Spinach And Bacon Cob Loaf is a crowd pleasing party starter! With a warm and gooey spinach, cheese, onion and bacon filling this cheesy dip is comfort food that will disappear fast. Perfect for parties, bbqs, friend and family catch ups this popular dip needs only minimal effort to bring together.
Recipes like the Spinach Cob Loaf Dip, French Onion Cob Loaf, Slow Cooker Cheese And Bacon Bread and the Bacon And Cheese Cob Loaf are all about savoury bread combinations.
The Baked Brie Bread Bowl, Baked Brie With Red Pepper Jelly, Baked Feta With Honey and the Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates offer extra flavor combinations.
๐ค Recipe Highlights
I have summarised everything that you will come to know and love (LOVE โค) about the bacon and spinach cob loaf recipe in the points below:
- Party food: ask any Aussie what is one thing you will always see at a a party especially around Christmas time and they will for sure say 'the cob loaf'!.
- Feeds a crowd: this dip is a great size to feed many people at once. So if you are having a few people around it is a great choice. For the quantity of actual dip you would need at least 5-6 small refrigerated dips to feed the same amount of people.
- Taste and texture: the creamy cheesy filling is dotted with chunks of bacon, flecks of onion and strings of spinach. Then we have the toasted bread bits used for dipping and dunking. It is a great combo both with the flavor profile and also textures involved.
๐ฅ Ingredients
The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient measurements as well as detailed instructions.
As you can see the recipe calls for:
- Olive oil: you will see 2 lots of this in the photo above. We use some to cook the onion and bacon mix and some to ensure the cob loaf is crispy and toasted with a golden brown colour.
- Soup mix: this is one packet of dried vegetable soup mix.
- Bacon: I like to use store bought diced bacon for the dip. I find that this keeps things simple and saves time spent cutting bacon rashers.
- Onion: one large onion that we peel and dice.
- Cream cheese: this helps to create the creamy spinach dip texture.
- Spinach: frozen spinach is recommended so that you can have it in the freezer and grab it out as needed (and not have to run out and get that one ingredient that doesn't have a long shelf life).
- Sour cream.
- Cheddar cheese: tasty cheese, cheddar cheese or colby cheese. You can purchase grated cheese or a block and grate yourself (but this will take longer and you will have more washing up again ie the grater). Either way we want an easy melting cheese with a bit of flavor to it (skip using mozzarella cheese for this dip).
- Cob loaf: this is a round white loaf of bread. You will find it either in the bakery section of the supermarket or at your local bakery. With or without sesame seeds will both work.
๐ Substitutions and Variations
Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post and I will tell you if I think they will work or why they won't:
- Spinach: you can use fresh spinach if you wish to. In which case there is no need to cook it 1st. You will however, need to blitz it in the food processor to ensure that it is in small pieces. One reason I don't for this recipe is to have the ingredient on hand (in the freezer, as well as to save washing up the food processor whose only use would be to prep the spinach).
- Onion: you can use a red onion in place of the brown onion if you wish to.
- Sour cream: you can use the equivalent amount of Greek yogurt (which has lower fat) in place of the sour cream if you want to.
- Soup mix: you can use either spring vegetable soup mix (as shown in the photos throughout the post) or French Onion soup mix.
- Crackers and or chips: you can chop up some fresh vegetables like carrot, celery and capsicum and use these as 'vegetable chips' to dunk in the bread bowl. Or you can use a French stick chopped and toasted.
- Garnish: some sliced spring onion or chopped chives spread across the top works if you want to decorate your spinach bacon cob loaf dip.
๐ฉโ๐ณ How to Make Spinach and Bacon Cob Loaf
To make the spinach and bacon cob loaf we start by using a sharp knife and dicing the onion. Next place a large frying pan onto to he stove top, add the oil and turn the heat to high.
Add the diced onion and bacon and cook for 2 minutes. Then add the frozen spinach and sautรฉ until thawed with the moisture evaporated (3-4 minutes).
๐ณ Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions to make the bacon spinach cob.
