Why Trader Joe’s Spinach Artichoke Dip Is So Popular

Spinach-artichoke dip is a creamy, cheesy, and savory crowd-pleaser that never seems to go out of style, especially if you’re having people over. So it shouldn’t be a complete surprise that when Trader Joe’s asked customers to vote on their favorite products for the chain’s 16th Annual Customer Choice Awards, the ready-to-eat version of this indulgent dip was voted the top appetizer.

“Every year, our customers vote on their favorite Trader Joe’s products. Last year, the Creamy Spinach-Artichoke made the list in the appetizer category,” a Trader Joe’s representative explains to Food & Wine.

Here’s what you need to know about this fan-favorite appetizer.

What is in the Trader Joe’s Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip ? 

The Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip from Trader Joe’s includes artichokes, spinach, onions, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, Swiss and Parmesan cheeses, salt, and white pepper. The 8.8-ounce dip costs just $3.79 and serves eight people. 

This cheesy, garlicky dip can be found in the freezer aisle at Trader Joe’s and is ready to serve in under five minutes. Simply take the container out of its box, remove the plastic wrap, and put it in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the dip for two and a half minutes, stir, then microwave for another two minutes to heat it evenly.

Although the directions on the box recommend microwaving the dip, one redditor suggests baking it instead of microwaving, saying, “The frozen dip is my life. I had to stop buying it. It’s too good. I got a little baking dish for it; I just throw it in the oven at, like, 375-ish for 30 minutes or so, or until it looks delicious.”

How to use the Spinach & Artichoke Dip as a pasta sauce

According to loyal Trader Joe’s customers, the Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip can be used in other dishes, not just as a pre-dinner snack. One shopper notes online that they use it to prepare pasta, writing, “I love to use it as a pasta sauce. It's especially good if you add some cherry tomatoes to balance out the flavor.” 

Another TikToker, Melissa Albano (@melissa_albano), has shared her technique for turning the dip into a rich and flavorful pasta sauce — and if you recall the feta pasta trend from 2021, this might look familiar. 

Albano tosses cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, garlic, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in the bottom of a baking dish. (She also adds sliced, pre-cooked chicken sausage from Trader Joe’s, but you can skip this if you prefer.) She then removes the frozen dip from its packaging and places it in the center of the tomatoes. Once baked, the dip melts and is ready to be stirred in with everything else, creating a super easy, creamy pasta sauce with bursts of bright tomatoes.

If you’re really in a pinch, baking isn’t the only way to turn this dip into a sauce. You could also just warm up the dip according to its packaging instructions and then toss the melted cheese mixture with cooked pasta. 

Why does this work well as a pasta sauce? It has several ingredients that you’d likely add to a cream-based sauce already — including cheese, a creamy base, vegetables, garlic, and spices. 

Whether you want to keep it classic by pairing the Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip with tortilla chips for your next gathering or toss it with noodles for a weeknight dinner, this versatile frozen item is something we — and Trader Joe’s customers — like to keep on hand.