Name: The Best Creamed Spinach
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound frozen chopped spinach or 2 pounds fresh (see notes); 2 tablespoons butter; 1/2 medium onion (chopped); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream; 4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 block Philly) (softened); 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; Pinch nutmeg; Salt & pepper (to taste)

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Use frozen or fresh spinach for this easy creamed spinach recipe that's the ultimate cozy side dish! It comes together in just 25 minutes and has that restaurant-quality taste you crave.

Need another quick and easy side dish? Try my Sautéed Spinach with Bacon next.

Why you'll love it

You know how when you get creamed spinach at your favorite steakhouse, and it's almost an afterthought compared to the steak until you take that rich, creamy, irresistible first bite? Then you're reminded just how delicious it is! The good news is that you can make creamed spinach easily in your own kitchen that is just as tasty as at a restaurant.

I definitely don't limit this buttery, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned classic creamed spinach just for holidays or entertaining since it's really simple to throw together. It's fantastic for weeknight meals any time of the year and goes with so many main courses. It's also the easiest way I know of for how to get picky eaters to eat spinach.

What goes into it

Spinach - my preference is chopped frozen spinach for convenience and texture since you don't need to blanch it, but we've got instructions here for fresh as well. If you like your spinach leaves more intact, go with fresh spinach. Frozen spinach makes more of a purée.
Butter - for sautéing and making the rich base
Onion - I like to use sweet (Vidalia) best, but yellow or white would work too
Garlic - for that classic savory pop of flavor. I like to mince it with my trusty garlic press, which doesn't even require peeling the cloves first.
Heavy cream - it's what makes it so luxurious
Cream cheese - Philadelphia is my go-to. It makes it even more creamy and adds a hint of tanginess. This recipe works best if the cream cheese is softened, so take it out of your fridge 30+ minutes prior to starting the recipe, or you can simply microwave it if you forget.
Parmesan - who can resist that cheesy touch?
Nutmeg - it adds a special warm, nutty quality to set my version apart from others

ingredients for creamed spinach in prep bowls

If using frozen spinach

To thaw frozen spinach, add it to a colander/sieve and run lukewarm water over it. Once it's thawed, use your hands to squeeze out the excess water. If in a rush, add the spinach to a bowl and microwave it for a few minutes (checking on it regularly) to thaw it, and then rinse with cool water and proceed to squeeze out the water.

If using fresh spinach

To prepare fresh spinach instead of frozen for this recipe, boil a large pot of water and cook the spinach for 1-2 minutes to blanch it. Drain it into a colander, rinse it with cool water, and squeeze it out. This step makes it much easier to work with the spinach since there's so much bulk/volume before it cooks down.

How to make creamed spinach

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

making sauce for creamed spinach in a pot

Prep your spinach. In a pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion until lightly browned. Add in the sauce ingredients, and stir until the cream cheese is incorporated and the sauce has thickened.

adding spinach to a pot for creamed spinach

Stir in the spinach, and let it warm through. Season with salt & pepper generously, and enjoy right away.

Troubleshooting tips

The sauce thickness will vary based on a couple of factors, namely how well you squeeze the water out of the spinach and how quickly you're able to melt the cream cheese into the sauce. But it's easy to adjust the sauce to your liking!
If the sauce seems too dry once the spinach is added, add a splash more cream. If the sauce isn't reduced enough, cook it for a few more minutes. Creamed spinach can vary a lot, and it's personal preference if you want a thicker or thinner sauce.

What to serve with creamed spinach

It's a versatile side dish, and it's wonderful with my Garlic Butter Steak Bites especially. Other weekday main courses like my Easy Baked Pork Tenderloin or Easy Pan Seared Salmon Recipe go great as well.
Making it as a holiday side dish or for a special occasion? Pair it with my Easy Roast Turkey or Lemon Roast Chicken and other Thanksgiving and Christmas favorites.

Substitutions and variations

If you want this creamed spinach to be even more rich and cheesy, try adding in some shredded mozzarella as well. I don't find it necessary for this recipe, but I know some steakhouses add it.
You can definitely use more (or less) onion and garlic to suit your personal preferences. As written, neither is overpowering in my version and it's nicely balanced.
Swap the heavy cream out for something lower fat at your discretion. We haven't tested any other way, and it'll likely yield a thinner sauce and take longer to reduce.

Leftovers and storage

Leftover creamed spinach will keep in fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container.
Reheat over a low heat slowly in a saucepan, stirring fairly often until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of cream to revive it.
I don't recommend freezing since they may not reheat so well, but if you happen to have leftovers you can try. It'll still taste good, but the texture may change and it may become more watery.

More easy side dishes

Did you make my creamed spinach recipe? I'd love it if you left me a comment below! Questions? Feel free to ask. As always, tag me on Instagram if you've made one of my recipes.

This recipe was originally published on January 2, 2020. It's been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!

The Best Creamed Spinach