10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (2024)

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Katerina

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Creamy and easy Creamed Spinach Recipe prepared with cream cheese and spinach! It’s the perfect party appetizer or dinner side dish.

10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (2)

Easy Creamed Spinach Recipe

Make your favorite steakhouse creamed spinach side dish right at home in just 10 minutes! It is a restaurant favorite and ranks at the top of the comfort food list.

My version of this classic steakhouse side uses baby spinach, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese, and it’s also keto-friendly and low-carb. Everything about this dish says classic comfort food done right. Creamed Spinach is an amazing side dish that goes great with steaks, poultry,or pork, and it’s perfect for holiday meals or just a Wednesday night at home.

The flavors of the onion, garlic, and nutmeg are subtle but definitely present, and the cream cheese lends a lovely creaminess without being decadent.

It also goes pretty darn well with my Creamy Spinach Fettuccine!

10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (3)

Ingredients

A dash of nutmeg highlights the flavor of thespinach, and a good dose of garlic highlights the creamy sauce.

  • butter
  • onions
  • garlic
  • cream cheese
  • milk or heavy cream
  • baby spinach
  • ground nutmeg & cayenne pepper
  • salt & pepper
  • grated parmesan cheese

How To Make Creamed Spinach

We will need just one pan and six ingredients to cream that spinach.

  • We start with heating up the butter and cooking the onions and garlic.
10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (4)
  • Cream cheese and milk (or heavy cream) are next. Add them to the pan, and once the cream cheese has melted, we will stir in the baby spinach and cook it just for a few more minutes, or until wilted and mixture is thickened.
  • Finally, we will season the dish and serve. That.is.it.

If you must, please add a handful of freshly grated parmesan cheese… it’s kind of amazing. And it will remind you of Boston Market’s recipe. You’re welcome! ?

10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (5)

How to Make Ahead:

  • You can make creamed spinach up to 1 day ahead. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface, cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate. Reheat over low heat.

Tips for Creamed Spinach

  • If you’d prefer to use frozen spinach, defrost and squeeze out as much water as possible. Use 1 pound of frozen spinach.
  • Stir, and ensure to continue to stir until cheese is melted and completely creamy.
  • Store leftover creamed spinach in the fridge, covered, for up to three days.
  • Serving: Creamed spinach makes the perfect pairing for a juicyseared ribeyeorcrispy air fryer chicken. Serve it as an easyveggie side at your holiday dinner to add some fancy factor to yourham or turkey.
10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (6)

Spinach Side Dish Recipes

  • Spinach, Kale and Spaghetti Squash Fritters
  • Spinach Lentil Fritters
  • Quinoa and Spinach Stuffed Tomatoes
  • Spinach and Garlic Potato Patties
  • Sweet Potato Noodles with Spinach
10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (7)

ENJOY!

10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (8)

Creamed Spinach Recipe

Katerina | Diethood

Creamy, cheesy, delicious, and easy Creamed Spinach Recipe prepared with cream cheese and spinach! It’s the perfect side dish and goes great with any main course.

Rate this Recipe!

Servings : 8 servings

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
  • ½ cup milk or heavy cream
  • 2 ½ to 3 pounds baby spinach
  • teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

  • Add onion and cook for 3 minutes; add garlic and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until onion softens.

  • Stir in cream cheese and milk (or heavy cream); cook while continuously stirring until the cream cheese is melted and smooth.

  • Stir in the spinach; add nutmeg and cayenne pepper, and simmer over medium heat until spinach wilts and mixture thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes.

  • Season with salt and pepper.

  • Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan cheese.

  • Serve.

Notes

  • If you’d prefer to use frozen spinach, defrost and squeeze out as much water as possible. Use 1 pound of frozen spinach.
  • Store leftover creamed spinach in the fridge, covered, for up to three days.
  • You can make creamed spinach up to 1 day ahead: Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface, cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Reheat over low heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5 cup | Calories: 151 kcal | Carbohydrates: 9 g | Protein: 8 g | Fat: 11 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g | Trans Fat: 0.1 g | Cholesterol: 29 mg | Sodium: 295 mg | Potassium: 872 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 2 g | Vitamin A: 13662 IU | Vitamin C: 41 mg | Calcium: 235 mg | Iron: 4 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: creamed spinach, holiday side dish recipe, side dish recipe, spinach recipes

Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

Categories:

  • Appetizers
  • Side Dishes
10 Minutes Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Spinach Side Dish (2024)

FAQs

How many minutes should spinach be cooked? ›

To cook fresh spinach in boiling water, place 1 pound of washed spinach, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water. If you're wondering how long to boil spinach, it should only take a few minutes. Once the steam starts to foam, begin your timer. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender.

