Ah, ha. I’ve got a doozy for you today.
Spinach and Artichokes Melts! Yes!
So you know your favorite party dip, spinach and artichoke? Yeah, I totally slathered that ALL over some bread and grilled it up grilled cheese style. It’s pretty much the best thing your face is gonna meet today. I mean it’s Monday, let’s be honest we don’t encounter a whole lot of amazingness on a Monday. No offense to your boss, husband, your kids or that boring turkey sandwich you would have eaten.
Have you guys ever been to a Claddagh Irish Pub? They have a few in Ohio, Pennsylvania and I think a few other states in the Midwest. I have only been there a handful of times when I was younger, but I always got the same thing, the Chicken Spinach Melt.
My grandma and I would go shopping on the weekends a lot, we like to shop and she loves to go out to lunch. So we’d shop, work up quite the appetite, and have some lunch. I know pretty fun right? Sounds like a good Saturday to me!
I have no idea what was in that melt other than spinach, artichokes and chicken. Honestly I can not even believe I remember what it tasted like it was so long ago, but I created a pretty good copy cat.
Basically the spread is a lightened up version of spinach and artichoke dip. Seriously, I could eat this stuff with a spoon it’s so good (good thing the recipe makes extra dip, you know for the “taste test”). Slather it on some sourdough bread and grill in a pan so it gets all oozy, gooey, crispy and delicious! Yeah, I know. Whoa!
Trust me this is gonna brighten your Monday right up. Oh and hey, isn’t that big sporting event thingy this Sunday? Oh yeah the Super Bowl. Yeah, this is pretty much perfect for that.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup milk (I used 2%, but whatever you have will be fine)
- 1 ounce cream cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt (I used 0%)
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup (about 5 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed
- 1 (6.7 ounce) jar grilled artichoke hearts or you can sub marinated artichokes, chopped
- 1 chicken breast, grilled and sliced thin (optional)
- 8 slices thick sourdough or tuscan bread
- butter, for spreading
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Whisk in flour until it makes a paste. Cook over medium-low heat for a minute or two, then pour in milk. Stir and cook one minute, if your paste gets too thick splash in more milk.
- Add cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and pepper. Stir until cheeses are melted. Stir in the greek yogurt until smooth. Chop artichokes and spinach and add to the sauce. Stir to combine. Dip will be thick, just use some muscle and stir in those veggies!
- Heat a skillet (or griddle, etc) oven medium-low heat. Butter the outsides of every bread slice, then spread a good amount (any where from 1-3 tablespoons) of the spinach and artichoke dip on the inside (the non-buttered side) of each slice. If using, top one slice with the sliced grilled chicken. Top off with another slice of bread, buttered-side up. Cook until each side is golden and crisp and cheese is melted, then gently flip and do the same.
- Slice and serve.
Notes
* You will have leftover spinach and artichoke dip. You can use this again for sandwiches the next day, as a sauce, for paste or as a yummy dip!
So deliciously awesome. Ahhh.
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That looks so yummy and I just happen to have everything on hand!
That looks simply delicious! Thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to try it! Pinned!
Oh my goodness these look delicious! Luckily I’m on my way to the grocery store now, definitely trying these out!!
YA! Lt me know what you think!
Is this ok to brighten up my Tuesday? I’m a little behind here but I need this sandwich in my life all day every day. YUM.
These look delicious! And your photography is beautiful.
These look amazing! I won’t to make these ASAP!
Stopping by from All My Bloggy Friends.
Thank you for this amazing lunch idea. So much better than reheating leftover whatevers.
Sharing on google+ and pinning!
Thanks for sharing!
This looks amazing. So glad I found this on one of the Tuesday link parties!! What a great idea, and I love the addition of the chicken. YUM.
oooh this is lunch! Thanks for sharing at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!
These look great! If it has cheese in it, it’s the best. Thank you for such a delicious looking sandwich.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-soup-kitchen-recipes-award-winning-loaded-potato-soup
Looks great! One question, your recipe calls for…
“1/2 greek yogurt (I used 0%)” – is that 1/2 cup or what?
Thanks! I look forward to trying this sometime for sure.
Yes, that would be 1/2 a cup. Sorry about that!
my mouth is watering! If it wasn’t 11pm I might be trying to make this now!
) Pinning for sure.
Thanks for pinning and hey 11pm is sometimes the best time for a sandwich!
I used to go to Claddagh all the time and I would get the chicken spinach melt sandwich every single time too. I would get the Irish Soda Bread to take home too. Man, I miss those places.
I know! Every time I head back to Ohio I try to stop by one!
