3-Ingredient Easy and Delicious Creamed Spinach
This creamy, flavorful vegetable side is super simple and super delicious! You can make this easy creamed spinach recipe in just 10 minutes!
This recipe is a go-to any time I’m in need of an easy side to feed a crowd. Holiday meals, potlucks, baby showers, even funerals — this easy recipe is what I’m bringing. I can make a big batch in a matter of minutes, and it’s always a hit at the dinner table.
I also love that this is super versatile. It works great as a vegetable side, helping even picky eaters get their leafy greens in. It also works really well as a dip, making it a great appetizer option as well.
What’s in easy creamed spinach?
This creamy side dish is made with just a few basic ingredients. They’re pretty easy to keep around and so you can whip this up at a moment’s notice!
- Frozen Spinach: For this recipe, you’ll need 24 oz of frozen spinach. You can also steam fresh spinach, if you like. For that, you’ll need a lot of spinach — almost 3 pounds!
- Cream Cheese: A single block of cream cheese is the only thing you need to make this the perfect texture; no heavy cream in this recipe! You can sub Neufchatel cheese here, if you’re looking for a lighter option. Whichever option you use, however, make sure it is at room temperature before you mix it in, otherwise you’ll need some elbow grease!
- Parmesan Cheese: Good old table parmesan cheese adds a ton of flavor and creaminess to the final dish. For this recipe, you don’t want the nice kind that comes in a bag, or the kind you grate yourself. You want the cheap kind that comes in a shaker. You can also use a romano/parmesan mix for a different flavor.
Making 3-ingredient creamed spinach
Step 1 | Steam
Start by steaming your frozen chopped spinach. I love to buy the kind that you can steam right in the bag, but if you don’t have that option at your grocery store, you can use any of these different ways to get your spinach ready to work with.
Step 2 | Drain and Dry
Next, put your spinach in a colander and pat the spinach leaves dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. You don’t need to press down or squeeze your spinach — you’re mostly looking to get rid of any excess water from the steaming process.
Step 3 | Mix
Next, transfer your spinach to a large mixing bowl. Add the parmesan and the cream cheese and use a wooden spoon to mix them together. Make sure your cream cheese is room temperature before you try to mix it in. If you forget, it’s okay; you’ll just have to work extra hard to get it mixed in smoothly.
Tip: Pop hard cream cheese in the microwave for 10-20 seconds to soften it up. Just remember to remove the foil packaging before putting the block in the microwave!
Step 4 | Enjoy!
You can enjoy this as simple side for chicken, pork chops, or even steak. This also makes a fantastic spinach dip to serve as an appetizer for a special occasion or holiday dinner. Just serve it with some fancy crackers or tortilla chips. You can also garnish it with a dusting of cayenne pepper for a kick of heat, or some chopped parsley, a little nutmeg, and cracked black pepper for a more classic approach!
Variations
Dress this simple spinach dip up with a few minor changes to create a variety of delicious options!
- Onion Spinach Dip: Add sauteed onion to your base recipe to level up!
- Garlic Creamed Spinach: One of my favorite options here, you simply add 1 tsp minced garlic or 2 tsp garlic powder to the creamed spinach. The flavor is amazing!
- Espinacas con Crema (Mexican Creamed Spinach): One of the classic mexican recipes, espinacas con crema (spinach with cream) simply adds 6 slices chopped bacon, 1 sautéed onion, and 1 tsp minced garlic to the base. If you don’t mind a little heat, you can also add a sautéed jalapeño or poblano!
- Water Chestnut Spinach Dip (Boston Market Copycat): Add chopped water chestnuts and 2 tbsp melted butter to recreate the crunchy, buttery goodness of this classic Boston Market side!
FAQs
While fresh spinach can be used, frozen chopped spinach is preferred for this recipe as it’s already cooked and chopped, saving you time and effort. If you choose to use fresh spinach, you will need about 3 pounds.
Yes, you can use low-fat or fat-free cream cheese if you prefer. However, keep in mind that it may affect the creaminess and richness of the dish slightly.
Parmesan cheese adds a unique flavor to the dish, but you can substitute it with a romano or pecorino blend for a different taste profile.
Absolutely! You can add protein by stirring in cooked diced chicken, crumbled bacon, or cooked shrimp before baking the creamed spinach. This will make it a hearty and satisfying main dish.
Yes, you can prepare the creamed spinach up to a day in advance and refrigerate it. Just be sure to cover it tightly with foil before refrigerating.
You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
To reheat leftover creamed spinach, simply place it in a microwave-safe dish and microwave it on high in 30-second intervals until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in a covered baking dish in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed.
3-Ingredient Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
- 24 oz frozen chopped spinach
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Steam the spinach.
- In a colander, drain the steamed spinach and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Transfer spinach to a large bowl, then add cream cheese and parmesan. Mix until well combined.
- Add salt and pepper or other spices and garnishes to taste, then serve!
Super simple & delicious. Thank you for this recipe <3
Ahhh … the Boston Market copycat variation is so delish.
I’m ashamed to admit this, but I didn’t know creamed spinach could be made with so few ingredients. I’ve also never made it before lol. This is so easy and approachable!