Should you rinse canned spinach? ›

Rinse canned spinach to remove excess salt. ½ cup of canned spinach contains: - More than your recommended daily value of Vitamin K to help with the formation of bones, tissues and hormones.

What is creamed spinach served with? ›

Whether it's a festive holiday or a simple family dinner, this creamed spinach fits right in. Pair it with pan-seared steaks, roast beef tenderloin with red wine sauce, roast chicken, or pan-seared salmon. “Loved this…Tastes just like a good steakhouse side.”

Can I use canned spinach instead of fresh? ›

While most recipes, including our slow-cooker spinach and artichoke dip, call for fresh baby spinach, there's absolutely no reason why you can't use the canned variety instead.

What's the healthiest way to cook spinach? ›

Quick cooking: Spinach cooks quickly, so it's best to cook it for a short period of time, such as steaming for 1-2 minutes or blanching for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Avoid boiling: Boiling spinach for an extended period of time can cause significant nutrient loss, including vitamin C.

How do you cook spinach without it being watery? ›

It will start to wilt down quite quickly, once it has wilted (about 1-2 mins) drain it through a colander and allow all the excess water to run out, pressing it with the back of a spoon or underside of a ladle will help force excess water out of the spinach through the colander.

Why do people put vinegar in spinach? ›

Adding vinegar to cooked vegetables can enhance the flavor and improve their nutritional value in several ways: Flavor enhancement: Vinegar can add a tangy, bright flavor to vegetables, making them more palatable.

Can you eat too much canned spinach? ›

What's bad about spinach? If you eat spinach every day in excessive amounts (more than a bowl) there can be adverse health effects. Most commonly these include gas, bloating and cramps due to its high fiber content. Eating too much spinach can also interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients.

Is it healthy to eat canned spinach every day? ›

When eaten in moderation, spinach helps in reducing the risks of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and cancer. Although it is safe for most people to eat a bowl of spinach per day, you should be careful to eat it in moderation.

Why is my creamed spinach bitter? ›

Overcooking can cause the natural compounds in spinach to break down, leading to a bitter taste.

How do you make creamed spinach less bitter? ›

Citrus juice can efficiently cover the bitterness of the spinach and give a fresh flavour to it. You can use either lemon, lime or even orange juice for the purpose. As soon as the leaves get cooked, take them out in a bowl. Drizzle some citrus juice over them, give a light stir and let it sit for 15 minutes.

Why do you add milk to spinach? ›

In fact, blending spinach or arugula with milk can be a great way to make a nutrient-dense smoothie. Spinach and arugula are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, while milk provides protein, calcium, and other nutrients. Combining these ingredients can create a balanced and healthy drink.

What is the liquid in canned spinach? ›

Ingredients & Nutrition Facts

Spinach, Water, Sea Salt.

Why is my canned spinach gritty? ›

“Spinach can be classified as an anti-nutrient because it binds minerals, like iron and calcium, in spinach,” Trout says. In this case, the calcium present in our saliva binds with the oxalic acid to create calcium oxalate crystals. It's these crystals that cause the grainy, unpleasant feeling in your mouth.

Which is healthier canned spinach or frozen spinach? ›

Overall, both canned and frozen spinach can be healthy options, but frozen spinach generally retains more nutrients than canned spinach. It's important to check the labels and choose varieties that are low in sodium or have no added salt.

How do you know when spinach is cooked? ›

Once all of the spinach has been added, cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium low. Let cook 3 minutes. Uncover and stir. The spinach should be fairly wilted, but if it's not, continue to stir until it is.

How do you know when spinach is done? ›

Spinach leaves are ready to harvest as soon as they are big enough to eat. Harvest by removing only the outer leaves and allowing the center leaves to grow larger; this will allow the plant to keep producing. Picking the outer leaves also gives the advantage of briefly delaying bolting.

Can you overcook spinach? ›

Overcooked spinach can take on a bitter burnt flavor and have an unpleasant mushy texture – not a good way to get people to eat their greens. Direct heat methods like sautéing are most likely to end up with overcooked spinach and call for extra diligence.

How long to cook spinach to keep nutrients? ›

To preserve the nutrients, cook spinach for a short period. Overcooking can lead to nutrient degradation. Aim for a quick cook time of 3-5 minutes until the leaves are wilted but still vibrant green.

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