The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (2024)

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This creamed spinach recipe is so rich and delicious that you will forget you are even eating spinach!

It is a wonderful spinach side dish to serve up during the holiday season–or any time of year really.

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Like creamed corn, this easy side dish is perfect to make and serve with any of your favorite main dishes.

Creamed spinach with creamed cheese really helps to add such rich flavor to the recipe. I love the flavor and it is great paired with chicken, pork tenderloin, or even meatloaf or steak.

Creamed Spinach

If you are craving something different, I recommend this easy spinach side dish. I have served this up all year round, and I love the tang from the parmesan cheese in it.

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What is creamed spinach?

Creamed spinach is fresh spinach leaves that get wilted in a pan on the stove and paired with a homemade creamy sauce. I used butter, onions, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and more for the best-creamed spinach recipe ever. It is so rich and incredible, but so easy to whip up.

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How to make creamed spinach

To make this, all you need to do is grab a large skillet and toss your butter in and let it melt down on medium heat. Then add in your diced onions and cook until softened and translucent in color.

Now add in your garlic and give a quick stir until nice and fragrant.

Then in the microwave, you will want to heat your milk in the microwave just enough to warm it up. Then whisk in the cornstarch, and then pour the mixture into the skillet stirring.

It will thicken, add in your cream cheese, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. Then stir in the spinach and let it wilt down a bit. Once it is fully creamed and wilted, serve, and enjoy.

How to make creamed spinach using frozen spinach

If you have frozen spinach on hand and want to use that in replace of fresh go right ahead. Just thaw your spinach and then squeeze off the excess liquid. If you skip this step it will water down your sauce.

Once it is thawed, you will stir in at the end of the cooking of the cream sauce. Then just heat until warmed, and then serve just like it was fresh spinach.

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Can you make creamed spinach ahead of time?

Personally, I prefer creamed spinach fresh. You will find it offers the best texture and flavor. If you want to make ahead of time, you can do so. Just know that when you go to reheat it will have a softer spinach texture that is more broken down.

Go ahead and make it, and then store leftovers in the fridge until ready to serve. Then reheat in the skillet until warm. If the sauce is too thick add in a little chicken stock to help thin out the sauce as you reheat.

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How long does creamed spinach last

You are more than welcome to store this for up to three days in the fridge. Make sure you store in an airtight container. Always use your best judgment in terms of quality. When in doubt, toss it out.

What to serve with creamed spinach

You can serve creamed spinach with so many things. From the classic Thanksgiving or Christmas feast to meatloaf, steak bites, pork, or chicken. While great for the holidays, this spinach side dish is so versatile, and we eat it all year round. Just like these crockpot glazed carrots.

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Expert Tips

  • Use half and half in replace of whole milk for a thicker and creamier texture
  • Or reach for heavy cream for a richer flavor overall
  • Feel free to add 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg for even more flavor
  • You can double the recipe if you plan to serve a crowd

More Delicious Side Dishes

  • Sweet potato casserole
  • Brussels sprouts with bacon
  • Copycat Cracker Barrel fried apples
  • Pan-seared asparagus
  • Corn casserole

Recipe

4.70 from 123 votes

Creamed Spinach

Author: Jaclyn

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Creamed spinach - a classic spinach side dish with a rich and creamy sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 small onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic smashed and sliced
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1-2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 ounce cream cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • 12 ounce spinach washed and dried

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until translucent (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes, stirring often.

  • Heat the milk in a microwave for 25 seconds; whisk in the cornstarch. Pour mixture to skillet.

  • Add salt, pepper, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese to skillet; whisk until well combined.

  • Stir in the spinach, coating the spinach completely in the cream mixture. Serve warm.

Notes

You can use frozen spinach in place of fresh. Just thaw and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible before adding to the skillet in step 4.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 156kcal

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The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What brings out the Flavour of spinach? ›

How do I make spinach salad taste good? Spinach goes great with tomatoes, shallots, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Is creamed spinach anti inflammatory? ›

It reduces inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is associated with heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer, according to the American Heart Association. Spinach contains a host of anti-inflammatory properties to keep your body healthy.

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.”

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.

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.

Why do people put vinegar on spinach? ›

You can throw Cider Vinegar-Spiked Steamed Baby Spinach together in about five minutes. The cider-vinegar sets this veggie side apart and gives the baby spinach a subtle, sour flavor.

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.

What to avoid with spinach? ›

Overly Sweet Foods: Spinach generally has a mildly bitter or earthy flavor, which may not complement very sweet foods or desserts. Some people might not enjoy spinach in overly sweet dishes. Certain Vegetables: While spinach can be combined with many other vegetables, some combinations may not be to everyone's liking.

Why is my creamed spinach bitter? ›

That bitter taste is caused by oxalic acid. Stay away from larger, darker leaves, they'll have a higher concentration. Young spinach is more tender and tends to be sweeter. Overcooking spinach can bring out the bitterness, as well.

Is creamed spinach gassy? ›

Digestive issues: Eating too much spinach may lead to an excessive buildup of gas, bloating, and cramps because our body needs some time to digest the excessive load of spinach and cannot metabolize it all at once.

What Flavours go well with spinach? ›

Spinach has a strong flavor and does well with strong herbs and spices. Use spinach with basil, dill, chives, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, red pepper flakes, and thyme.

Is it OK to mix spinach with milk? ›

However, the absorption of calcium from milk and other rich-in-calcium ingredients won't be impaired by spinach's oxalic acid, which is why pairing spinach with dairy products helps ensure you gain all the nutrients you need. Oxalate may also be produced by body or converted from vitamin C during its metabolism.

Is it okay to eat canned spinach everyday? ›

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.

Can you eat canned spinach everyday? ›

The good news is that eaten in moderation spinach provides nothing but positive health benefits. Although it's difficult to find authoritative limits for spinach consumption on a daily or weekly basis, MedicineNet confirms that a bowl a day, a moderate amount, is safe for most people.

Can you eat canned spinach straight from the can? ›

While canned spinach is cooked and safe to eat straight from the can, it is generally recommended to heat it before consumption. Heating it enhances the flavor and texture, making it more enjoyable to eat.

What herb or spice goes with spinach? ›

Rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage all go well with cooked or raw spinach. For a lighter note, basil, dill, and parsley can be added. Finally, chives, tarragon, and mint can add a hint of livening sweetness to the dish.

How do you increase spinach absorption? ›

The Vegetarian Times adds, “When you eat spinach that has been heated, you will absorb higher levels of vitamins A and E, protein, fiber, zinc, thiamin, calcium, and iron. Important carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, also become more absorbable.”

Why do you put lemon juice on spinach? ›

Antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities increase in dose-dependent manner after lemon juice addition. Accordingly, spinach formulated with 20% of lemon juice appears as the best source of dietary polyphenols with antioxidant and antidiabetic activities and nitrates that may be used as a functional drink.

What can I add to spinach to eat? ›

Most often, I make sauteed spinach with garlic and Parmesan, along with red pepper flakes. These simple, classic flavors taste elevated, while still allowing the main dish to shine. Feel free to add your own favorite spices, make your sautéed spinach without garlic, or try one of the recipe variations below.

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