want me to bring it
Yay, always love to hear that! Enjoy!
Could you please tell me which food processor you use to make this delicious delight!
You can find all of the kitchen items I use on my Shop page or on my Amazon storefront. Enjoy the dip!
A member of our family has recently become gluten intolerant. I am not seeing wheat in your recipes–are they gluten free?
Hi Katherine – yes, all of the recipe on my website are gluten-free, as I’m celiac. Enjoy!
My son is allergic to cashews, what can I use as a substitute?
I used vegan cream cheese
Delicious dip. You don’t have to be vegan to love this one. Thank you, Lisa
Hi Kathy – Happy to hear you love this dip!
The mayo is made with eggs so isn’t vegan. Did I miss something in the instructions that adjusts the recipe to make it vegan?
Hi Valerie – yes, in the recipe card tips I mention to use a vegan mayo alternative, to make it vegan. Enjoy!
Have made this several times and really enjoy!
Has anyone tried in a crockpot?
I have 2 vegetarian daughters which has made holiday cooking a challenge for me. I decided to give this recipe a try being very skeptical of the cashews instead of cheese. I was WRONG!!! Oh, my goodness, this came out creamy, tasty, and AWESOME! I also made homemade naan bread for dipping, and the two together were great!!!
Hi Ray – I’m so glad this spinach artichoke chicken dip worked out perfectly!
Absolutely loved this recipe and will make it again. I used frozen spinach and it turned out great as recommended!!! Love all the recipes keep them coming I always recommend them to patients as a clean source for comfort recipes as well as simple clean ingredients
I’m glad this spinach artichoke dip turned out great with frozen spinach!
Loved this. Isn’t quite the same as those loaded with Parmesan cheese, but so yummy and feels so much better on my tummy!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just prepped this for Thanksgiving appetizer tomorrow and it is fabulous!!! I still have to bake it, but I am already counting the hours at the thought of eating it!!! Thank you Lisa!!!
You’re more than welcome, Susan! Happy Thanksgiving!
As an update-my husband and I just finished devouring over half of the dip as an appetizer!! He just said, you know, we could have finished the entire dish.’ He’s 100% right!!! Great recipe!! Thank you Lisa!!
PS I’m making our Turkey recipe for our dinner.
Haha, yeah, it really is easy to polish off this entire dip. Hope you enjoy the turkey as well!
How is this vegan if it contains eggs in the homemade mayonnaise? I do wish your website contained more vegan main dishes.
Hi Robin – there is a note above about using vegan mayo if you’re vegan. ;)
Excited to try this! I’m guessing the cashews should be unsalted?? Having a hard time finding unsalted but will keep looking!
Yes, it’s best to use unsalted!
Has anyone tried this in a bread bowl? I’m thinking of putting it into a hollowed out sourdough round and baking it in that but it’s for a get together and I don’t want to mess it up!
Your recipe shows to use 1/4 water. Is this just plain water or the water that the almonds were soaked in? I used more than 1/4 cup water to soak 1 cup of raw almonds so I am assuming youre to use plain water and NOT the water that the almonds soaked in.
I did make this once before and it was delicious but don’t recall what I did.
Thank you
The water mentioned in the ingredients is plain water that hasn’t been soaked with the cashews.
Can you use fresh spinach for this recipe? If I were to add nutrional yeast, how much would you suggest? Thank you!!
If you’re using fresh spinach, steam it first, blanch it in ice water, and then squeeze all the liquid out.
I have an egg allergy. Is there any substitute for mayonnaise you’d recommend? All the vegan mayonnaise has lemon, which I am also allergic to, so I was hoping for a more whole-food substitute. Appreciate any ideas.
Looking forward to making this for Christmas for a few family members with a dairy allergy. Would it be possible to make this the night before, and bake it day of?
Hi Lisa – Big fan of your recipes! Thank you! Question: I’d love to make this, but is it possible to sub out mayo for greek yogurt or maybe go 1/2 mayo, 1/2 greek yogurt?
That should be fine :)
So yummy! I love this!!!
Question, is there a substitute for cashews? My husband is allergic to cashews and almonds and was curious if you had a substitution idea? Thanks
Unfortunately, most other nuts don’t go as creamy as cashews when soaked. While I haven’t tried Brazil nuts, I wonder if they might work as well.
