This vegan spinach artichoke dip is warm, creamy, and oh-so-cheesy—perfect for pairing with crusty bread, pita chips, and all your favourite dippers! 

Overhead view of vegan spinach artichoke dip on platter of chips and veggies

When it comes to crowd-pleasing appetizers, this vegan spinach artichoke dip ranks right up there with Loaded Potato Skins, Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, and Vegan Southwest Egg Rolls. In other words, serve this at a party and you can’t go wrong.

You don’t have to make it for a party, though! When I first came up with this recipe, Gav and I happily ate it by ourselves, then used the leftovers as a creamy, cheesy filling in sandwiches, as a sauce for pasta, and even as a topping for baked potatoes.

While spinach artichoke dip is traditionally made with lots of dairy, it’s easy to give it a vegan revamp with some simple ingredient swaps that still keep it incredibly creamy and delicious.

Tortilla chip dipped into spinach artichoke dip

Why This Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe Works

So let’s talk about those simple swaps! Here’s what makes this spinach artichoke dip a winner.

  • Rich and creamy. Cashews are the secret ingredient in my Creamy Tomato Pasta and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, and they’re also a heavy-hitter in this vegan spinach artichoke dip. When pureed, they add a creamy, dairy-like texture to any recipe.
  • Surprisingly cheesy. Nutritional yeast and vegan Parm are here to bring the cheesy flavor, while lemon juice gives the dip a little more tang.
  • Perfect texture. Tapioca starch acts as a thickener to give this vegan spinach artichoke dip a texture similar to melted cheese.
Overhead view of ingredients for vegan spinach artichoke dip with labels

Notes on Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

  • Fresh spinach – I like using fresh spinach and wilting it, but thawed frozen spinach can be substituted.
  • Artichoke hearts – I recommend using canned artichoke hearts, rather than the oil-packed marinated artichokes.
  • Raw cashews – Soak these overnight, then give them a good rinse.
  • Vegan milk – Any unsweetened, unflavoured variety you like.
  • Sea salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Onion and garlic powder – These add lots of savoury flavour. 
  • Paprika
  • Lemon juice
  • Vegan Parmesan cheese – Either store-bought or homemade vegan Parmesan.
  • Tapioca starch – An optional ingredient for a cheesy texture.

Does Nutritional Yeast Really Taste Like Cheese?

Nutritional yeast does taste like cheese—and, in particular, it tastes like funky aged cheeses like Parmesan. It’s also nutty, salty, and savoury, making it a fantastic addition to spinach artichoke dip.

How to Make Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ready for a creamy, cheesy dipping experience? Let’s get started!

Overhead view of ingredients for cashew cream base in food processor bowl
Cashew cream mixture in food processor bowl

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Blend. Add the cashews, vegan milk, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, lemon juice, vegan Parmesan, and tapioca starch to a blender and blend on high for 2 to 3 minutes, or until completely smooth.

Overhead view of spinach leaves in skillet
Overhead view of wilted spinach in skillet
Overhead view of spinach and artichokes in skillet with wooden spoon

Wilt the spinach. Add the spinach to a pan set over medium heat. Let it cook until it’s wilted, then remove from heat and drain the excess liquid. 

Add the artichokes. Return the pan to medium-high heat and stir the artichokes and a pinch of salt into the spinach. Cook for about 2 minutes.

Assemble. Transfer the spinach artichoke mixture to a baking dish and pour the blended sauce mixture on top. Stir to combine and season to taste.

Overhead view of spinach artichoke dip in cast iron skillet

Bake. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Garnish with additional vegan Parmesan cheese, if desired, then cool slightly and serve.

Tips for Success

These simple pointers will help you make sure your vegan spinach artichoke dip turns out perfect:

  • Don’t forget to soak the cashews. Soaking is key to achieving a supremely creamy consistency. You’ll also want to use raw, not roasted, cashews.
  • Puree completely smooth. You don’t want bits and chunks of nuts in your spinach artichoke dip! Use a high-speed blender and make sure the mixture is absolutely smooth before you add it to the baking dish.
  • Make it in an oven-safe skillet. If you cook the spinach and artichokes in a skillet that’s safe to go in the oven, you can skip the step of transferring the veggies to a baking dish.
  • Pop it under the broiler. Although this is optional, it gives your spinach dip a toasty finish. You can add some vegan Parmesan over the top first, or another melty vegan cheese.

Variations

Like crunchy water chestnuts in your spinach artichoke dip? Feel free to add those if you’d like! You can also swap the vegan Parmesan for a vegan shredded cheese—cheddar is great for a more pronounced flavour, or mozzarella for a milder option.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this dip with pita chips, crackers, tortilla chips, breadsticks, on crostini, slathered atop fresh bread, as a veggie burger topping, or tossed with pasta. The possibilities are endless!

Overhead view of snack board with skillet of spinach artichoke dip, chips, vegetables, and crackers

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover vegan spinach artichoke dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. (You can also make it in advance and store it wrapped in the baking dish.)

Reheat spinach artichoke dip in the microwave or in a 350ºF oven until it’s warmed through, or eat the leftovers as a cold dip.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

If you’d like to freeze this recipe, store it wrapped in the baking dish or in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the instructions above.

More Vegan Party Appetizers

Enjoy friends! If you make this vegan spinach artichoke dip, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

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Overhead view of vegan spinach artichoke dip on platter of chips and veggies

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

Servings: 10 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
This vegan spinach artichoke dip is hot, creamy, and oh-so-cheesy—perfect for pairing with bread, pita chips, and all your favourite dippers!
5 (from 15 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 10 ounces fresh spinach, or frozen spinach, see notes*
  • 14 ounces canned artichoke hearts (about 1 can), (395g) drained, rinsed and chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked in water overnight, then rinsed and drained OR just easily boiled for 5 minutes**
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vegan milk
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons vegan Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons tapioca starch, optional, but great for a cheese pull

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F/200°C.
  • In a blender, add the cashews, vegan milk, sea salt, ground black pepper, nutritional yeast, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, lemon juice, vegan parmesan cheese and optional tapioca starch. Blend on high for about 2 to 3 minutes until completely smooth. Set aside.
  • In a pan over medium heat, add the fresh spinach and wilt down if it’s fresh until fully wilted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain the excess water that comes off.
  • Turn the pan back on to medium-high heat, place the spinach back in the pan, and add the artichokes to the pan with a pinch of salt and stir together for about 2 minutes.
  • Turn heat off and add the spinach artichoke mix to your baking dish (I used about a 9" x 5" oval dish). Pour the blended sauce mixture on top, and stir to combine. Taste and add more salt if needed.
  • Bake for 20 minutes until golden and cheesy, and you can broil for a few minutes if desired too. Remove from oven, sprinkle optionally with extra vegan parmesan cheese, allow to cool slightly, then serve! Enjoy!

Notes

*If using frozen spinach, you don’t have to wilt it down. Just let it thaw completely and squeeze off any excess liquid. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe by adding the spinach to the pan with the artichokes.
**You can easily boil your cashews with just enough water covering them for 5 minutes. Drain, let cool, and proceed! This way you can make the recipe the same day.
To store: Store leftover vegan spinach artichoke dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. (You can also make it in advance and store it wrapped in the baking dish.) Reheat spinach artichoke dip in the microwave or in a 350ºF oven until it’s warmed through, or eat the leftovers as a cold dip.
To freeze: If you’d like to freeze this recipe, store it wrapped in the baking dish or in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the instructions above.
Calories: 151kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 418mg, Potassium: 378mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 2758IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 80mg, Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Cuisine: American, Universal
Course: Appetizer, Dips
Author: Jessica Hylton