This delicious side dish is perfect for fall and winter when you want serious comfort food. Even better?
Table of Contents
❤️ Why you'll love it
- Rich and filling side dish recipe with bold flavor
- Low-carb and excellent if you're on the Keto diet
- Great way to eat your greens-no one can resist a creamy sauce!
Steakhouse creamed spinach is the type of classic side dish that tastes good no matter what the main course is.
Plus, when I say this is an easy recipe, I mean the five-minute-prep and only-a-handful-of-ingredients kind of easy.
Seriously, it's simple and delicious-what more could you want?
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Melt butter, and saute the garlic and onion in a large skillet.
- Add the fresh spinach.
- Let cook until wilted, then drain off any excess water.
- Add the cream cheese, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. Stir.
🥫 Storage
This steakhouse creamed spinach recipe is a favorite of mine because it keeps really well, so leftovers taste as good on the next day as they did on the first!
Simply put the creamed spinach in a plastic or glass airtight container. Since spinach is acidic, you shouldn't store it in anything reactive, like aluminum.
You can store leftover steakhouse creamed spinach in the refrigerator for three days. To make it last a bit longer, freeze it for up to three months.
The cooked spinach reheats easily in the microwave. Just stir it often to make sure everything warms up evenly. You can also reheat it in a large pot on the stove over low heat. Again, stir frequently so it doesn't burn!
📖 Variations
- Watching calories? You can lighten this creamed spinach recipe a bit by substituting the heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk and cutting the cream cheese by two tablespoons. Just know it won't be as creamy, and it'll need to simmer longer to thicken.
- Swap the onion with some chopped shallots for a slightly milder flavor.
- Drain and stir in a can of quartered artichokes to turn this steakhouse favorite into a side similar to spinach artichoke dip.
- If you like extra gooey creamed spinach, use Mozzarella cheese instead of Parmesan.
- You could add a few crumbles of feta cheese to give your creamed spinach a sharper, slightly Greek flavor.
- Crumble some crispy bacon on top just before serving for a smoky, indulgent flavor.
- If you like more texture, try sprinkling pork rind crumbs on top and broil it for a minute or two. You could also use bread crumbs if you're not sticking to a low-carb diet.
- I know a few moms and grandmas who swear by one secret ingredient in steakhouse creamed spinach: freshly grated nutmeg. Try adding a pinch of it and see what you think!
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Keep your raw spinach fresh until you use it by wrapping the leaves gently between some paper towels. Store the wrapped spinach in a bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge. It should last for about ten days this way.
- When cooking with simple ingredients, you want only the best flavors to shine through. So, try to buy fresh baby spinach leaves-they have a lot more flavor.
- I like to take two knives and run them across the spinach after it's cooked, before adding the Parmesan topping. It cuts the larger leaves into bite-sized pieces so it's easier to eat.
- Leftover steakhouse creamed spinach? One of our favorite ways to enjoy it is over a morning omelet-the perfect way to start a day!
👩🍳 FAQs
Let's get one thing clear: as a spinach lover, I do not recommend frozen spinach in this recipe. Having said that, technically, yes, you can use frozen spinach. However, thaw it and drain it really carefully, squeezing out as much excess liquid as humanly possible. Otherwise, your creamed spinach will taste watered down and lose its delicious, bold flavor.
This creamed spinach is a great side dish for just about anything. Try it with pork chops, grilled or baked chicken breast, or crockpot ham. Alternatively, lean into the steakhouse theme and sear a ribeye steak for date night! You can even scoop it with tortilla chips as a fun snack.
Olive oil will do the job okay, but you'll lose the rich, buttery flavor that coats the veggies like dew on grass after a cool night. The butter adds fabulous flavor and smooths out the cream sauce, so I don't really recommend swapping it.
Nope, no accident! Though all-purpose flour is used as a thickening agent in some steakhouse creamed spinach recipes, I've formulated this one to thicken beautifully without any flour. Not only is it good if you're avoiding carbs or gluten, but it makes the cooking process even easier!
📚 Related recipes
- Easy Southern Creamed Corn is decadent and rich, and complements any southern dish-this recipe is a staple in my town!
- Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip is always tasty, but this version uses smoked Provolone cheese for an extra addictive flavor.
- Dieting or not, this Keto Broccoli Salad delivers flavor and texture. It's full of creamy, smoky, tangy, crunchy perfection in every bite.
🍽️ Serve with...
Restless Chipotle recommends...
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📞 The last word
You're gonna want some dinner rolls to sop up the sauce - it's so good.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Creamed Spinach Recipe (low carb/ keto)
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup onions
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 16 ounces fresh spinach leaves
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, divided use
- kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
- Dice the onions.
- Mince garlic.
- Melt the butter over medium- low heat in a large skillet.
- Add the onions and minced garlic and saute until soft.
- Add the spinach and saute until wilted.
- If there seems to be excess water drain it off and return to the heat.
- Add the cream cheese, half the Parmesan, and heavy cream.
- Stir gently until it forms a sauce and the spinach is thoroughly cooked.
- Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
- Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top. Cover and remove from heat.
- Let stand a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can lower the calories a bit by substituting the heavy cream with half and half and cutting the cream cheese by 2 tablespoons. It won't be as creamy and you'll need to let the sauce simmer a bit so it cooks off.You can use frozen spinach but thaw before using and let it drain in a colander or your creamed spinach with be super watery. Saying that - I do not recommend frozen spinach in this recipe.
- Try to get fresh baby spinach leaves. They just have more flavor.
- It's easiest to reheat in the microwave on high. Just heat in one minute increments, stirring often.
- You can also reheat on the stovetop over low heat. Stir to make sure it doesn't scorch on the bottom.
- Crumble some crisp cooked bacon on top just before serving.
- Leftover keto creamed spinach? Add it to your morning omelet. OMG.. the PERFECT way to start the day.
- Like it gooey? Use Mozzarella cheese instead of the Parmesan.
- I like to take 2 knives and run them across the spinach after it's cooked before I add the Parmesan topping. It cuts the leaves into a smaller bite size and is easier to eat.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published October 24, 2021. Last updated November 8, 2022 for editorial content.
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