I have successfully made this recipe a few times by substituting vegan mozzarella cheese for the cashews and water. I know that totally changes the recipe, but it turned out great and everyone liked it!
Looks delicious! I’m planning on making this for Thanksgiving, we have a new family member who is vegan. I just want to warn some who might not know but mayo is not vegan, it includes egg. You can find vegan mayo at the store though. Thanks for the inspiration!
Do you think using roasted unsalted cashews instead of raw cashews would work?
That’s fine. It will just have a slightly roasted flavor from the cashews.
What about using dry roasted macadamia nuts?
I’m vegan and made this recipe for a potluck-style birthday. I stumbled across this dish while trying to figure out an option that non-vegan friends could also enjoy. I intended to bring a little description card for the dip but forgot and all throughout the night people kept coming up to tell me how amazing the dip was and when I asked if they knew it was vegan they seemed shocked! I think it worked out that I didn’t bring the card because now I know that it was a hit for everyone.
Thanks for sharing that story Amber! I love to hear stuff like that. Sometimes people don’t realize how good simple, healthy food can taste!
Can i use cashew cream or milk. Instead of raw cashews? I don’t have a processor
Cashew milk will be a bit too thin for this dip. You can try blending the cashews in a blender, but gently pulsing instead of blending completely. Otherwise you will end up with cashew milk!
Hi,
I would like to say that I am very impressed with your website and all your recipes. I have done some of them and just love them. I have a bit of difficulties with the dairy recipes and the nuts. I wish I could do all your paleo recipes for banana bread, muffins and etc. but sadly I am allergic to all nuts. I can’t have dairy and I tried oat and coconut yogurts but I do not like them.
Again, congratulations for a well done job.
Diane
What can I use in place of mayonnaise that would be dairy (milk allergen), gluten and soy free?
I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and so thankful I found your site months ago when I started my new lifestyle with food. Now I’m just learning how to replace certain ingredients with those that I can have. I also bought a Vitamix and am a lover of hummus again!!! So easy to make!!
Hi Cassie – mayo isn’t dairy. :)
This recipe looks great! I want to make it soon! I am wondering can it be served cold or would that alter the flavors? Thanks!
Hi Audrey – I think it’s better served warm, but you could also serve chilled.
This recipe is not vegan. Mayonnaise has eggs in it.
It’s notated in the tips section to use a vegan mayonnaise if you’d like the recipe to be vegan.
Thank you for the recipe. Its really a good version of spinach artichoke dip. Instead of the cashew cream(which is good by the way) I used a can of white bean and I love garlic to I added powder also.I’m dairy free for a year now. Don’t really miss cheese to much but I would still love a little Parmesan in this dip.even though it doesn’t need it. I also, like dairy free version because it doesn’t make you feel heavy and bloated.I have tried several of recipes. All good and I watch on you tube.God Bless. :)
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed this healthy spinach artichoke dip Cindy!
This looks wonderful but how are you calling this “Vegan” right now? Your second ingredient is Mayonnaise and then you recommend adding goat cheese. Calling this dairy free is false advertising.
This can be completely vegan if you use a vegan mayonnaise.
There isn’t any dairy in this recipe….so I’m not quite sure why it would be false advertising?!? This recipe is by far the BEST vegan spinach artichoke dip we’ve made
Sometimes, traditional mayonnaise isn’t dairy-free. So it can depend on the type of mayonnaise used.
Traditional mayo is usually dairy free but includes eggs, which are obviously not vegan. However, it’s pretty easy to find vegan versions at the grocery store.
Amazing! So delicious! Everyone loved it and could not believe there was no dairy in it. We all agreed it was way better than the dairy version we used to use. It will now be my go to for appetizers. On another note, not only does it taste great but you feel good after you eat it and the next day. I did make a few changes because I found the recipe shortly before our get together so I did not have time to soak the cashews. I used 1/2 cup cashew butter and 1/2 cup water instead. I also added a jalapeno and extra garlic all to the food processor and then mixed in the spinach, artichoke, and chopped onions. So yummy!!!!
