Easy Creamed Spinach Recipe (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 pound frozen chopped spinach (or 2 pounds fresh spinach)
02 -
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 -
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
04 -
2 garlic cloves, minced
→ Cream Sauce
05 -
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
06 -
4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
07 -
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
08 -
Pinch of fresh nutmeg
09 -
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# Instructions:
01 -
For frozen spinach, thaw completely and squeeze out every bit of excess water using your hands or a clean kitchen towel. For fresh spinach, bring a large pot of water to boil, add spinach and cook for just 1 minute, then drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze out all moisture and roughly chop if you prefer smaller pieces.
02 -
Heat butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it becomes golden and lightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. The onion should smell sweet and nutty.
03 -
Lower the heat to medium-low and stir in the minced garlic, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream, then add chunks of softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, and a generous pinch of nutmeg. Stir constantly, breaking up the cream cheese with your spoon until everything melts together into a smooth, rich sauce.
04 -
Fold in the prepared spinach and let it warm through completely, about 2-3 minutes. If the mixture seems too thick, splash in a bit more cream. If it's too thin, continue cooking for a few more minutes to reduce. Taste and season generously with salt and pepper - don't be shy with the seasoning as spinach needs it!
# Notes:
01 -
Frozen spinach packages vary in size from 16-20 ounces, so any size in that range works perfectly for this recipe.
02 -
Two pounds of fresh spinach might look overwhelming, but it cooks down dramatically. You can use just one pound if you prefer, but reduce the cream to 1/2 cup.
03 -
If you forget to soften the cream cheese, microwave it for 20-30 seconds, watching carefully to prevent overheating.
04 -
This restaurant-style side dish pairs beautifully with steak, roasted chicken, or holiday meals.