Cheesy Sausage Dip with Beans and Spinach
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I’ve been making this Sausage Dip with Beans and Spinach for everything from casual weeknight gatherings to game-day parties, and it’s always the dip my guests can’t stop eating. Packed with savory sausage, tender spinach, and hearty beans, it’s big on flavor with zero fuss. Let me show you how to make this cheesy dip easily in just one skillet!
Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot for Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
This sausage dip with beans and spinach is everything you want in a party recipe! It’s easy, flavorful, and made with simple ingredients.
We’ve hosted our fair share of game-day gatherings to cheer on our Tennessee Vols — our daughter even marched with the Pride of the Southland Band one year — so good food has always been part of the fun.
When the house is full and everyone’s hungry, there’s nothing better than pulling a bubbling skillet of sausage dip straight from the oven, especially during those cold months when we’re gathered around the TV for kickoff.
So when I say I’ve made plenty of dips for football season, you can believe it — and this one’s earned a permanent spot among my favorite dip recipes. Most folks make their sausage dip with Velveeta cheese and Rotel tomatoes in a slow cooker, but the added beans and spinach make this version extra hearty and flavorful.
My personal favorite part is that it all comes together in one pan on the stovetop! You start by browning spicy sausage with onions and bell peppers, then stir in a splash of white wine, a little garlic, and plenty of cream cheese to tie it all together.
Once it’s topped with a layer of melty Parmesan, it’s game over, in the best way. Just set it out with your favorite dippers and watch it disappear!
Ingredient Notes for Sausage Dip Recipe
- Hot Pork Ground Sausage | Opt for hot pork sausage for loads of flavor and spice. That being said, my family usually prefers less heat, so I use Jimmy Dean mild sausage.
- Onion, Red Bell Pepper & Garlic | These three ingredients are aromatic and flavorful, building flavor right from the beginning!
- Thyme | Use fresh thyme if you have it, but dried thyme can work too. Just use about half!
- White Wine | Adds a depth of flavor to the dip. If you prefer, you can use chicken broth.
- Cream Cheese | Cream cheese makes up the creamy base of the dip! Make sure it is softened to room temperature so it mixes in smoothly.
- Baby Spinach | I like to add a green vegetable for a pop of color and freshness.
- Pinto Beans | Beans make the dip a little more hearty and satisfying. Cannellini or white beans will work great, too.
- Parmesan Cheese | For a melty, cheesy topping!
- Salt | Add to taste!
Variations and Substitutions
- Sausage: Use a sweet Italian sausage instead of the bulk pork sausage.
- Lower Fat: Opt for chicken or turkey Italian sausage instead of pork sausage for a lower fat option. You can also use lean ground beef!
- Different Greens: Kale or Swiss chard can be used in place of the spinach!
- Cheese: For an extra cheesy and melty top layer, add a little bit of shredded mozzarella cheese!
How to Make Cheesy Sausage Dip
This sausage party dip recipe is easy to put together! Just sauté the ingredients, transfer to an oven-safe dish, and bake!
BROWN SAUSAGE & SAUTE THE AROMATICS. In a large oven-safe skillet (like cast iron) over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, diced onion, and red bell peppers, stirring often until the meat crumbles and is no longer pink, about 8 to 10 minutes.
ADD GARLIC, THYME, & WINE. Drain off the excess grease. Return the skillet to medium heat and stir in the garlic and thyme, cooking another minute until the garlic is fragrant. Add the white wine and cook for 2 minutes, until the liquid has almost completely evaporated.
STIR IN CREAM CHEESE. Cut the cream cheese into cubes and add it to the pan, cooking and stirring until it is completely melted.
ADD SPINACH. Stir in the spinach and season with kosher salt. Cook and stir until the spinach is wilted.
