Hot Baked Spinach Ricotta Dip (Gluten-Free)

This hot baked spinach ricotta dip is a fresh take on the classic party favorite. Made with fresh spinach, creamy ricotta, fresh lemon juice, green onions, and garlic, it has all the rich flavor and bubbling, warm comfort you want in a hot dip, without the heavy mayonnaise, cream or gluten.

It is very easy to prep and always a crowd-pleaser. In fact, it’s so good you might just find yourself eating it straight from the dish with a spoon! 

Why Ricotta is the Secret to the Best Hot Dip

Most traditional hot dips rely on a heavy base of sour cream or mayo. Instead, this recipe uses high-quality ricotta cheese instead. When baked, ricotta becomes a light, creamy texture that brings out the flavors of garlic, green onions and herbs.

• The Quality Rule: Because ricotta is the star ingredient, quality matters. Look for a smooth, whole-milk ricotta.

Fresh Spinach vs. Frozen Spinach

I use a full bunch of fresh spinach for this recipe, and it takes only about five minutes to get it ready.

While it is tempting to reach for a box of frozen spinach, using fresh spinach makes all the difference in flavor. Frozen spinach often becomes watery and tasteless when thawed. Fresh spinach retains a bright, fresh flavor and holds its texture when wilted and roughly chopped.

The Perfect Make-Ahead Party Appetizer

When you have company coming, the last thing you want to do is spend an hour prepping an appetizer while trying to host. This low-carb hot dip requires only 10 minutes of hands-on time:

1. Wilt & Chop: Quickly wilt the fresh spinach, squeeze out any excess liquid, and give it a rough chop.

2. Mix & Layer: Stir the spinach together with the ricotta, green onions, garlic, spices, and a generous handful of Parmesan cheese. Spoon it into an oven-proof serving dish.

3. Bake & Serve: Pop it into the oven for about 15 minutes until it is hot and bubbling.

Hosting Tip: You can easily mix this dip a day in advance! Cover and store it in the refrigerator. When your guests arrive, just pop it straight into the oven (just add a few extra minutes to the baking time since the dish is starting out cold).

What to Serve with Spinach Ricotta Dip

Serve this dip hot and bubbling straight from the oven. It pairs perfectly with:

• Crisp gluten-free crackers or corn chips

• Fresh, crunchy vegetable sticks (like cucumber slices, bell peppers, or celery)

• Spread over warm, toasted Gluten Free French Bread for a quick snack.

If you love hot, low-carb appetizers, be sure to also check out our most popular Hot Gluten-Free Pizza Dip.

Hosting Tip: You can mix this dip a day in advance! Cover and store it in the refrigerator. When your guests arrive, pop it straight into the oven (just add a few extra minutes to the baking time since the dish is starting out cold).

And if you love baking with less fat by using ricotta, try my Gluten-Free Lemon Ricotta Loaf, or my most popular Gluten-Free Ricotta Blueberry Breakfast Cake.

 Hi, I’m Kristina  I’m a professional gluten-free recipe developer, and every recipe on this site is created and personally tested in my kitchen. If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐ star rating and a quick review below, it helps other readers find my recipes!

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