This wonderfully simple recipe for Creamed Spinach is a side dish made in heaven; make spinach the new star dish at your holiday dinner table.
Serve with the main dish of your choice and roast potatoes for the perfect mid-week banquet.
This understated dish is a secret showstopper in its own right, spinach may not be your favorite, but once you’ve made this, it will be! I love seeing the looks on my guests’ faces when they find out they love spinach, after all.
This is a great way to introduce spinach into your side dish repertoire. It can be served with anything from roast turkey, fish, or steak, it’s so versatile you’ll be serving it with everything!
Why This Recipe Works
- Garlic and parmesan cheese compliment the cream, giving it a fabulous flavor profile.
- The simple ingredients and method make this quick, easy, and delicious.
- This Creamed Spinach recipe can be made up to two days ahead, just gently reheat until piping hot, saving time for other great dishes on the day.
What is creamed Spinach?
Creamed spinach is exactly what it says it is, wonderfully nutrient-rich spinach leaves wilted in a gorgeously silky cream sauce. Flavored with garlic and parmesan cheese, it is the best way to serve this understated ingredient. Of all my spinach recipes, this one is my absolute favorite.
Spinach Buying Guide
- When buying fresh spinach, look for dark green colored leaves and avoid any that look like they are wilting or yellowing in color.
- Avoid packs with sour or musty odors or slimy leaves as they are starting to go bad.
The Benefits of Eating Spinach
Spinach is healthy. It’s loaded with vitamins such as vitamins A and C and is a good source of iron. Spinach is not only full of nutrients, but it’s also rich in antioxidants.
What Cream For Creamed Spinach
When cooking with cream, it’s always good to use a cream with a high-fat content as it thickens as it cooks without the need for a lot of thickening agents.
Heavy cream, whipping cream, double cream in the UK, and thickened cream in Australia are all good options.
How To Make Creamed Spinach
Melt the butter and sauté the garlic.
Add the cream.
Add the parmesan cheese along with the salt and pepper. Stir until melted and the sauce thickens.
Add the spinach and cook in the sauce until wilted.
Serve and enjoy.
Keto and Low Carb Friendly
This Keto Creamed spinach recipe is low carb and great for Keto diets. Being on a low-carb diet, I eat this recipe regularly because it’s so easy to make and unbelievably delicious!
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions
Making Ahead: You can make it up to a couple of days before by adding the spinach and cook until just undercooked. Then reheat it on the stovetop or microwave until warmed and the spinach is cooked.
Freezing: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to three months,
Recipe Variations
- Add bacon or pancetta to your creamed spinach to bulk up this amazing side dish.
- Switch up your cheese, don’t have parmesan? Use pecorino, grand Padano, any hard cheese will do.
- You can use cream cheese for this recipe, just mix it into the butter and garlic until the sauce is silky.
- Make this dish a full-on midweek meal by pouring over gnocchi. Simply cook your gnocchi as per the packet instructions and add to the cooked creamed spinach.
- Add toasted pine nuts to your creamed spinach to give it an extra crunchy layer of texture.
FAQs
Due to the use of cream and other fats, this dish isn’t low fat. However, it’s still a great way to benefit from those wonderful spinach nutrients!
Yes, you can use a 16oz pack of frozen spinach, just defrost and squeeze as much liquid from the spinach before you add it to the sauce.
You can make a simple roux of butter and flour, add to the sauce, mix in and stir until thickened.
Did you make this?
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Let’s Make Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup heavy cream whipping cream and double cream will also work.
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheeese grated
- ½ tbsp salt
- ½ tbsp pepper
- 1 lb spinach washed
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a pan.
- Add garlic and saute for around 2 minutes.
- Add the cream, salt, and pepper to the pan.
- Mix in the parmesan cheese, then melt into the sauce and cook until thickened.
- Finally, add the spinach and cook until it has wilted into the sauce.
Chrissy Barila says
Very good simple and quick recipe. Added mushrooms-yum!
Erren Hart says
So happy to hear it! Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
Lauren says
I normally don’t like spinach but this was amazing. The did substitute the cheese. I found a shredded blend of mozzarella and parmeasen cheese and that work out great.
Erren Hart says
Yay! Love to hear this! š
Kristen says
I normally don’t like spinach but this was amazing! Thanks so much!
Erren Hart says
I’m so glad to hear you liked it so much! š
Suzy says
This was really wonderful! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Erren Hart says
You’re welcome, Suzy! š
Jill says
Made this tonight. It was so good we’re having it for Christmas! š
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Jill, I’m glad you like it š
Jesse says
We had this with baked cod. It was fantastic! Thank you!
Erren Hart says
Sound great, Jesse! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Holly says
Made this tonight. I’m on keto and love finding new recipes! Thanks so much. It was lovely!
Erren's Kitchen says
That’s fantstic Holly, I’m glad you liked it š
Lily says
Never thought Iād enjoy spinach! Amazing š
Erren's Kitchen says
I love to hear this, thank you š