Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip [Nut-Free] : Watch Learn Eat

Name: Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil ((For the oil-free option, use 1/4 cup vegan Pinot Grigio)); 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion; 2 cloves garlic, chopped; 6 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess water thoroughly drained*; 14 oz can of quartered artichoke hearts, drained ((not seasoned or marinated)); 1 tsp fine sea salt or kosher salt, divided; 1 (16 oz) block silken tofu, drained** ((I used the refrigerated kind)); 1/2 cup unsweetened oat milk, full-fat; 1/2 cup nutritional yeast; 2 tbsp tapioca starch (aka tapioca flour); 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 tbsp fresh chopped dill; 2 tsp Dijon mustard ((use certified GF if needed)); pinch cayenne pepper, optional

This creamy and flavorful vegan spinach artichoke dip is a crowd-pleasing warm, baked appetizer that will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike! Made dairy-free using silken tofu, oat milk and nutritional yeast, this recipe offers a vegan twist on the traditional dish. This version is also nut-free and has an oil-free option. Perfect for parties, potlucks and of course, New Year's Eve celebrations and game day grub!

Jump to Recipe

holding a piece of bread with vegan spinach artichoke dip on it over the casserole of the rest of the dip

Why you'll love this vegan dip

It's ultra creamy and has a cheesy flavor without adding any vegan cheese
It's the perfect party dip that all your guests will love...not just the vegans.
This flavor-packed dip is warm and comforting and perfect with some toasted bread, tortilla chips, crackers and veggies.

overhead of dip in a white bowl with a spoon in it and some bread slices behind it

Ingredients you'll need

Silken Tofu - takes the place of cream cheese, mayo or sour cream traditionally used in dairy-based spinach artichoke dip recipes (I used the refrigerated kind)
Oat Milk - adds creaminess to the base along with the silken tofu (I used Oatly brand which is certified gluten-free in the US. Note that most full-fat oat milks contain oil, so for the oil-free version use another type of plant-based milk on the thicker side such as soy milk)
Frozen Chopped Spinach
Canned Artichoke Hearts
Onion
Garlic
Olive Oil (for the oil-free option, vegan Pinot Grigio takes place of the oil)
Nutritional Yeast - this gives the dip its cheesy flavor
Tapioca Starch (aka Tapioca Flour) - helps to thicken up the tofu/oat milk base while keeping it creamy
Dijon Mustard
Lemon Juice
Fresh Dill - adds a fresh burst of flavor
Cayenne Pepper - it adds a little kick to the dip, but you can leave it out if you prefer
Fine Sea Salt

close-up overhead of dip in a white bowl with some bread slices behind it

How to make this nut-free vegan spinach artichoke dip

Start by preheating your oven to 375° F.

Heat olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat.

Add the onion, garlic and spinach to the pan. Season with salt.

Sauté for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the artichokes and sauté for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

onion, garlic and spinach after being sautéed in pan

artichokes added to pan with onion, garlic and spinach

For the oil free option, add the onion, garlic, spinach and wine to a nonstick pan. Season with salt.

Turn the heat to medium-high and sauté until wine has dissipated, stirring frequently.

Then, add the artichokes and sauté for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently.

Allow to cool off the heat for 5 minutes.

While the veggie mixture is cooling, add tofu, milk, nutritional yeast, tapioca starch, mustard, lemon juice, dill, cayenne pepper and salt to a high-powered blender or food processor.

Blend on high speed until ingredients are well-incorporated, scraping down the sides as needed.

tofu base ingredients for dip in blender before being blended

tofu base ingredients for dip blended in blender

Add the veggies to the blender or food processor.

Pulse a few times until the veggies are chopped, leaving some large chunks intact if desired.

Spread the dip mixture into a casserole dish.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until dip looks set and is beginning to brown.

veggie mixture added to the blender and pulsed

Tips

Spinach: Be sure that you thaw and drain the spinach thoroughly or it will add too much moisture to the dip. To thaw the spinach, you can place it in a microwave safe container and use the defrost feature on your microwave. Instead, you can place the spinach (in the package or in a covered dish) in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Alternatively, you can add the spinach to a mesh strainer and run warm water over it, breaking up any icy chunks with your hands during the process. To drain the excess water, place the spinach in a mesh strainer over a bowl or over the sink. Press down with a spatula or squeeze with your hands until the water is removed.

Artichoke Hearts: Ensure you are using artichoke hearts packed in water. You do not want to use seasoned or marinated artichoke hearts because this will change the flavor of the dip.

Silken Tofu: Be sure to drain the excess water from the tofu. To do so, place the block of tofu on a plate for 5-10 minutes. Then, carefully hold onto the tofu and tilt the plate over the sink to drain the water off the plate.

close-up of holding a piece of bread with dip on it

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this spinach artichoke dip in advance?

