Grinch Dip is anything but grinchy — it’s a festive, crowd-pleasing spinach-artichoke dip made with artichoke hearts, spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan, Romano and seasonings all melted into a creamy, cheesy bake perfect for holiday gatherings or movie night.
How to Make Holiday Grinch Dip
This recipe fills a 9″ x 9″ baking pan and serves about 4–6 people. It doubles or triples easily and freezes well, so you can prepare extras to bake later for quick party appetizers.
Drain canned or thawed artichoke hearts thoroughly, then coarsely chop and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. A stand mixer speeds this up, but you can stir by hand.
Stir in the Parmesan and Romano cheeses, then add the minced garlic, dried basil, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt and a dash of black pepper. If you have fresh basil, folding in a little adds a bright note.
Fold in the well-drained artichoke hearts and the coarsely chopped, well-drained spinach until evenly combined.
Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or brush lightly with olive oil. Spread the dip mixture evenly in the dish.
Top generously with shredded mozzarella. For a festive touch, sprinkle a tablespoon or two of finely minced red bell pepper for color.
Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top. Serve hot with tortilla chips, pita chips, crackers or cut vegetables.
Holiday Grinch Dip — Ingredients (9×9 Pan)
Ingredients
1 cup chopped artichoke hearts (canned, well-drained, or frozen thawed and drained)
1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well-drained
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup regular mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried basil (or fresh basil, torn)
Dash black pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, cream together the room-temperature cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth.
- Add Parmesan, Romano, garlic, basil, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt and pepper; mix to combine.
- Fold in the well-drained artichoke hearts and spinach.
- Spread mixture in a greased 9×9 baking pan and top with mozzarella.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Serve hot with chips, crackers or toasted pita.
Tips and Notes
- This dip freezes well before baking. Thaw in the refrigerator, then bake as directed.
- If you double or triple the recipe, increase the pan size and adjust bake time until heated through and bubbly.
- Fresh basil adds brightness; red bell pepper adds festive color for holiday gatherings.
Recipe Metadata
Prep time: 10 mins · Cook time: 25 mins · Total: 35 mins · Servings: 6 · Calories (approx.): 285 kcal per 1/2 cup.
Grinch Labels and Serving Ideas
To make simple Grinch labels, print a small Grinch graphic on green cardstock and attach it to your serving dish — quick and festive. This dip makes a great snack for holiday movie nights.
Serve hot and enjoy — this creamy, savory dip consistently wins rave reviews and returns guests to the bowl again and again.