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It’s appetizer season and this Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip needs to be on everyone’s menu.

Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

I was recently browsing through the site and a realized that I really don’t have enough dip options for your guys. I’ve said this many times over now, but for whatever reason I just don’t make appetizers all that often, and when I do I always make the same ones over and over, see this blue cheese appetizer and this cranberry brie pull apart bread. Okay, and I do always make a cheese board when entertaining. Always.

Notice something though?

None of those are dips. You guys, why do I not have any dips on HBH? I have two answers.

One, dips have oddly never been something that have excited me…with the exception of guacamole, which is obviously awesome. Something about dips just throws me off a little. I think it’s all the sour cream used in a lot of dip recipes…not much of a sour cream person.

Two, dips are hard to photograph. They typically don’t have a lot of color and or are covered in baked cheese, thus making them a difficult subject. Stupid reason to steer clear of dips, but I’m definitely guilty of doing so for this reason.

Long story short, I decided our holiday season needed a good dip, so I went with one I knew I would love, a spinach and artichoke dip.

Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Two of my favorite flavors together are spinach and artichokes. I think a lot of people feel the same, especially when the combo is used to make a warm and cheesy dip. I know this is already a pretty classic, popular dip, but me being me, I had to make it with my own little twist.

Say hello to the best spinach and artichoke dip ever. Bold words, but true.

My secret is a little roasted lemon, roasted with some jalapeño, and plenty of cheese (obviously).

Not sure if you guys remember, but around this time last year, I made this spinach and artichoke pizza. On that pizza I included really thin slices of lemon, which I roasted up on top. As the pizza cooks, the lemons caramelize and turn sweet. It. Is. Delicious.

Ever since then, I have been mildly obsessed with roasting lemons and adding them to dishes to add a pop of fresh citrus flavor. This dip though? I think it’s the best thing to come out of my oven in a while. It’s addicting and easy, making it perfect to serve up at any and all holiday parties.

Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestRoasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Here’s how this works. Roast some lemon with a jalapeño and garlic. Add your roasted ingredients to a mix of cheese, spinach, and marinated artichokes (must use marinated, they add so much flavor). Top with more cheese and some pine nuts. Bake until bubbly.

Eat and EAT! I love this with naan, fresh bread, or just some good old Ritz crackers.

You can also prepare the dip in advance and then just bake it up right before guests arrive. I love that I can keep this in the fridge all day while I’m getting ready and then not have to stress about getting an appetizer together (frantically) before guests arrive. It makes life so easy, and of course delicious.

PS. I have my eye on this gorgeous baker to bake this dip in for Christmas Eve.

Up at my parents house, they currently have a whole slew of house guests. Some family members, some US Snowboard team members, and you know, some other people…

Point is, extra food is very welcomed!

I think it’s like a grand total of twelve with more coming as December continues on. I don’t know, but it’s a lot. In an effort to help feed everyone, I made a double batch of this spinach artichoke dip to send up a few nights ago.

All was eaten within minutes. Yeah! The dip was clearly well received.

And finally? Seeing as this is a veggie based dip, I think it’s safe to say this is totally health food.

Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 347 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

  • 1 small, Meyer lemon
  • 1 jalapeño, halved
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup cubed fontina cheese
  • 1 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 bag (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach thawed drained and squeezed dry
  • 1 jar (12 ounces) marinated artichokes, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons raw pine nuts
  • fresh dill, for topping

Instructions

  • 1. Preheat the oven 375 degrees F. 
    2. Slice 1/3 of the lemon into thin slices and set aside. Quarter the remaining lemon and remove the seeds. 
    3. In a small baking dish, combine the quartered lemon, jalapeño, garlic, olive oil, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Transfer to the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes or until the lemon is golden and caramelized. Remove and let cool. If desired, de-seed the jalapeño. Finely chop the lemon, jalapeño, and garlic into a rough paste. 
    4. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, fontina, 1/2 of the mozzarella, the paprika, spinach, and artichokes. Stir in the the roasted lemon paste. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to an 8-inch greased baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and remaining lemon slices. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve warm, topped with pine nuts. Serve with fresh bread or crackers. Enjoy!
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Roasted Lemon Spinach and Artichoke Dip | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Right? Going with it.