- Dice the onion (Photo 1)
- Cook the onion, bacon and spinach (Photo 2)
- Prepare the bread (Photo 3)
- Add the cream cheese, sour cream and cheddar to a large bowl (Photo 4)
- Stir to combine (Photo 5)
- Add spinach mixture (Photo 6)
- Add dried soup mix (Photo7)
- Stir to combine (Photo 8)
Use a long handled spatula to stir the cheese mixture until it is consistently combined. Then add the cooked onion, bacon and spinach. Next sprinkle in the dried soup mixture like you see me about to do in the photos above.
Once done use the same spatula to stir until the mixture has evenly come together.
- Fill the bread with the dip (Photo 9)
- Brush the edge with olive oil (Photo 10)
- Spray the extra chunks of bread (Photo 11)
- Oven bake (Photo 12)
When ready transfer the combined dip into the inside of the bread bowl and then brush the top surface of the cob loaf with olive oil.
Next give the extra bits of bread a good spray with olive oil (this will make them extra golden and crispy).
Then place the baking tray into the preheated oven for an initial 10 minutes. Once this time is up, use oven mitts and remove the baking tray setting it on a heatproof surface.
Use tongs to take all of the extra bread bits off then return the cob loaf to the oven for a further 20 minutes.
When the final cook time is up, use the oven mitts to again remove the baking tray and place it onto a heatproof surface.
Use the mitts to gently transfer the cooked bacon and spinach dip to a serving platter and spread the extra cooked bread bits around the base.
Now, you my friend, are done ๐๐.
๐ฝ Serving Suggestions
When it comes to serving your spinach bacon cob loaf you will find an extra cob loaf cut into pieces or a french stick (also cut into pieces) toasted will provide the 'chips'. Or dunking tools.
As the dip gets eaten, people will begin to tear the cob loaf apart and use the sides of it as 'spoons for the remaining dip'. Its not often pretty towards the end, but the plate will be well and truly empty when your guests are done!
๐ How to Guide
If you have any leftovers these can be stored in a sealed, airtight container. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 2 days and need to be reheated before being consumed.
Make the cob loaf and fill the hollowed bread with the creamy filling. Then place the top back on top of the loaf. Transfer back into the plastic bag and tie to close. Cob loaf can be kept in the freezer for 3 months.
Leftover cob loaf can be heated for 1-2 minutes in the microwave. Or for a fully prepared cob loaf that has been in the freezer, place this into a preheated oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes and then use a skewer to test the filling. Continue to bake as needed until the filling is cooked through.
๐ก Tasty Tips
Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the recipe from the get go:
- Cream cheese: we want the cream cheese to be at room temperature. This will ensure that it is soft and easy to stir. So grab it out as a starting point and let it soften on advance.
- Bread bowl: we want to hollow the bread bowl so that we can fit the dip into the bowl but we also want a stable base so that the dip is supported. So keep in mind when tearing the inner white soft and fluffy bread out that we still want a thick base.
- Cob loaf: it doesn't have to be a fresh cob loaf you use. A crusty cob loaf will do the trick too. You can also purchase this, freeze it and whip it out as needed for an extra level of organized cooking.
- Olive oil: I like to spray the bread bits with cooking spray. This helps them to crisp up nicely and give them a lovely golden colour.
- Bread bowl Dips: love using a round loaf of bread to serve dips? Then you might also like the No Mayo Spinach Artichoke Dip or Baked Brie Bread Bowl.
๐ค Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make cob loaf without sour cream. Using Greek yogurt in its place is a great alternative.
Yes, adding onion to the filling for a cob loaf is a great way to increase the flavors and textures in the dip.
Yes, you can use frozen spinach to make a cob loaf. This is a great way to have all of the ingredients needed to make the recipe on hand throughout the busy festive season. Frozen spinach can be sautรฉed with the bacon and onion to ensure that it defrosts and the excess moisture is absorbed without going into the hollowed bread bowl.
Yes it can. To do so make the filling and place it in the refrigerator with cling wrap over the top of the bowl. Then on the day, prepare the bread and fill it with the dip. Once done oven bake as per the remaining instructions. Or you can make it, fill it and freeze it to be cooked from frozen at a later date.
๐ More Easy Party Foods
If the food at your next party is more your thing that the party itself then I have some more ideas to share that I know you will love. Try these next time the opportunity for a get together arises!
