Crispy, toasted bagels are topped with a traditional cream spinach dip mixture. Fresh baby spinach, chopped artichokes, and a blend of cheeses that pull beautifully when baked, Whether you see it as a light lunch, an appetizer, even a snack– these Spinach & Artichoke Bagel Melts are gourmet flavored comfort food that can be whipped up in a flash.
Do you read?
Not because you have to, but because it’s fun?
I’ve been reading for pure enjoyment for as long as I can remember.
Several of my most treasured childhood memories are centered around books, and sharing them with the people I love.
I remember looking forward to bedtime every night for the better part of 6 months when I was 7.
Every night my Dad would tuck me into my large full size bed and then climb onto the cover and stretch out beside me and we’d take turns reading and getting lost in Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
It was like magic and I pictured the words in my head playing out like the most vivid movie I’d ever seen.
In 6th grade, I found myself in my Dad’s position in a bed time dog pile with my Mom and both of my little sisters, everyone jostling for a position on top of one of their twin beds.
It took several months, but I got them through their first Harry Potter novel.
To this day, I still read most days. I still get lost in almost every novel.
George R. R. Martin summed it up best when he said, “I have lived a thousand lives and I’ve loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.”
And it’s a gift I strive to give my own kids, a passion I’m determined to show them, and a fire I long to spark in their hearts and minds.
That being said, while bed time is devoted to fairy tales and selections from the elementary reader list.
Day time and late night are when I get to immerse myself in more adult worlds.
Like yesterday/today’s read, JoJo Moye’s ‘Me Before You’.
Which was great by the way, in that heart-breaking, beautiful way that the great love stories are.
And like Jack & Rose in Titanic, it left me snot-crying, tear-stained and emptying a whole box of tissues during nap time.
Even knowing how it would end, I still don’t regret it.
Still, after an emotional read like that I needed something yummy, and seriously comforting for a late lunch.
Luckily these Spinach & Artichoke Bagel Melts fit the bill perfectly.
A rich creamy fresh spinach and artichoke dip is slathered all over open face bagels.
A quick bake toasts the bagels and melts the cheesy spinach mixture until every bite is crisp baked perfection with just the right amount of stringy cheese-pull.
Remember those bagel bites we loved so much as children?
Think of these as the grown-up version.
Added bonus? Unlike your candy stash you don’t have to hide in the pantry to sneak this snack– just tell the kids and the husband it’s healthy.
They won’t ask for a single bite!
Save the recipe, because these savory bagel melts are the very best thing to tuck into when you crack the cover of your next great read.
Other Simple Snacks To Whip Up:
If you’ve tried these SPINACH & ARTICHOKE BAGEL MELTS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Spinach & Artichoke Bagel Melts
Ingredients
- 8 oz fresh baby spinach
- 1 13 oz can of artichoke hearts
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 of a small white onion finely diced
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 6-7 plain bagels cut in half
Instructions
- Drain the artichokes and chop them, then chop the spinach. In the bowl of a stand mixer whip together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese until the mixture's smooth. Gently mix in the onion, garlic and mustard, again until the mixture's smooth. Mix in the chopped spinach, artichokes and cheeses until they're evenly incorporated into the dip.
- Lay the bagel slices out onto a baking sheet. Spread each slice with about 1/4-1/3 cup of the dip. Bake them at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Put them under the broiler, watching them constantly, for an additional minute-- just until the cheese has browned in spots.
- Let them rest a minute or two, and serve immediately.
I envy you that you read. I only seem to read on vacation ever since I started blogging. I used to read every day and made sure my children were readers too.
I love spinach and artichoke together and this would make an amazing lunch!
I try to make/find time for it each day– even if it’s just a few pages.
It was lovely to read about your relationship with reading. And, I would certainly love to have one of your spinach artichoke bagel melts for brunch. Happy Fiesta, Meaghan! 🙂
Aww, thanks Ahila! These are too good to pass up– brunch, lunch, snack, etc!
Like you, I’ve always been drawn to reading! Just as, apparently, I seem to be drawn to these most excellent-looking bagel melts! Artichoke, spinach, cheese… what’s not to like? Thanks for dropping by at Fiesta Friday!
The two just seem to go hand in hand, don’t they?
I love this idea! It’s like an excuse to eat artichoke dip for breakfast ;). Thanks for linking up at You Link It, We Make It – hope to see you back tomorrow. Pinning!
I’ve lost my concentration in recent years and miss reading, a lot! It’s left quite a hole in my life! But these bagels are just lovely, Meaghan!
Wow! These look so good! I can imagine what a riot of flavours these Spinach Artichoke Bagel Melts would be, with the Dijon mustard, cream cheese, sour cream, parmesan, onion and garlic going in!
We don’t get artichokes here in Bangalore, India, where I live. If I manage to get my hands on them some time, I’d definitely love to try these out!
Can you order them? I order things I can’t find locally from Amazon- not sure if that’s an option or not.
I love these – what a yummy idea! I would be honored to have you join our What’s for Dinner party with your recipes!
http://www.lazygastronome.com/whats-for-dinner-sunday-link-up-196/