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.

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.

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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

4.68 from 116 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

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 long does cooked creamed spinach last in the fridge? ›

How long does creamed spinach last in the fridge? It'll stay good for about three days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also make this dish ahead of time and reheat it over low heat in a saucepan on the stove. (Low heat is important so the cream sauce doesn't separate!)

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.

Why is my creamed spinach bitter? ›

Spinach can become bitter when sautéed due to its high levels of oxalic acid, which can be released when the leaves are cooked for too long or at too high a temperature. Additionally, overcooking can break down the chlorophyll in the spinach, leading to a bitter taste.

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.

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.

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.

Can you overcook spinach? ›

DO NOT OVERCOOK. Overcooked spinach is mushy spinach. The spinach will be soft and wilted, but it should not be a watery mess. It's best to cook spinach immediately before serving to keep it tasting fresh.

Can you reheat creamed spinach? ›

Store leftover creamed spinach in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat leftover creamed spinach gently over low heat. In addition to enjoying it as a side dish, try leftover creamed spinach stirred into pasta for an instant sauce, or atop a piece of toast for a comforting snack.

Can you eat week old cooked spinach? ›

Once the spinach has been cooked, it will last for 2-4 days in the refrigerator. Eating cooked spinach after this time increases the risk of food poisoning.

Does spinach go bad if not refrigerated? ›

Spinach is okay out at room temperature for a while, but to keep it fresh and slow the rotting process, you definitely want to store it in the fridge for the week.

Do you rinse canned greens? ›

The short answer is: more often than not. "When using canned vegetables, you typically will want to and should drain the vegetables from their brine before using them,” says Chef Matt Bolus of The 404 Kitchen in Nashville.

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.

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