- Savoury ideas: Savoury Mince Pies, Cheeseburger Sausage Rolls, Caramelised Onion Sausage Rolls.
- Vegetarian ideas: Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates, Goat Cheese Log, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Bites, Caramelised Onion Tarts.
- More cheese: Baked Brie with Garlic, Microwave Brie, Caramelized Onion Brie, Baked Camembert with Cranberry Sauce.
- Cream cheese starters: Honey Pecan Cream Cheese, Honey Pecan Cream Cheese.
- Other dips: Smoked Trout Dip, Green Olive Dip, Black Olive Dip. Easy Green Olive Tapenade, Black Olive Dip, Kalamata Olive Dip.
- Spreads: Chilli Tomato Jam, Tomato Bacon Jam.
- More bacon: Bacon Crackers.
It is time to get our spinach and bacon cob loaf recipe on the table my friend! You can also find all of my dips and spreads or popular recipes in the one spot.
Adrianne
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๐ Recipe
Spinach and Bacon Cob Loaf
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion peeled and diced
- 1 cup diced bacon
- 250 grams/8 oz frozen spinach
- 1 cob loaf
- 250 grams/8 oz cream cheese Note 1
- 300 grams/10 oz sour cream
- 2 cups cheese
- 1 packet spring onion soup mix Note 2
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: preheat the oven to 180ยฐC / 350-375ยฐF / Gas Mark 4-5.
- Bacon, onion and spinach: place a large frying pan onto the stove top, turn the heat to high and add the olive oil. Next transfer in the chopped onion and diced bacon. Let these cook for 2-3 minutes then add the frozen spinach. Cook till the spinach is wilted into the bacon mixture. Then turn the heat off and remove the pan from the stove.
- Cob loaf: place the cob loaf in the centre of a clean, dry chopping board. Use a bread knife to slice the top off. Then use your hands to pull the white fluffy bread out from the insides and place it alongside the hollowed bread bowl. Use a knife to slice the top of the loaf and then use cooking spray to spray these bits of bread.
- Cheese mix: add the softened cream cheese, sour cream and cheddar cheese to a large mixing bowl. Use a spatula to stir and consistently mix together.
- Combine: next add the cooked spinach, bacon and onion to the mixing bowl. Then pour the dried soup mix over the top. Use the spatula to stir until the filling is consistently mixed together.
- Transfer: next transfer the combined filling into the hollowed bread bowl. Place a silicon mat onto a baking tray then spread the extra bits of bread on either side and place the dip filled cob loaf in the centre.
- Oven bake: place the baking tray into the preheated oven on the middle shelf. Cook for 10 minutes then use oven mitts to remove and a pair of tongs to transfer the cooked bread bits off the silicon mat. Place the dip back into the oven and cook it for a further 20 minutes. Note 3
- To serve: use oven mitts to remove the baking tray from the oven when the cook time is up. Set it onto a heatproof surface. Next use the oven mitts to gently lift the cooked spinach and bacon cob loaf and place it in the centre of a large serving platter. Spread the extra bits of toasted bread around the base and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Note 1 - Cream cheese: we want this to be at room temperature. This makes it soft and easy to combine. We are not using electric beaters, simply a spatula so ensuring that the cream cheese is soften to begin with is a key step in the recipe process.ย
- Note 2 - Dried soup mix: the type that I like to use for this recipe is called ''spring vegetable simmer soup'. It is optional not essential to add it however, I do think it ensures that the dip is jam packed with flavor. It is a product that you will find with the pulses and beans in the supermarket. It has a long shelf life, so can be kept in the pantry and pulled out as needed.ย
- Note 3 - Skewer: test with a skewer inserted in the middle of the dip at this point and ensure that the filling is warm and cooked through. Or continue to cook for another 10 minutes and check again.ย
Nutrition
Music credit for video: AudioCoffee https://www.audiocoffee.net/.
Sophie says
I'm making this!! It looks so good.
Adrianne says
Hope you enjoy it Sophie ๐.
Toni Carter says
Fantastic dip. Was easy to make and we were happy wirh it.
Adrianne says
Thanks Toni ๐.
Jeanie says
Tried this Friday night for the 1st time and was very happy with it. Will make again.
Adrianne says
Thanks Jeanie for your feedback! ๐.