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Creamed Spinach

November 8, 2024

We’re always looking for ways to eat more vegetables. Creamed spinach is great all year round, and is so easy to make using frozen spinach.

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creamed spinach in a serving bowl made with butter, shallot, garlic, cream, dijon, spices and parmesan cheese
Photography by Gayle McLeod

This Easy Creamed Spinach Recipe Will Make Popeye Jealous

If homemade creamed spinach isn’t something your grandma served, let us introduce you to an old-fashioned dinner time staple. We’re certain that this version with its creamy, herb-scented backdrop will make you fall in love with this creamed spinach from frozen recipe–which could be our favorite way to add flavor and variety to frozen spinach. You might be familiar with the majesty of steakhouse creamed spinach already, in which case we encourage you to make this recipe at home the next time you’re craving something rich and cozy. For another creamy side, try our dairy-free creamed corn.

spinach, butter, shallot, garlic, cream, dijon, parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, garlic powder and cayenne in bowls
chopped shallot being cooked in melted butter in a skillet
heavy cream being poured in a skillet with shallot, butter, garlic, dijon, salt, pepper, garlic powder, nutmeg and cayenne
spinach and parmesan being added in a skillet with cream shallot, butter, garlic, dijon and spices to make creamed spinach

The Best Creamed Spinach Recipe And More

We like it when spinach finds its way into anything we’re planning to eat. Like when two of our favorite ingredients come together in one place in this Spinach Feta Wrap. This Spinach Mushroom Strata is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (just add Simple Green Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette!). Perhaps the way we will always love spinach is in Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip, the only sad part is that it never lasts long at our houses. Make these Feta-Spinach Breakfast Egg Muffins with Sun-Dried Tomatoes for a great on-the-go breakfast.

creamed spinach being stirred in a skillet with a wooden spoon made with butter, cream, dijon, spices and parmesan cheese
creamed spinach in a serving bowl made with butter, shallot, garlic, cream, dijon, spices and parmesan cheese

How To Make Creamed Spinach

  1. To start making frozen creamed spinach you’ll need to thaw, drain, and squeeze all of the liquid out of 20 ounces of frozen leaf spinach (most of the frozen spinach sold at the grocery store comes in 10 ounce blocks–grab two of these to make this recipe!).

  2. Melt the butter in a large skillet and add the shallot and garlic to cook until tender.

  3. Add the heavy cream, mustard, and spices and stir to combine and bring to a simmer. You’ll reduce the heat and simmer until the cream has thickened.

  4. Add a half cup of grated parmesan and spinach, and cook until thick and creamy–about five minutes more.

  5. Serve warm, with some Herby Rhodes Rolls and perhaps our Salisbury Steak alongside!

creamed spinach being stirred in a skillet with a wooden spoon made with butter, cream, dijon, spices and parmesan cheese
creamed spinach in a serving bowl made with butter, shallot, garlic, cream, dijon, spices and parmesan cheese

Tools You’ll Need

Fill Your Table With More Great Vegetable Dishes

We’re always looking for creative ways to put more vegetables on our plates. Here’s a few more of our favorite side dishes featuring vegetables that could be the star of your next meal!

This Creamed Spinach Might Give You Superpowers

Or at least you’ll feel better for eating your veggies! Did you make this recipe for creamed spinach? We’d love to see how it turned out! Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

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Creamed Spinach

  • Serves:  8
  • Prep Time:  10 min
  • Cook Time:  15 min
  • Calories:  257

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter
  • 1 large shallot, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 20 ounces frozen spinach, thawed, drained, liquid squeezed out

Method

  1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until softened, but not browned, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more.

  2. Stir in the heavy cream, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, nutmeg, and cayenne and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the cream has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.

  3. Add the Parmesan and spinach and stir to combine. Cook, stirring, until thickened and creamy, about 5 minutes longer. Serve warm.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories 257
  • Protein 6 g
  • Carbohydrates 7 g
  • Total Fat 24 g
  • Dietary Fiber 3 g
  • Cholesterol 71 mg
  • sodium 327 mg
  • Total Sugars 3 g

Creamed Spinach

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • Donna

    Can I make this for a crowd of 20?

    Sure! I would just double or triple the recipe depending on what else it is being served with. Enjoy.

  • Lise

    hi, can i make this with raw spinach?

    Yes, that should be fine!

  • Kelly

    Hi! Can I make this the day before and reheat?

    Sure!

  • k

    Could I make this ahead of time? Thanks!

    Sure!

  • Anna

    This was amazing!!! Used fresh spinach…not quite 20 ounces and it was just fantastic!!!!!

    Thanks Anna, we are so glad you loved it!

  • Elaine

    Very easy. I used a teaspoon of Colemans mustard powder instead of the dijon. Next time, only 2 cloves of garlic. Despite being heavy garlic, it was delicious.

    Thanks Elaine, we are so happy you loved it!

  • Kallie

    Love love this recipe. I went through several cream cheese based cream spinach recipes and they weren't for me. This one with real cream + the flavors of the mustard, nutmeg and little kick from cayenne. So good. I use fresh spinach.

    Yay! glad you loved it!

  • Kay

    Fantastic Recipe, thanks!

    You're welcome, so happy you liked it!