↑

Will Cook For Smiles

Classic and Original Homecooking Recipes

  • Home
    • About Me
    • Work With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe!
  • Recipes
    • Popular Posts
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Healthy Dishes
    • Soup
    • Salad
    • Sandwich
    • Cauliflower
    • Drink
    • Cocktail
  • How To
  • Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot Main Dishes
    • Instant Pot Side Dishes
    • Instant Pot Soups
  • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Seafood
    • Pork
    • Chili
    • Pasta
    • Slow Cooker
    • Vegetarian
  • Dessert
    • Cheesecake
    • Cake
    • Cookies
    • Chocolate
  • Holidays
    • Easter
    • Holiday Leftover Recipes
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • BBQ
    • 4th Of July
    • Fall Recipes
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas Dinner
    • Christmas Baking
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Super Bowl Recipes
    • St. Patrick’s Day
Home » Gluten Free » Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach

Created: November 11, 2022 Updated: November 18, 2022 by Lyuba Brooke 2 Comments

690 shares
Jump to Recipe

Creamed Spinach is a classic side dish featuring fresh spinach, shallots, garlic, and the most decadent creamy sauce made with cream cheese, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses! This easy recipe only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish and it perfectly compliments so many main dishes.

closeup of spooning out some creamy spinach.

The Perfect Creamy Spinach Side Dish

There’s a lot to love about good quality Creamed Spinach. This easy homemade recipe is so much better than anything you can buy at the store. The store-bought version has never come close to this easy homemade version, which is creamy, rich, and indulgent.

When you make Creamed Spinach at home, you get to dress up fresh spinach in the most indulgent and delicious way. It’s cooked on your stove top in a warm, creamy medley of luscious cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, parmesan, and mozzarella. Even the pickiest eaters at your table won’t be able to resist this supremely cheesy and creamy side dish!

It’s a great side to serve when you need to sneak some veggies on the table. The spinach isn’t just creamy – it’s also flavorful. Before the spinach is mixed with the creamy ingredients, it’s cooked with browned shallots and fragrant fresh garlic. Also, all of the ingredients get mixed with a little salt, black pepper, and ground nutmeg.

Yes, nutmeg! The nutmeg is subtle, and it’s used to add depth and enhance the other flavors in the mix. You’ll love the way the minimal seasonings really compliment the natural flavors of the spinach and cheeses.

ingredients to make creamed spinach on cutting board.

Ingredients Notes:

You’ve likely never had spinach this crave-worthy before. Check out the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this unforgettably good side dish!

  • Olive Oil – use good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
  • Baby Spinach – You can use fresh or frozen spinach. If using frozen, be sure to really squeeze out the excess liquids.
  • Shallots – two large shallots land a perfect delicate flavor to the dish.
  • Garlic – For the best aroma and flavor, use fresh garlic.
  • Cream Cheese – I recommend using a full fat cream cheese for the richest consistency.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream – You can swap this with half and half if you need to.
  • Mozzarella Cheese – whole milk shredded mozzarella or grate it off the block.
  • Parmesan Cheese – It’s important to freshly grate both cheeses yourself, especially the parmesan! Freshly grated parmesan lends the BEST flavor and consistency. (You can check your grocery store’s deli section for freshly grated parmesan cheese.)
  • Seasonings – You’ll need a medley of salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.

Step by Step Instructions

Prepare.

This is a quick moving creamed spinach recipe, so make your life a lot easier by prepping all of the ingredients beforehand!

Measure everything and set it within reach so it’s ready to grab. Slice the shallots and smash and mince the fresh garlic cloves.

sautéed onions and garlic in a pan with a spatula.
adding chopped spinach to the cooking pan.

Sauté.

Add olive oil to a pan and heat it over medium heat. Sauté the shallots until they’re tender and browned.

Toss in the garlic and cook just until fragrant. Add the spinach to the pan and let it cook down. As it cooks down, stir to incorporate it with the shallots and garlic.

If the spinach is very watery, be sure to drain it before adding the remaining ingredients.

cooking spinach with onions in a large pan.
stirring in cream cheese into cooked spinach in a pan.
adding cream and cheese to the cooked spinach.
stirring the spinach, cheese, and cream together in a pan.

Make it creamy.

Lower the heat to medium-low. Stir in the cream cheese.

Once the cream cheese is incorporated with the spinach, stir in the heavy cream, both cheeses, and seasonings. Stir until it’s all mixed together.

Simmer over medium-low and stir from time to time.

Remove from the heat and transfer to a serving dish. Top with a little extra parmesan. Most importantly, enjoy!

creamed spinach topped with parmesan cheese in a bowl.

Serving Suggestions:

The most common way is to serve Creamed Spinach is as a side dish, but there are a few other ways you can enjoy it as well.

Mix it with pasta and you will get a delicious creamy spinach fettuccine (or any other pasta of your choice).

Just like pasta, you can serve it over rice, quinoa, or another grain.

You can also use it as a topping for chicken, salmon, or steak.

Make sure to try another version of creamed spinach with mushrooms and white wine sauce.

