This post may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure.
We love to recreate restaurant favorites at home for a fraction of the price! Try these delicious copycat appetizers that will impress any crowd, like our Shrimp Fritto Misto (it actually reminds me of the Wild West Shrimp Appetizer from Longhorn, too) and this creamy Uno’s Shrimp Dip, to name a few.
Longhorn Spinach Dip Recipe
The longhorn spinach dip is much more flavorful and has a stronger garlic flavor than a spinach artichoke dip (for instance, Applebee’s).
Our family went out to eat at the Longhorn Steakhouse this past week, and I intentionally brought some of the leftovers home to recreate them at home. The Longhorn Parmesan crusted spinach dip reminded me of an Alfredo sauce rich in garlic flavour and packed with spinach leaves.
The parmesan crust added great texture and flavour to the super creamy dip.
When recreating the recipe, I used my Spinach Dip Recipe as the base to recreate Longhorn’s spinach dip.
I wanted to infuse more of that garlicky flavour that I tasted in theirs, and use sharper cheeses for more flavor. Trust me, this copycat Longhorn spinach dip is identical, if not better (according to my family, the homemade version tasted even better to them)!
My first attempt at the dip was with fresh spinach. However, I’ve made it with frozen spinach too, and it works either way.
Watch How to Make Longhorn Spinach Dip Recipe!
How To Make Longhorn Spinach Dip:
Making a spinach dip like Longhorn is not complicated and is very easy to make at home.
- Chop the fresh spinach or squeeze out frozen and thawed spinach in a colander to remove excess liquid.
- Heat a deep sauté pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and sweat the fresh garlic until fragrant.
- Add the spinach and heat until softened and thoroughly heated (about 1 minute). Stir in the cream cheese and melt it.
- Add the remaining dip ingredients and stir until heated through and bubbly.
- Transfer dip to a small baking dish.
- Make the parmesan crust by combining the Panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and melted butter. Sprinkle it over the top of the dip and broil in the middle of the oven for about 4 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp.
- Serve with crispy bread like Crostini, pita chips, or deep-fried pita bread cut into triangles (like Longhorn).
Pro Tip: Restaurants use Salamander ovens, which heat to high temperatures and are used for toasting and keeping dishes warm. I find that broiling the dip in the middle rack of the oven is the best way to heat it evenly.
How To Make Crispy Flatbread Chips from Pita Bread:
Cut up Pita bread or naan bread into wedges. Deep fry the pita bread in 350-375°F oil (175-190°C) for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crisp. This is exactly how Longhorn serves their Spinach dip, with pita bread chips.
Join My Weekly Newsletter
New recipes, homesteading, family life, what we eat in a week, and hospitality tips.
Pin this now to find it later
Longhorn Spinach Dip Recipe
Equipment
- 1 small baking dish
Ingredients
Ingredients for Spinach Dip:
- 6 oz spinach , (or 6-oz of frozen spinach, thawed, drained, and liquid squeezed out)
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic , (1 tablespoon, minced)
- 8 oz cream cheese , (broken up into six chunks)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese , (I used Kraft)
- 3/4 cup white cheddar cheese
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Parmesan Crust:
- 2 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs
- 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese , (I used pre-shredded cheese in a 5-oz bag)
- 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter , (melted)
Instructions
Directions:
- Chop spinach, or if using frozen, thaw and squeeze out any excess liquid.
- Heat a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil. When heated, add the minced garlic and sweat for 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Stir in the spinach and heat thoroughly (about 1 minute). Add the cream cheese and melt it.
- Once the cream cheese is mushy and melted, add the remaining ingredients, stirring well to combine and heat thoroughly (heavy cream, parmesan, white cheddar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder).
- Transfer the spinach mixture into a baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together the parmesan crust ingredients (Panko, parmesan cheese, and melted butter). Sprinkle evenly over the spinach mixture.
- Broil the dip on the middle rack of the oven until bubbly and the crust is golden brown (4 minutes on high).
- Serve with pita chips.
Notes
- Recipe Yield: This spinach dip makes about 2 1/2 cups of filling.
- Serving size: 1 serving is about 1/3 cup of spinach dip.
- To make a four-cheese spinach dip: use 3/4 cup of Parmesan and Romano cheese, 3/4 cup of shredded white cheddar, and 1/4 cup of grated provolone. I usually have Parmesan and cheddar on hand.
- This spinach dip works well with fresh or frozen spinach.
- To freeze spinach dip, cool it and transfer it to a quart-sized freezer bag. Keep frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat as instructed in step 7.
- Longhorn spinach dip is served with crispy flatbread chips, using pita bread.
- To make crispy flatbread chips using pita bread: Cut up Pita bread or naan bread into wedges. Deep fry the pita bread in 350-375°F oil (175-190°C) for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crisp. This is exactly how Longhorn serves their Spinach dip, with pita bread chips.
- Use any crisp bread or chips that you have on hand for dipping, like crostini, pita chips, or crackers.
Nutrition (per serving)
Tried this recipe?
Mention @alyonascooking or hashtag #alyonascooking.