Drool! I’m orginally from outside Chicago, so we would go to the one in Schaumburg and my friend used to work at one in Indianapolis. One o fmy fav places for sure. This is going on my must make list.
I am drooling over this one! Love the dip! Thank you…..
This looks like something you’d be able to order at Panera in a ‘way better, homemade’ kind of way!
Pinned!
THanks por pinning and I totally agree!
These look so good, anything with grilled sour dough bread, yum! Just might make these Sunday!
Jenna
They are perfect for Superbowl Sunday! Thanks for reading!
Can’t wait to try this. It looks great. Thank you so much for sharing.
My fiance would love this. Thanks for sharing!
This looks DELICIOUS! I love that you used yogurt and not mayo or sour cream! Pinned and can’t wait to try!
Thanks for pinning!
Yum. This looks fabulous!! Thanks for sharing at my party today
xoxo~ Ruthie
Wow this might be my favorite melt yet!
I may be eating these for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. Yum. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I just discovered your blog…and look forward to reading more!
Oh my goodness these look absolutely delicious!! Spinach and artichoke is one of my favorite combinations, and these just look sooo good! I need to make these with a big pot of soup!
Pinned it. Thanks for sharing. These look and sound DELICIOUS!!! I’m adding it to our menu this week. I found you at the Melt in Your Mouth Monday link party.
Have a great day.
Thanks for pinning!
Oh my goodness!!! Does that ever look DELICIOUS!!!!!
Thanks for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! Can’t wait to see what you link up tomorrow evening!
Oh my gosh!! This looks amazing. I would love one right now. Thanks for sharing at Tasty Thursdays!! Nichi
In my mouth NOW please! Pinned and shared on Facebook!
Thanks so much for pinning and sharing on facebook! I love all the support you give me!
You just made my favorite dip 100 x’s better! What an awesome idea to put it on grilled cheese. LOVE!
Thanks! These are really pretty yummy!
These look so creamy and wonderful! Yum! I’m pinning. ♥
Oh man o man, do these ever sound wonderful!!!
OH my!! I love everything about this! Pinned for later!
Thanks for pinning!
Um…YUM!
I am all over that. I’m book marking this one for sure.
Yay! Thanks!
Had to pin this. Stopping by from Whisked Away Wednesday. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for pinning.
This looks like it might be fun in my panini press. Looks delicious!
One word, amazing! Awesome idea
One word – awesome! Pinned!
These look so amazing. I love your picture too! Makes me want to just reach out and grab the sandwich. LOL
Thank you!
Brilliant! I would need to/want to healthify it but it gives me the idea to just combo a little turkey, spinach leaves, artichokes and a hint of cheese and panini-it up!
Looks DELISH! Do you have a link to the recipe for the grain free bread? Thank you!
I did not use grain free bread, but I did you this sourdough bread. http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/sourdough-bread-bowls/
If you are looking for gluten free bread try Ashley’s site http://www.edibleperspective.com/
Can I just buy spinach and artichoke dip to make this? Your homemade version sounds delicious, but I don’t have the abilities to make my own.
Sure! I can not tell you that it will taste exactly the same as mine, but I am sure it will still be delicious!
Thanks~
Holy cow, these look and sound so great! Spinach artichoke is one of my favorite dips. Love the pix too!
Thank you!
Holy cow I just made this and it was incredible! And I only ate it on a couple of pieces of whole wheat toast! So so good! I will NEVER get store bought spinach & artichoke dip EVER AGAIN!
Thank you!
YAY! So glad you liked it!! Thanks for letting me know!
Yum! These bites look so delicious!
Thank you!
Yum! I sure wanna try this. Thanks for sharing!
Hope you like them!
I. need. this. now. Please! Yout pictures are incredibly mouthwatering!
Thank you! I wish I could give you a slice!
Does anyone know how many calories these would be per sandwich?
These look amazing!
Thank you Marla!
This was OUTSTANDING.
I doubled the recipe but only used 5 ounces of the greek yoghurt, I realized after the fact that I only bought the small container.
Yes, I am so glad to hear you loved this!! Thanks for letting me know!
My friends just made these for me for my birthday lunch and we all agreed,as we took a bite, all you could hear was , yummmmm
Oh Yes!! Happy birthday and I am so glad you guys loved these! Thanks so letting me know!
I just made this to pack away and use at a later date. I mopped up the extra that was in the pan with the heel of untoasted bread and it was super yummy! I was a little worried about the 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes but it added a really good heat! Thanks for posting this recipe
Yay! Thanks Deana! I am so glad you like these. Thanks for letting me know and giving the recipe a try!