The Best Creamed Spinach Recipe

Hey there, friend! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had your fair share of boring, watery vegetable side dishes. But today, we are completely changing the game. I am so incredibly excited to share this Creamed Spinach Recipe with you because it is an absolute showstopper. Seriously, if you have any picky eaters in your house who claim they “hate spinach,” this is the dish that will convert them into believers. I remember the first time I made this for a holiday family dinner; the bowl was scraped clean before the main course was even halfway gone!

It’s rich, it’s velvety, and it tastes exactly like the decadent sides you’d pay top dollar for at a fancy steakhouse. But the best part? You can whip it up right in your own kitchen in about twenty minutes. No fuss, no complicated steps, just pure, cheesy comfort food that makes you want to go back for seconds (and maybe thirds). Grab your favorite skillet, pour yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and let’s get cooking!

What Is Creamed Spinach?

So, what exactly is this magical dish? At its core, a classic Creamed Spinach Recipe takes humble spinach and elevates it into a luxurious, creamy, and deeply savory side dish. If you’ve ever been to a high-end steakhouse, you’ve likely seen it on the menu right next to the mashed potatoes and asparagus. It’s essentially cooked spinach folded into a rich, luscious sauce made from butter, cream, and cheese.

Unlike standard sautéed spinach that just wilts down in a pan with some olive oil, creamed spinach is indulgent and thick. In this particular version, we skip the complicated flour-based roux that traditional recipes use. Instead, we rely on the natural thickening power of full-fat cream cheese, heavy cream, parmesan, and mozzarella. The result is a beautifully textured, deeply flavorful dish where the garlic and onions sing, and the spinach is perfectly coated in a blanket of cheesy goodness. It’s the ultimate comfort food vegetable dish that feels incredibly gourmet but is completely accessible for any home cook, no matter your skill level.

How to Make Creamed Spinach

Quick Overview

Making this steakhouse-style side is wonderfully straightforward. The entire process comes down to two main phases: prepping your greens and building that glorious cheese sauce. You’ll start by microwaving your frozen spinach and doing the most important step of the whole recipe—squeezing out every last drop of water! Once your spinach is dry and ready, you’ll move to the stovetop. You’ll sauté some onions and garlic in butter to build a fragrant flavor base, then melt down your cream cheese and heavy cream until bubbling and smooth. Finally, you’ll stir in your shredded cheeses and fold that dry spinach right back in. It all comes together in one skillet, meaning fewer dishes for you to wash later. Easy, right?

Ingredients

• 3 (10 oz) bags frozen chopped spinach: Thawed and ready to drain.
• 2 tablespoons butter: For sautéing our aromatics.
• 1 medium yellow onion: Diced finely for a touch of sweetness.
• 6 large garlic cloves: Minced fresh for the best robust flavor.
• 4 oz cream cheese: Full-fat works best for a creamy texture.
• 1 cup heavy cream: Or half-and-half, though heavy cream is richer.
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese: Pre-shredded works perfectly here.
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese: Freshly grated is a must!
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg: Optional, but adds an amazing warmth.
• Salt and freshly cracked pepper: To taste.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep and Drain the Spinach

Start by cooking your frozen spinach in the microwave according to the package directions. Once it’s cool enough to handle, you need to remove all the excess water. I like to wrap the spinach in a cheesecloth and squeeze it tightly, or you can press it into a fine mesh sieve with the back of a spoon. It is incredibly important to get it as dry as possible so your final dish isn’t runny!

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt your butter. Toss in your diced yellow onion and sauté until it becomes soft and translucent. This brings out the natural sweetness. Then, add your minced garlic and cook for just 30 seconds until it’s beautifully fragrant.

Step 3: Build the Cream Base

Lower the heat slightly and add your cream cheese to the skillet. Stir constantly until it is completely melted into the onions and garlic. Next, pour in your heavy cream and let the mixture cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often until it’s smooth and gently bubbling.

Step 4: Melt the Cheeses

Now for the fun part! Add your mozzarella, freshly grated parmesan, nutmeg, salt, and cracked pepper. Keep stirring until all the cheeses are completely melted and you have a thick, luxurious sauce. Remember to taste it here—parmesan is salty, so you might not need much extra salt!