TOP WITH PARM & BAKE. Gently fold in the beans. If not using an oven-safe skillet, transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the top, then bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the dip is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
More Recipe Success Tips
Storage and Reheating Tips
- To store: Let the dip cool, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F or in the microwave until hot and creamy again. It’s not ideal for freezing, as the texture can change, but it’ll keep beautifully in the fridge for a few days of snacking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely! Just thaw the frozen spinach and squeeze out as much liquid as possible before stirring it into the dip mixture.
It has a little kick if you use hot sausage, but you can easily tone it down by using mild sausage or adding a splash of cream before baking.
Looking for More Delicious Hot Dips?
This easy corn dip recipe and my cheesy shrimp dip recipe are family favorites. I have an easy spinach artichoke dip recipe, too!
What to Serve With Sausage Dip
This sausage cheese dip is perfect to serve with just about anything crunchy and scoopable! Think tortilla chips, baguette slices, pita chips, or sturdy crackers.
For a whole spread, be sure to serve it with crescent roll veggie pizza and some sweet potato skins! If you’re hosting a party for the big game, use the cast-iron skillet as the serving dish along with a big stack of napkins; it will definitely be a hit!
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Cheesy Sausage Dip with Beans and Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 lb. hot ground pork sausage
- 1 large sweet onion diced
- 1 large red bell pepper diced
- 2 medium garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
- 1 6 oz. pkg. fresh baby spinach coarsely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 15 oz. can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large oven-safe skillet (like cast iron) over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, diced onion and red bell peppers, stirring often until the meat crumbles and is no longer pink, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Drain off the grease. Return the skillet to the heat and stir in the garlic and thyme, cooking another minute until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the white wine and cook for 2 minutes, until the liquid has almost completely evaporated.
- Add the cream cheese in chunks, cooking and stirring until it is completely melted.
- Stir in the spinach and season with kosher salt. Cook and stir until the spinach is wilted. Gently fold in the beans.
- If not using an oven-safe skillet, transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the top, then bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the dip is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Notes
- Use a sturdy skillet. A large skillet made of cast iron holds heat well and goes straight from stove to oven for easy serving.
- To bake in a glass dish instead of a skillet, after Step 5 pour the mixture into a 2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and finish baking as directed.
- Drain the grease well! This keeps your sausage dip rich but not oily. A quick blot with paper towels after draining helps too.
- Let the wine cook down. You want most of the liquid to evaporate so it adds flavor without making the dip runny. This will also cook off the alcohol, in case you are worried about that.
- Soften the cream cheese first! This is very important to the overall texture of the dip! Room-temperature cream cheese melts faster and blends more evenly.
- Bake until bubbly. Don’t rush it! You want the sausage dip with beans and spinach to be bubbling and golden brown on the top.
- To store: Let the dip cool, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F or in the microwave until hot and creamy again. It’s not ideal for freezing, as the texture can change, but it’ll keep beautifully in the fridge for a few days of snacking.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
I made this for dinner last week, and it was perfect. I even dare to say it was better heated up the next day! Great combination of protein and veggies!!
Whitney, that’s awesome! Thanks for letting me know. Have a blessed week 🙂
Just had this for dinner tonight (I know, it’s supposed to be an appetizer- we do this sometimes). It was delicious! My husband has recently had to change his diet to a gluten-free option and this dish works! Ate with Fritos, which are gluten-free. Thanks for sharing. Praying and thankful for Faith.
Susan, thanks for your comments! I’m so glad to hear that you liked this dish, and we also like doing appetizers for our meals–nothing wrong with that one bit! Blessings to you, Sheila
Congrats on your 5k! What a great cause to support. From a non-runner to another: you TOTALLY earned this drool-worthy dip!
Thanks, Sarah! We’re planning to run another one as a family–it is definitely a good thing to get going!
Oh my!! This looks delicious! I’ve never seen a dip quite like this, my husband will LOVE it…I’m going to surprise him next game day:-) Thanks for sharing!
Oh, yeah! Let me know what your husband thinks about it?
Wow this dip looks incredibly cheesey, delicious and jam packed full of incredible flavours. Wish I had a bowl of some right now to devour, your images have gotten me hungry!
Thank you, Thalia!