Using frozen spinach slashes time in this Easy Creamed Spinach recipe… it’s a perfect side dish for just about any main course and is prepared in just 25 minutes.
Creamed Spinach Recipe
Tender spinach in a velvety, cheesy cream sauce is always a welcomed holiday side dish (although I love it throughout the year!). It pairs perfectly with prime rib and can easily be made-ahead and reheated the next day.
Your Simple Ingredients
- Frozen chopped spinach (thawed) that has been squeezed dry (this prevents the dish from being watery).
- Butter – I use unsalted butter so that I can better control the saltiness to my taste.
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Heavy cream
- Cream cheese
- Salt and black pepper
- Ground nutmeg gives this dish a warm and very slightly sweet flavor.
- Whole milk
- All-purpose flour helps to thicken the creamy sauce when whisked with whole milk.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is an optional topping (but I highly recommend it!).
How to Prepare
Following is a very brief overview of how to prepare – please see the recipe card for full detailed instructions.
- Cook the onions until softened in melted butter in a large skillet. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add heavy cream, cream cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cook and stir until mixture is smooth.
- Whisk together the milk and flour and pour into mixture. Stir to combine. Cook and stir until thickened.
- Add spinach and stir well to combine. Cook until spinach is heated.
Make-Ahead Instructions
This recipe can easily be made a day ahead of time and served the next day. Allow to cool and store in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat in a large skillet over low heat until warmed, stirring often.
The sauce will thicken after refrigerating, so I normally add 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk when reheating.
Number of Servings
This recipe yields approximately 5 cups (8 servings that are a little over ½ cup each).
Enjoy!
More Holiday Side Dishes
Easy Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter 4 tablespoons
- ½ cup diced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese cubed
- ½ teaspoon salt more or less, to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper more or less, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 (16 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese optional topping
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is tender (about 3 to 4 minutes).
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, stirring constantly (about 30 seconds).
- Add heavy cream, cream cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth.
- In a bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together milk and flour. Pour into mixture and stir to combine.
- Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 3 minutes).
- Add spinach and stir well to combine. Cook (stirring frequently) until spinach is heated, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
- Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days.
- Reheat in a large skillet over low heat (stirring frequently) until warmed through. The cream sauce will thicken after refrigerating; add 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk when reheating, if necessary.
Nutrition
If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.
Maria
Excellent instructions & so delicious! This will become a new holiday staple for us! Thank you!
Judy
Making this creamed spinach with our Christmas prime rib. It is delicious and you’d never think it’s so easy to make!
annie nalewak
I am using your prime rib recipe and this creamed spinach for our xmas dinner,thank you for the instructions and recipes.merry christmas to thee and thine from texas.
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Thank you Annie, I hope you and your family enjoy the prime rib and creamed spinach. Merry Christmas!