Happy to hear everyone enjoyed this dip so much! You can never go wrong with added garlic and jalapeno :)
This was amazing! I’ve been dairy free for a while now and finding recipes that are easy has been a struggle. But this was super simple which is always needed! Also the people who aren’t dairy free in my life didn’t even miss the cheese and didn’t know it was dairy free at first!
Happy to hear you find my recipes easy to follow along to, yet delicious Ashley!
Hey, I wanna try this, but I only have roasted cashews at home. Would that make a difference as opposed to using raw cashews in the recipe?
I don’t typically recommend roasted cashews as they can flavor the recipe.
Hi there! I am not vegan, looking for recipes because my nephew’s GF is vegan…doesn’t Mayo contain eggs? Is this recipe truly vegan? I don’t want to serve something as vegan that really isn’t, I’d feel terrible! Thanks for any guidance!
Hi Kate – For this recipe to be vegan, you can use a vegan mayo :) Otherwise, the rest of the recipe is good to go.
Let me start by saying that I am a full fat, heavy cream-in-my coffee type of girl and the Whole 30 by it’s very nature goes against everything I believe in. But I am now a convert. I’m on day 11 and decided to try this recipe as both my boyfriend and I like Spinach Artichoke dip and it’s not something I’ve ever made before. I am dairy and added-sugar free and cannot believe I haven’t caved. I thought I would hate this but I had hope. I wanted to hate this, because in doing so I could justify my anti-non dairy bias. But I did not. I loved it. My boyfriend liked it, but I really enjoyed it. What it lacks in cheese and gooey goodness it makes up for in flavor. It was creamy, thanks to the cashews. My intention was to have it as an appetizer before dinner. But we enjoyed it so much and were so full that we opted instead for a smoothie for dessert and called it a night. I served it with dehydrated veggie “chips” and it was yummy. Look forward to trying other recipes.
Happy to hear this turned out to be a recipe you loved Maddie! Excited to see what you make next :)
Omg, this recipe is soooo good! I added some vegan mozzarella cheese to it as well.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Ashley!
Wow, this dip is amazing! I added some nutritional yeast but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. I will definitely make again!
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed this dip Elle :)
This was really good. Will make again
Glad you enjoyed this recipe Jean!
I am lactose intolerant so I was really excited to give this a try. I have tried vegan spinach artichoke dips before and this was not nearly as good. This recipe has a really strong mayonnaise taste so I didn’t enjoy.
Hi Jen – sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe. Hopefully you’ll like some of my other recipes better!
I can’t wait to try this recipe out for the Super Bowl! One question – have you experimented with adding any nutritional yeast or store-bought dairy free cheese? Just curious, as I’m eager to make the most out of what I have lying around my kitchen! Thanks!!
Hi Emily – Yes, you can certainly use either of those items in this recipe to give it that cheesy flavor as well. I use nutritional yeast in my vegan alfredo sauce recipe. :)
Hey! Just a couple things- your homemade mayonnaise recipe includes eggs, and this means the recipe isn’t vegan. But you can substitute veganaise or a vegan homemade mayonnaise :) also, goat cheese doesn’t contain the high levels of lactose that cows milk does, and is more homogenized… meaning it’s easier to digest and doesn’t instigate the symptoms of lactose intolerance as much. Sheep’s milk cheeses (like feta!) and Greek yogurt are even better options than goat cheese because they are almost completely lactose free :)
Do you have to use frozen spinach or can it be fresh?
Hi Vallari – you can use fresh and saute it down as well. I have a separate video on how to do that!
I love this dip, and I want to make it for a friend who is lactose intolerant but is allergic to cashews. Is there another dairy free base for this dip?
Hi Anna – unfortunately, I’ve only tried this with cashews as the base. Sorry!
I love all your food recipes
HI! Great recipes! Do you think this would work without artichoke? Maybe replace the artichoke with spinach? My husband wants a dairy-free spinach dip for Christmas, he doesn’t artichoke. Thanks for your help and recipes!!!
Hi Emily – yes, no problem on that swap! Enjoy!
This recipe is SO good that I constantly crave it and want to make it again and again. Lisa nailed the flavors of this recipe, it tastes exactly like indulgent restaurant dip that is not nearly as healthy!!! If you enjoy spinach artichoke dip, you absolutely need to make this recipe!
Thrilled to hear this spinach artichoke dip was a success :)