Spinach and Artichoke Melts

This is one of my new favorite recipes.  So delicious!

Spinach and Artichoke Melts

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: makes 4 sandwiches, with leftover dip

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/2 cup milk (I used 2%, but whatever you have will be fine)
• 1 ounce cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt (I used 0%)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup (about 5 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 (6.7 ounce) jar grilled artichoke hearts or you can sub marinated artichokes, chopped
• 1 chicken breast, grilled and sliced thin (optional)
• 8 slices thick sourdough or tuscan bread
• butter, for spreading

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Whisk in flour until it makes a paste. Cook over medium-low heat for a minute or two, then pour in milk. Stir and cook one minute, if your paste gets too thick splash in more milk.
2. Add cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and pepper. Stir until cheeses are melted. Stir in the greek yogurt until smooth. Chop artichokes and spinach and add to the sauce. Stir to combine. Dip will be thick, just use some muscle and stir in those veggies!
3. Heat a skillet (or griddle, etc) oven medium-low heat. Butter the outsides of every bread slice, then spread a good amount (any where from 1-3 tablespoons) of the spinach and artichoke dip on the inside (the non-buttered side) of each slice. If using, top one slice with the sliced grilled chicken. Top off with another slice of bread, buttered-side up. Cook until each side is golden and crisp and cheese is melted, then gently flip and do the same.
4. Slice and serve.

I followed this recipe pretty exactly (I didn't add any of the optional chicken but I did add plenty of red pepper flakes!) and I was so, so happy with it.  My husband loved it as well.  I even used a spoon to feed myself some of the filling straight from the skillet. (Embarrassing to admit that?)  Luckily some of it made it into our sandwiches.  Haha.  It will definitely become a regularly used recipe in this house.