Yes, you can make the dip up to a day ahead of time. Follow all of the steps except for baking. Cover the unbaked dip and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. You may need a few extra minutes of baking time to ensure the dip is warmed throughout.

How long will spinach artichoke dip keep?

The dip will keep for 3-4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How do I reheat spinach artichoke dip?

You can enjoy the leftover dip cold or reheat it if you'd like. To reheat, place the dip in an oven safe dish. Cover with foil and reheat in a 375° oven until warmed throughout. You can remove the foil and bake for a few minutes uncovered at the end, if desired.

overhead of dip in a white bowl with spoon on right and bread pieces behind to the left

Ideas for serving

Enjoy the dip as is or garnish with some vegan Parmesan cheese (or our pumpkin seed Parmesan for an oil-free version), crushed red pepper flakes, more chopped dill and/or paprika.

dipping a piece of bread into a bowl of dip garnished with vegan Parmesan and crushed red pepper

This dip is perfect with some toasted bread. I used the Schar brand gluten-free baguette in the photos.

It's also delicious with tortilla chips, crackers or pita chips.

You can also serve it as part of a veggie platter with your favorite veggies such as carrots, celery, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, broccoli and more.

More vegan dips

close-up of hand holding bread with dip on it over the casserole of the rest of the dip

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5 from 5 votes

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

This creamy and flavorful Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip is a crowd-pleasing warm, baked appetizer that will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike! Made dairy-free using silken tofu, oat milk and nutritional yeast, this recipe offers a vegan twist on the traditional dish. This version is also nut-free and has an oil-free option. Perfect for parties, potlucks and of course, New Year's Eve celebrations and game day grub!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Gluten-Free, Vegan

Keyword dairy-free, dip, gluten free, nut free, nutritional yeast, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings

Calories 153kcal

Author Sireesha A.

Ingredients

2 tablespoon olive oil (For the oil-free option, use ¼ cup vegan Pinot Grigio)
½ cup chopped sweet onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
6 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess water thoroughly drained*
14 oz can of quartered artichoke hearts, drained (not seasoned or marinated)
1 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt, divided
1 (16 oz) block silken tofu, drained** (I used the refrigerated kind)
½ cup unsweetened oat milk, full-fat (I used Oatly brand oat milk; use a certified GF brand if necessary; for the oil-free option, ensure you are using an oil-free milk on the thicker side such as soy milk)
½ cup nutritional yeast
2 tablespoon tapioca starch (aka tapioca flour)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh chopped dill
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard (use certified GF if needed)
pinch cayenne pepper, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° F.
Heat olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat.
Add the onion, garlic and spinach to the pan. Season with ½ teaspoon salt. Sauté for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the artichokes and sauté for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently. For the oil free option, add the onion, garlic, spinach and wine to a nonstick pan. Season with ½ teaspoon salt. Turn the heat to medium-high and sauté until wine has dissipated, stirring frequently. Add the artichokes and sauté for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove the pan from the heat and allow the veggies to cool for 5 minutes.
While the veggie mixture is cooling, add tofu, milk, nutritional yeast, tapioca starch, lemon juice, dill, mustard cayenne pepper and the remaining salt to a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend on high speed until ingredients are well-incorporated, scraping down the sides as needed.
Add the veggies to the blender or food processor. Pulse a few times until the veggies are chopped, leaving some large chunks intact.
Spread the dip mixture into a 1.5-qt. - 2-qt. casserole dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the dip is set and beginning to brown.

(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)

Suggested Equipment/Tools

Food Processor

High-Powered Blender

Notes

*To thaw the spinach, you can place it in a microwave safe container and use the defrost feature on your microwave. Instead, you can place the spinach (in the package or in a covered dish) in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Alternatively, you can add the spinach to a mesh strainer and run warm water over it, breaking up any icy chunks with your hands during the process. To drain the excess water, place the spinach in a mesh strainer over a bowl or over the sink. Press down with a spatula or squeeze with your hands until the water is removed.

**To drain the tofu, place on a plate 5-10 minutes. Carefully hold onto the tofu and tilt the plate over the sink to drain the water off the plate.

I used a ceramic 1.5-qt. baking dish which was 9.5 in. x 6.5 in. x 2 in.

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

The olive oil option was used to calculate nutrition. Using wine instead will change the calculation.

Nutrition

This post originally appeared on Watch Learn Eat on January 30, 2020. It has been republished to reflect both recipe and photo revisions. Changes to the story were also made.

©Watch Learn Eat. All content and images are copyright protected. Recipes and images are not to be used or republished without prior permission. If you adapt this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, and link back to this post for the original recipe.

Comments

5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)