How to Make Ahead

This is a great side dish to prepare ahead of time and then reheat before dinner. Prepare and cook the dish completely and let if cool to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator. Make sure to store it in an air-tight food storage container.

You can make it ahead the day before and simply reheat it when needed. To reheat it, transfer the creamed spinach into a pot or a pan and reheat it over medium-low heat just until warmed trough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen spinach?

Yes, you can definitely use frozen spinach. Just make sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out the excess liquids before stirring in the cream cheese.

Can I use something other than heavy whipping cream?

Yes, you can use half and half. I would not recommend using whole milk because the sauce will be too thin and not as rich.

Is creamed spinach gluten free?

Yes! This Creamed Spinach recipe is gluten free. Make sure to double check the packaging on your cheeses and other ingredients just to make sure, but there are no typical gluten containing ingredients listed here.

scooping out some creamed spinach from a bowl.

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

closeup squared image of scooping out creamed spinach.

Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach is a classic side dish featuring fresh spinach, shallots, garlic, and the most decadent creamy sauce made with cream cheese, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 318kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
  • 15 oz baby spinach
  • 2 large shallots
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • 3 oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp salt more or less to taste
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp black pepper to taste
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare and measure the ingredients before starting to cook: Slice shallots, chop spinach, smash and mince the garlic. Measure cream, cheeses, and spices.
  • Preheat a large cooking pan over medium heat and add olive oil. Add shallots and sauté until browned.
  • Mix in garlic and sauté just until fragrant. Add chopped spinach and let it start to cook down. Then, slowly mix the spinach and onions while it's cooking down.
  • Note: if there is a lot of liquids coming off of the spinach, pour it off before adding cream and cheeses.
  • Once spinach is cooked down, lower the heat to medium-low and stir in cream cheese. When cream cheese is incorporated with spinach, mix in the heavy whipping cream, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and seasoning. Mix until everything is smooth and nicely incorporated.
  • Let it gently simmer over medium-low heat for just a few minutes, stirring from time to time.
  • Take off heat, transfer into a serving dish, and serve. You can top it with some more grated parmesan cheese if you wish.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 673mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 10852IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles
collage of two images of closeup creamed spinach and spooning out.

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

690 shares

Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Christmas Dinner, Easter, Gluten Free, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetables

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Debra says

    February 27, 2023 at 6:31 pm

    5 stars
    My Creamed Spinach came out great! It was very good. I will definitely make this dish again.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      March 1, 2023 at 10:08 am

      I am happy to hear that! Glad you liked it, Debra!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

Easter Recipes

closeup squared view of several potato rolls in a bowl.

Potato Rolls

closeup of scooping out mashed potatoes.

Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes

closeup of sliced prime rib with sauces around.

Prime Rib

squared closeup of baked ham with orange ham glaze.

Baked Ham with Orange Honey Ham Glaze

squared image of scooping out creamy brussels.

Creamy Baked Brussels Sprouts

closeup squared image of scooping out creamed spinach.

Creamed Spinach

pulling part a dinner roll to show the cheesy center.

Cheesy Dinner Rolls

closeup whole vanilla cheesecake with whipped cream.

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

Our Popular Recipes

squared closeup of baked ham with orange ham glaze.

Baked Ham with Orange Honey Ham Glaze

Margarita Recipe

A chip is being dipped into red salsa.

Salsa Recipe

The Best French Toast

Instant Pot Chili

creamy soup topped with bacon, shredded cheese and chives in a white and orange bowl with a spoon

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Top Rated Recipes

The Best French Toast

Cauliflower Parmesan Crisps

Christmas Cheesecake (Cranberry Jam White Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake)

Avocado Salmon Rice Bowl

round decorative bowl filled with apple pie bread pudding topped with ice cream and a fork leaning on the side of the bowl viewed close up.

Apple Pie Bread Pudding

Smores cheesecake on a wooden table

S'Mores Cheesecake Recipe

Sides

30 Min

Pasta

Salads

Breakfast

Drinks

Soups

Gluten Free

FEATURED ON:

featured on

[cp_popup display="inline" style_id="32674" step_id = "1"][/cp_popup]
Buffalo Chicken Wrap with Homemade Ranch

Buffalo Chicken Wrap with Homemade Ranch

January 30, 2023
Delicious,...
The Best Classic Tiramisu

The Best Classic Tiramisu

January 14, 2023
Tiramisu...
Baked Ham with Orange Honey Ham Glaze

Baked Ham with Orange Honey Ham Glaze

December 2, 2022
This...
Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata

August 11, 2022
Chicken...
Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew

August 10, 2022
Pad...
Chicken Meatballs

Chicken Meatballs

July 15, 2022
These...
Baba Ganoush

Baba Ganoush

July 1, 2022
Baba...
Painkiller

Painkiller

June 30, 2022
A...
Truffle Fries

Truffle Fries

June 28, 2022
Truffle...
Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

June 21, 2022
Thai...
Privacy Policy
©2023, Will Cook For Smiles. Design by Pixel Me Designs