Description
This Best Creamed Spinach Recipe is a rich, velvety side dish featuring tender spinach cooked with a creamy blend of cream cheese, heavy cream, and mozzarella, enhanced by fragrant garlic and onion. Perfect for serving alongside your favorite main dishes, this comforting creamed spinach delivers a deliciously smooth texture and cheesy flavor with a hint of nutmeg.
Ingredients
Scale
Spinach
- 3 (10 oz) bags frozen chopped spinach
Cream Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 6 large garlic cloves, minced
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Spinach: Microwave the frozen chopped spinach according to the package directions until fully thawed and cooked. Once done, carefully remove the excess water by squeezing the spinach using cheesecloth, a tea towel, a fine mesh sieve, or a colander. Set aside the drained spinach.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Melt Cream Cheese and Add Cream: Add the cream cheese to the skillet and stir continuously until it melts and incorporates smoothly with the butter, onion, and garlic. Pour in the heavy cream and continue cooking and stirring for 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Add Cheeses and Seasonings: Stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese, grated parmesan cheese, and the optional freshly ground nutmeg. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to your taste. Mix until all the cheeses melt evenly into the sauce.
- Combine Spinach with Cream Sauce: Fold the well-drained spinach into the creamy sauce, stirring gently to coat the spinach evenly. Cook for an additional 1 minute to reheat the spinach and meld the flavors together.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the creamed spinach immediately as a delicious side dish to complement your meal.
Notes
- Store leftover creamed spinach in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then heat for another 30 seconds or reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Freeze leftover creamed spinach in an airtight container for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. It can also be reheated directly from frozen in the microwave by adding 1 tablespoon of water and heating in 1-minute increments until warm and soft.
- It is very important to strain out the excess water thoroughly from the cooked spinach using cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve to avoid a watery creamed spinach.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
