I’ve always thought that one of the best things about going to a steakhouse, is ordering this creamy spinach side dish. I’ve been searching for a while for the best-creamed spinach recipe, and I found it. This is a simple, but delicious way to make even the pickiest of eaters eat their daily greens!
What You’ll Need To Make Creamed Spinach:
- Spinach: for convenience, I used the “steam in bag” spinach and microwaved it to avoid having to cook it
- Butter: to saute the onion and garlic
- Onion and garlic: minced finely so you don’t bite into any large pieces
- Milk and heavy cream: to make it creamy but not heavy
- White wine: gives this dish a touch of acidity that won’t curdle the milk or cream
- Cream cheese: softened for easy mixing. This ingredient thickens the dish and provides creaminess
- Nutmeg: just a pinch provides amazing flavor
- Red pepper flakes: for a bit of heat
- Parmesan cheese: freshly grated, this cheese provides a rich, slightly salty flavor.
How To Make Creamed Spinach?
- Steam the spinach in the microwave and place it in a colander to remove the excess liquid. Once it cools down, squeeze it to remove as much liquid as you can
- In a medium-sized saucepan or pot, melt the butter over medium heat and saute the minced onion and garlic until translucent. Add the white wine and simmer until reduced by half
- Sprinkle in the nutmeg, red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground pepper
- Mix in the milk, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Cook until the cream cheese is melted, about 4-5 minutes
- Add the spinach and parmesan cheese. Serve hot
What Goes With Creamed Spinach?
Steak! I think this is a match made in heaven. The most requested meal at my house is Best Cajun Butter Steak Recipe with a side of creamed spinach and Potatoes Romanoff. If you have never tried these potatoes, you should! They’re mashed potatoes that taste like perfectly baked potatoes.
For dessert, my family likes either Easy Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake or Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cake. Believe me when I tell you this meal is better than going to any restaurant!
What To Do With Leftover Creamed Spinach?
If you have any leftovers, place them in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you don’t want to store it, but rather use it as an ingredient for a different dish, I have a couple of suggestions:
- Add it to beaten eggs and make a quiche or a frittata
- Spread it on sliced bread and place it under the broiler for a perfect appetizer
- Use it as a phyllo pastry filling
- Spread it over a pizza crust, add shredded mozzarella, and bake it
- Add chopped artichoke hearts to make a dip
Freeze Creamed Spinach:
To freeze this creamed spinach recipe, wait for it to cool down completely and place it in a freezer-safe bag. You can freeze it for up to 12 months. To thaw, place it in the fridge overnight and take it out of the fridge one hour prior to reheating it.
Best Creamed Spinach Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 oz spinach (preferably steam-in-bag for convenience)
- 1 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup onion, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup milk (I used 2%)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup white wine
- 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Steam the spinach in the microwave and place it in a colander to remove the excess liquid. Once it cools down, squeeze it to remove as much liquid as you can
- In a medium-sized saucepan or pot, melt the butter over medium heat and saute the minced onion and garlic until translucent. Add the white wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 3 minutes
- Sprinkle in the nutmeg, red pepper flakes, salt and freshly ground pepper
- Mix in the milk, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Cook until the cream cheese is melted, about 4-5 minutes
- Add the spinach
- Mix in the freshly grated parmesan cheese