Easy Creamed Spinach

Name: Easy Creamed Spinach
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. Salted Butter; 1 Yellow Onion - diced; 3 Tbsp. All Purpose Flour; 1 - 1 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt; 1/2 tsp. White Pepper; 1 Cup Half and Half; 1/2 Cup Sour Cream; 4 Oz Cream Cheese - softened; 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese - freshly grated; 30 Oz Frozen Chopped Spinach - thawed/drained

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Easy Creamed Spinach has always been one of my favorite side dishes. Its creamy texture mixed with the flavor of Spinach and melted cheese goes so well with other comfort foods. Whenever I talk about this creamed spinach recipe, I always think of Boston Market, where it's like Thanksgiving every day.

My go-to meal has always been half a chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and creamed Spinach. Then, you also get that little cornbread piece. YUM! That made me want to come up with my version of Boston Market's Creamy Spinach...here it is! Enjoy!

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Step-by-Step Instructions
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQS
More Recipes You'll Love
📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe is for you if you're like me and love Boston Market or just flat-out love Creamed Spinach as a side dish. It's speedy, easy to make, and has perfectly balanced flavors and textures. And It pairs perfectly with Whole Smoked Chicken.

This creamed Spinach only takes 15-20 minutes, making it a Steakhouse-style side dish perfect for weeknight dinners and holidays. Plus, it can be made ahead of time and easily reheated.

This also works as a healthy topping or stuffing for baked salmon. The possibilities are endless.

Ingredients

Vegetables: Spinach is the main ingredient here, and while you could certainly use fresh, I don't recommend it. It's much easier to use chopped frozen Spinach. In a bag or box, it doesn't matter; either will work just fine. The only other vegetable you'll need is a yellow onion.

Butter: I prefer salted butter mainly because I think Salt is an essential ingredient in this creamy Spinach. However, unsalted will work just fine as well.

Cream: I use Half and Half and Sour Cream for the cream. The rest of the creaminess comes from the cheese.

Cheese: Cream cheese adds more flavor and creaminess to the creamed spinach recipe. I think cream cheese makes almost everything better! Also, some freshly grated parmesan at the end gives it extra flavor and stickiness to balance the texture.

Seasonings and Spices: Some regular Kosher Salt and White Pepper are all you'll need here. I quickly learned not to skimp on the Salt when perfecting this recipe. Start with a little and work your way up. If you still feel like you need more, a few grinds of Pink Himalayan Salt over top of a serving is fantastic!

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Before cooking, prep the frozen Spinach by thawing it first. Press or squeeze the water out with a clean tea towel, cheesecloth, or a fine mesh strainer once it's completely thawed. Any of them will work. Just be sure to get as much out as you can. This will ensure you don't have watery, runny Creamed Spinach.

Step 1: Begin by heating a 12" Cast Iron Skillet over medium-low heat. Once the skillet has preheated, add the diced onions and butter. Sauté the onions until they turn translucent but haven't softened quite yet. The slight crunch of the Onion in the finished dish adds another level of much-needed texture.

Flour being added to onions in a cast iron skillet.

Step 2: Add the Flour, Kosher Salt, and White Pepper to the onion and butter mixture, stirring to coat the onions in the flour thoroughly. Allow this mixture to cook for a couple of minutes to alleviate the flavor of the flour.

Cream cheese added to creamy onions in a cast iron skillet.

Step 3: Next, slowly pour in half and half while constantly stirring. Once the sauce has started to thicken and bubble, add the Cream Cheese and Sour Cream. Slowly stir the mixture to incorporate the ingredients thoroughly.

Repeat the last step with the freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese, folding it into the creamy mixture to create a thick sauce.

Spinach added to a creamy and cheesy mixture.

Step 4: Now that a thick sauce has formed, add the thawed and pressed spinach to the skillet, stir to combine, and let it all cook and meld for about five minutes.

Expert Tips

Try pairing this with a protein of your choice and Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes for a full meal.

If you are serving this a side item and it's ready before the main dish, place it in the oven on a very low heat, around 175°f-180°f.

Recipe FAQS

What goes well with creamed spinach?

Creamed Spinach makes a great side dish for smoked or roasted meat and works perfectly combined with mashed potatoes.

Does creamed spinach contain cheese?

Yes, creamed spinach is typically made with a creamy béchamel sauce and cheese.

How do you make creamed spinach less bitter?

Adding dairy to creamed spinach will reduce the bitterness of the spinach. You can also use citrus juice like lemon or lime, and this will also help cut the bitterness.

What is cream of spinach made of?

Creamed Spinach is made of a creamy béchamel sauce with different herbs, spices, and cheeses for added flavor.

How healthy is cream of spinach?

Creamed Spinach is a great source of Vitamin A, Potassium, Calcium, and Fiber.

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Creamed spinach in a cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon.

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