Step 5: Fold and Serve

Finally, gently fold your drained, dry spinach into the bubbling cream sauce. Let it cook for one more minute just to make sure the spinach is heated all the way through. Serve it up immediately while it’s hot and gooey!

What to Serve It With

This creamed spinach is the ultimate wingman for so many main courses. Naturally, it shines brightest next to a beautifully seared steak—think a thick, juicy ribeye or a tender filet mignon. But please don’t stop there! It pairs incredibly well with roasted chicken, baked pork chops, or even a holiday turkey or glazed ham. If you’re keeping things vegetarian, serve it alongside a hearty mushroom risotto or use it as a decadent filling for stuffed pasta shells. Honestly, it’s so good, I’ve been known to just eat it straight out of the pan with a spoon!

Top Tips for Perfecting Your Creamed Spinach Recipe

Squeeze it dry: I cannot stress this enough! Use a cheesecloth, a thin tea towel, or a fine-mesh sieve to wring out all the water from your thawed spinach. Any leftover moisture will water down your beautiful cream sauce.

Grate your own cheese: Pre-packaged grated parmesan in the green shaker bottle just won’t cut it here. Grab a block of real parmesan and grate it yourself for the silkiest texture and best flavor.

Don’t skip the nutmeg: It might sound a little weird to put a baking spice in a savory vegetable dish, but trust me on this. A tiny pinch of freshly grated nutmeg adds a warm, nutty depth that completely rounds out the flavors.

Taste before salting: Both the parmesan and the cream cheese carry a lot of natural saltiness. Wait until the very end to taste your dish before adding any extra salt.

Storing and Reheating Tips

One of my absolute favorite things about this recipe is how beautifully it stores. If you have leftovers (which is a big “if” in my house!), simply let the spinach cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will stay fresh and delicious in the fridge for up to 5 days.

When you’re ready to enjoy it again, I recommend reheating it gently on the stovetop over low heat. If the sauce has thickened up a bit too much in the fridge, just stir in a splash of heavy cream or milk to loosen it right back up. You can also use the microwave—just heat it in 30-second intervals and stir in between so the sauce stays perfectly silky and doesn’t separate. While you can freeze it, the dairy might change texture slightly upon thawing, so fresh or refrigerated is always your best bet!

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

I truly hope this Creamed Spinach Recipe brings as much joy to your dinner table as it does to mine. There is just something so incredibly comforting about sharing a warm, cheesy, lovingly made dish with the people you care about. Whether you are whipping this up for a busy weeknight meal or serving it proudly at your next big holiday gathering, I know it’s going to be a massive hit with your family and friends.

Don’t forget to play around with it, too! Make it your own by adding some crispy bacon bits, a buttery cracker topping, or tossing in some artichoke hearts. Thank you so much for cooking with me today. If you try this recipe, I would absolutely love to hear how it turns out for you. Happy cooking, friend!

Best Creamed Spinach Recipe

This indulgent steakhouse-style Creamed Spinach is creamy, cheesy, and downright irresistible. Ready in just 20 minutes, it's made with simple ingredients like frozen spinach, butter, garlic, cream, and two kinds of cheese.

Prep : 10 Total : 25 minutes

Rate Pin Share Recipe Print Recipe

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Main Ingredients

• 3 10 oz bags frozen chopped spinach
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 6 large garlic cloves minced
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup heavy cream or half and half
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 0.5 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg optional
• salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

 

Preparation Steps

• Cook spinach in microwave according to package directions. Remove excess water, squeezing carefully using cheese cloth (or press it into a fine mesh sieve or a colander lined with a thin tea towel) and set aside. It's VERY important to remove the excess water to ensure your creamed spinach is not runny.
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt the butter. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add cream cheese and cook, stirring, until melted. Add heavy cream and cook for 2 minutes. Add mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, optional nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
• Fold the drained spinach into the cream sauce and cook for an additional minute to reheat the spinach. Serve immediately!

Notes

It is VERY important to remove the excess water from the spinach to ensure your creamed spinach is not runny.