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Comments

  1. just bought your book… excited!! For the lemon/jalapeno paste… after roasting, do you include the actual lemon rind in the paste?

    1. Hi Mollie! I do include the rind! Hope you love the cookbook! 🙂 Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    Hi Tieghan! Happy holidays!

    Super excited to make this for a holiday party this weekend! Just one (possible silly) question: do you chop up the carmelized lemons with the rind on it?

    Thanks so much!

    1. HI! I do chop the lemons very finely so that they taste and not bitter. I would add a little of the lemon to the dip, taste and add more if you wish. Sometime people can find the lemon overpowering, so use it to your taste. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    I made this delicious appetizer yesterday for the Sunday football games & it was a huge hit!
    I left out the jalapeno as I am not a fan of peppers & did not have Fontina cheese so I used Parmesan instead & it turned out great!

    Highly recommend giving this dish a try, the roasted lemon was the perfect touch! Mouth-watering!

  4. 5 stars
    Made this for my holiday party last night and it was a hit! I doubled it and made it in a 9×13 and that was about the perfect amount. Everyone was asking for the recipe 🙂 Thank you!

  5. Looks amazing! when do you add the lemon slices and pine nuts. ALSO, when you make the lemon, garlic and Jalapeno paste, do you chop up the lemon rind as well?????? HELP, I’m in the middle of making it NOW.

    1. So sorry about that! Both are added at the end. Recipe is all fixed. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you loved this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂

  6. Hey Tieghan,
    I love this dip recipe! I also don’t make many appetizers and try not to fill up before dinner, but this dip does really look perfect and might be a good snack while watching Christmas movies too! ?
    I like the cheese you used, and think they don’t seem too expensive or overpowering. I’ll definitely have to make this for my mom, now that I’m on break! Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
    I hope you’re having fun with all of your holiday guests and enjoying the winter season! (Except isn’t it still somewhat warm, compared to normal, in CO?). I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s post!

    1. Hi! I am so happy you are liking this and I hope you and your mom enjoy it! It would be a great snack for Christmas movies! It has been pretty chilly the last few days here…brrr! Hope you are staying warm! Thanks Kristin!

  7. Gorgeous again Tieghan!!! Making this for a 30th bday party. One question, when do you add the thin sliced lemons & pine nuts?

    1. So sorry about that! The pine nuts and lemons go on top. Recipe is all fixed. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂

    1. The pine nuts got on top just before serving. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂

  8. I am a HUGE fan of all kinds of spinach and artichoke dip, but this one sounds better than any I have eaten as I ADORE anything lemony! Can’t wait to make this for our holiday party Saturday night! Thanks, Tieghan!

  9. 5 stars
    Wow. In reading your thoughts on dips, I think we could be twins! Ha. I have always wanted to like the spinach artichoke one, but could never get past all the sour cream. Seemed to be a total turn off to me. This one, I’m looking forward to. Really looks yummy. Thanks. I’ll need to try that pizza too.

  10. Hey Tieghan! This looks so great, what a good idea to add lemon to a classic dip like spinach and artichoke! And I’ve never tried roasting lemon, another really cool idea. One question, and I’m sure I could google this too. What’s the difference between a Meyer lemon and one I would find in the regular citrus section at the grocery store? I definitely will be trying this over the holiday season! Hope you have a great weekend!

    1. HI! So Meyer lemons are much less bitter than regular lemons are are great for cooking and baking. They are just a little sweeter. You should be able to find them in your grocery store, but if not, just use a regular lemon. That will be great too! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂

  11. What an original dip recipe, I need to try this! Not much of an artichoke person but combined with the other ingredients I think it’ll blend in well. And if I may be honest with you: I prefer yesterday’s beef photography, dips are definitely not “picture friendly”. But you’re still the best.