The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (2024)

Posts may contain affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a commission if you use a link provided.

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.

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (1)

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.

Table of Contents

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.

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (2)

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.

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (3)

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.

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (4)

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.

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (5)

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.

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (6)

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

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (7)

Recipe

4.69 from 120 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

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (8)

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share it with me on Instagram @crayonsandcravings and follow on Pinterest @crayonsandcravings for even more!

Pin for Later:

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (9)

The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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 are the ingredients in Stouffer's creamed spinach? ›

SPINACH, SKIM MILK, SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, 2% OR LESS OF BLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, DRIED ONIONS, SALT, SEASONING (CORN MALTODEXTRIN, NONFAT DRY MILK, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR, BUTTER [CREAM, ANNATTO], WHEY PROTEIN ...

What is creamed spinach made of? ›

Wilted spinach is mixed through a silky smooth white sauce, flavoured with sautéed onion and garlic, then served with parmesan cheese. This is the side dish of your dreams! Creamed spinach can be mistaken for just a bunch of spinach and heavy cream thrown together — like abracadabra — and you have creamed spinach.

How do you make spinach not soggy? ›

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.

What are the benefits of creamed spinach? ›

Each serving provides: An excellent source of vitamin A and folate and a good source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber. Recipe was reviewed and approved by Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) for Hidden Valley Ranch.

Is creamed spinach high fat? ›

I'm not sure why, but creamed spinach has a certain, shall I say, retro feel about it. It's also loaded—and we mean loaded—with more saturated fat and calories than a nutrient-rich vegetable like spinach deserves!

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 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 are the ingredients in Seabrook Farms Creamed Spinach? ›

** Contains: Milk, Wheat **

Chopped, tender, young Spinach and a smooth, delicately flavored sauce made with real cream - no artificial flavors or colors added - packed in a flavor-saving boilable cooking pouch.

What are the ingredients in Green Giant Creamed Spinach? ›

Spinach, Water, Modified Whey, Modified Corn Starch, Butter (Cream, Natural Flavor), Nonfat Milk, Buttermilk, Salt, Cream, Maltodextrin, Onion Powder, Natural Flavor, Garlic Powder, Sodium Caseinate.

Does canned spinach have as much iron in it as fresh spinach? ›

So what's the truth about spinach's iron content? According to the USDA, there are: 6.43 milligrams in one cup cooked fresh spinach. 4.92 milligrams in one cup canned spinach.

How do you make creamed spinach less bitter? ›

Use baby spinach with stems removed, or smaller, lighter-colored leaves rather than more mature leaves. Use olive oil or any kind of oil. Oil will reduce the bitterness. Don't over-cook it (most common culprit).

Can you buy creamed spinach? ›

Fits your lifestyle and your freezer.™ Green Giant® Simply Steam™ vegetables are not only delicious, they come in freezer-friendly, easy-to-stack boxes, with a microwavable pouch inside. Great for a meal, side dish or snack—anytime.

Why do you add milk to spinach? ›

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.

Why can't you heat up spinach? ›

' But under certain conditions and at particular temperatures, bacteria convert nitrates into nitrite, which can then be converted into carcinogenic nitrosamines in the body. De Vries: 'That conversion of nitrate into nitrite only happens at high temperatures.

Why does my spinach taste slimy? ›

It is very easy to tell if spinach has gone bad: it will be dark green or greenish brown, wet or slimy, and will smell a bit like algae or garbage—and taste like it, too.

How do you get the gritty taste out of spinach? ›

One of the easiest ways to remove the grittiness is by cooking your spinach. Blanching, boiling, or steaming your greens helps break down and remove oxalic acid. It's especially recommended to do this if you plan on including spinach in a creamy dish like creamed spinach.

What does eating spinach everyday do to your body? ›

Spinach is rich in several minerals your body needs, including potassium. Eating foods that are high in potassium can help lower your blood pressure. Spinach is an excellent source of lutein, an antioxidant known to protect against age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

How many times a week should you eat spinach? ›

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. The exceptions, of course, would be those with specific conditions, or those taking specific medications.

How do you eat spinach to get maximum benefits? ›

The nutritionist recommends lightly cooking the spinach. She mentions that lightly cooked spinach contains all the vital nutrients with limited oxalic acid.

Does creamed spinach raise blood sugar? ›

Spinach is a non-starchy veggie, which means it does not have much effect on blood sugar levels. So, you can enjoy the green delight as much as you want. Spinach is considered a low-glycaemic index food, and foods that have low GI are said to have little or no effect on the blood sugar levels.

Does creamed spinach make you 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.

Is creamed spinach hard to digest? ›

Creaming the spinach makes it extremely easy to digest and breaks down the fibers and other anti-nutrients in raw spinach (like oxalates).

Do you rinse canned greens? ›

Chef Smith agrees: "Rinsing the vegetables helps to reduce the sodium and makes it easier to balance the salt in a dish." Indeed, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that draining and rinsing canned vegetables can reduce the sodium content by 5 to 10 percent.

Do you need to rinse spinach? ›

Washing Spinach

When you get home, remove it from the bag or plastic container and put the spinach leaves into a large bowl with 10 cups of cool water, and ¼ cup of 5% Distilled White Vinegar. The vinegar will remove E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and other harmful pathogens.

Is it OK to eat wet spinach? ›

Any slimy spinach should be thrown away, along with any spinach it has come in contact with. You don't want to eat decomposing plant matter (unless you're an insect or a worm!). It's important to remember, too, that spinach (like other leafy greens) can be be contaminated with bacteria such as E. coli.

Is canned spinach as healthy as raw spinach? ›

Also, despite the popular belief that "fresh is best," frozen or canned baby spinach has just as many health benefits as fresh, often at less cost. Frozen or canned spinach is also easier to store, and keeps for a long time.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 6162

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.