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You are here: Home » Recipes » Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach

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The Best Creamed Spinach Recipe

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 
Creamed spinach with a creamy white sauce in a black bowl

Creamed Spinach

Creamed spinach - a classic spinach side dish with a rich and creamy sauce.
4.58 from 84 votes

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Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 156kcal
Author: Jaclyn Shimmel
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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 oz cream cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • 12 oz 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 nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by a third party and intended to serve as an estimate only. The accuracy of nutritional information is not guaranteed.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please rate the recipe and leave a comment on the blog or share on social media and tag @crayonsandcravings!

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The Best Creamed Spinach Recipe

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By Jaclyn Shimmel | 10/25/2020
Filed Under: Recipes, Side Dishes

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Comments

  1. Raymond says

    03/18/2021 at 2:30 am

    Love the cornstarch instead of flour & really enjoyed the finished dish !

    Reply
  2. Marla Bardi says

    05/18/2021 at 6:52 pm

    You’re not kidding–this is the BEST creamed spinach I’ve ever had!! My hubs loved it too! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Misti Ryan says

    06/29/2021 at 9:23 pm

    I’ve made this twice in the last week. Both times, my sons demolished it and no one got seconds. It’s soooo good!

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      07/03/2021 at 12:17 pm

      So happy to hear that your family loved it as much as we do!!

      Reply
  4. Brenda says

    04/12/2022 at 8:07 pm

    Very good

    Reply
  5. Marilyn says

    05/13/2022 at 9:22 pm

    We just had your creamed spinach and both loved it.. it will be my go to recipe for spinach. It was so creamy and delicious!

    Reply
  6. Elizabeth says

    06/11/2022 at 4:05 pm

    Can you used drained canned spinach?

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      06/13/2022 at 8:40 am

      As long as it is well-drained it should be fine.

      Reply
  7. TERRYE HEATLEY says

    07/07/2022 at 12:23 pm

    Onion sizes vary. It would be so helpful to know if your “half a small onion” measures, for instance, half a cup of chopped onion or one third, etc. I want mine to be as successful as yours.

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      07/08/2022 at 12:29 pm

      I would aim for 1/4 cup.

      Reply
  8. Ginger says

    07/22/2022 at 4:36 pm

    Made this and used it to stuff portabella mushrooms. Absolutely delish

    Reply
  9. Janie says

    09/16/2022 at 7:04 pm

    I used jalapeño cream cheese it gives it a little kick

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      09/18/2022 at 12:38 pm

      That is a great idea!

      Reply
  10. Linda says

    10/08/2022 at 10:36 pm

    Can ,this ,be frozen after preparing?

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      10/10/2022 at 1:32 pm

      Yes!

      Reply
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