Spinach Dip Pasta Salad
Spinach dip pasta salad combines creamy spinach artichoke dip with pasta, turning into a full fledged side dish or even vegetarian main you’ll love. With all the creamy goodness of the classic appetizer, your friends and family will beg you to make this for every barbecue, potluck and picnic!
This spinach dip pasta salad is packed full of all the same flavors that creamy spinach dip has.
Better yet?
It gets my meat eating boys to eat some extra veggies.
I’m calling that a major mom win since in this house, there may have been times when I’ve counted ketchup as a vegetable.
Desperate times, right?
With this refreshing spin on pasta salad, you won’t have to count ketchup as a vegetable!
My boys gladly gobble this up and everyone I serve it to adores it
It makes a delicious cool main on a warm day or even a side for a potluck, game day dinner, or cookout.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Pasta – Penne pasta or any other shorter noodle like rotini would work. Cook it according to package directions and let it cool.
- Spinach – Baby spinach has a better texture here. You want a full 10 ounces of it. It might seem like a lot but it will cook down.
- Sour Cream – Full fat sour cream has the best flavor.
- Mayonnaise – Use real mayo not mayonnaise style dressing or low fat mayo.
- Artichoke Hearts – While you technically don’t have to add these, artichokes will give you the most authentic spinach artichoke dip experience in this pasta salad so I highly recommend them. Use the canned or jarred ones, diced. Make sure to drain them.
- Spices – Garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley and salt and pepper.
How to Make
Spinach dip pasta salad is pretty easy to make!
To do it, sautee the spinach in a nonstick pan over medium low heat, stirring occasionally.
Let it cook until it’s just until BUT NOT MUSHY.
Remove the skillet from heat, and let the spinach cool completely.
Then stir all of the ingredients except the pasta together in a large mixing bowl.
Stir the pasta into the spinach dip mixture to evenly combine it.
Cover and chill at least four hours, or up to overnight, before serving.
Enjoy!
Storing
Store this recipe in a covered bowl or airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I Make This Spinach Pasta Salad Ahead Of Time?
Yes!
This recipe is the perfect make ahead side dish.
I like to put it together the night before I plan to serve it.
Can I Use Frozen Spinach Instead Of Fresh?
While I highly recommend using fresh spinach in this recipe, you can substitute the frozen variety if need be.
If using frozen spinach, make sure to thaw it completely and then press the spinach firmly between several layers of paper towels to remove all excess moisture.
Pull it apart after squeezing out the extra water and then include it in the recipe as instructed.
If you don’t ring the extra moisture out of the frozen spinach, it can lead to a watery pasta salad situation.
Tips and Tricks
- Cook the spinach just until it wilts but take care not to overcook it or it will get mushy.
- Let the spinach and the pasta cool completely prior to mixing this salad together. If you don’t let things cool, the spinach will get mushier and the pasta salad may be watery.
- For added flavor, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese would be amazing in this pasta salad.
- Turn it into a full on meal with by adding some shredded rotisserie or sliced grilled chicken into the salad for a bit of protein.
Other Pasta Salad Recipes
This spinach dip pasta salad combines creamy, addictive spinach artichoke dip with pasta for a cool, creamy pasta salad situation everyone will love.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other pasta salad recipes to enjoy?
Try these:
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Bacon Cheddar Ranch Tortellini Salad
- Chicken Club Pasta Salad
If you’ve tried this SPINACH DIP PASTA SALAD 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 Dip Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta cooked to al dente, drained, and cooled
- 10 oz fresh baby spinach
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/4 tsp onion powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tsp dried parsley optional
- 1/4 cup artichoke hearts drained, rinsed, and diced (optional)
Instructions
- Sautee the spinach in a non stick pan, stirring occasionally, just until wilted BUT NOT MUSHY. Remove the skillet from heat, and let the spinach cool completely.10 oz fresh baby spinach
- Add all of the ingredients, except the pasta, to a large mixing bowl, and give them a stir until evenly combined.2 cups sour cream, 1/2 cup mayo, 1 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/4 tsp onion powder, salt & pepper, 2 tsp dried parsley, 1/4 cup artichoke hearts
- Add the pasta to the spinach dip mixture, and stir again to evenly combine.1 lb penne pasta
- Cover and chill at least four hours, or up to overnight, before serving.
Notes
- Cook the spinach just until it wilts but take care not to overcook it or it will get mushy.
- Let the spinach and the pasta cool completely prior to mixing this salad together. If you don't let things cool, the spinach will get mushier and the pasta salad may be watery.
- For added flavor, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese would be amazing in this pasta salad.
- Turn it into a full on meal with by adding some shredded rotisserie or sliced grilled chicken into the salad for a bit of protein.
Nutrition
recipe adapted from Wonky Wonderful
