Steakhouse Creamed Spinach
A delicious steakhouse-inspired vegetable recipe with amazing depth of flavor, a creamy, cheesy sauce and no canned soup! This Steakhouse Creamed Spinach recipe makes the perfect side dish for steak nights or special occasions.
Healthy Creamed Spinach Recipe
Creamed spinach is one of my favorite steakhouse side dishes – but only if it’s done correctly! And after having several really bad, watery creamed spinach side dishes at steakhouses, I’ve stopped ordering it altogether to avoid disappointment.
I don’t know why it took me this long to figure out a homemade creamed spinach recipe to satisfy my steakhouse cravings! Paired with a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak, steakhouse-style fries, and cream style corn, this creamed spinach is the perfect side dish – and our version is actually somewhat healthy, too!
Our creamed spinach recipe has amazing depth of flavor, starting with a base of sautéed onions and garlic, before making a thick, creamy sauce using milk and cornstarch (to reduce the amount of cream cheese and Parmesan cheese added later on in the recipe). Then we add seasoning (salt and pepper, or be more adventurous with chili pepper), that perfect combo of cream cheese and Parmesan cheese, and then finally stir in the spinach for the last couple minutes of cooking to ensure that the flavor and consistency are perfect.
Perfectly cooked spinach in a cheesy, creamy sauce that tastes incredibly indulgent but is actually lightened up? You’re going to have to taste it to believe it.
Other Ways to Serve this Creamed Spinach
While I usually serve this steakhouse creamed spinach as a side dish, sometimes I double the recipe to use in a few other ways:
- Creamed Spinach Stuffed Chicken: Make stuffed chicken breasts with the creamed spinach tucked inside (hold the chicken together with toothpicks or a strip of bacon). Bake at 375F for an hour, until chicken reaches 165F.
- Creamed Spinach Pasta Bake: Boil some pasta, then toss in the creamed spinach and place in a casserole dish. Top with additional veggies or cheese, if desired, and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
- Creamed Spinach Mashed Potatoes: prepare plain mashed potatoes and stir the finished cream spinach into the potatoes to give it a new flavor dimension.
Recipe Questions
Can I use frozen spinach to make creamed spinach? Yes, you can use an equal amount (weight-wise) of frozen spinach to replace the fresh spinach called for in this recipe. Simply thaw and squeeze out as much moisture/water as you can before adding it to the sauce.
Can creamed spinach be made ahead? Yes, you can prepare up to two days before you plan to serve and reheat in the microwave or on the stove. Add a bit of additional cream when reheating, just a couple tablespoons at a time.
What kind of canned soup for creamed spinach? We skipped the canned soup or heavy cream, and significantly reduced the cheese in this creamed spinach recipe to make it lighter and somewhat healthier.
Creamed Spinach Ingredients
- Butter
- Small Onion, diced
- Garlic, smashed and sliced
- Whole Milk
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cream Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Spinach
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: depending on where you grew up – you may want different seasonings in your creamed spinach. Nutmeg, Old Bay, cayenne pepper, etc. Feel free to use what feels right to you!
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sharp kitchen knife
- Cast Iron Skillet <– I love the versatility of a good cast-iron pan – you can make everything from eggs to dessert in them and they transition easily from the stove to the oven. This one is pre-seasoned and great for even heating
- Wooden spoon or spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
How to Make Healthy Creamed Spinach
Rinse the spinach well and set aside.
In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
Once hot, add the onion and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the garlic and continue cooking 2 minutes.
Heat the milk in a microwave for 25 seconds, then whisk in the cornstarch.
Pour the heated milk-cornstarch mixture into the skillet.
Add the salt, pepper and cheese and whisk until well combined.
Stir in the spinach, coating the spinach completely in the cream mixture.
Serve warm.
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Steakhouse Creamed Spinach
A delicious, creamy, cheesy spinach side dish just like you can get at steakhouses. This healthy creamed spinach is lightened up, with no canned soup, no heavy cream and minimal cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed and sliced
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1-2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1-16 oz package spinach (approximately 4 cups)
Instructions
- Rinse the spinach well and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Once hot, add the onion and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and continue cooking 2 minutes.
- Heat the milk in a microwave for 25 seconds, then whisk in the cornstarch.
- Pour the heated milk-cornstarch mixture into the skillet.
- Add the salt, pepper and cheese and whisk until well combined.
- Stir in the spinach, coating the spinach completely in the cream mixture.
- Serve warm.
Notes
You can use frozen spinach in place of the fresh spinach, just thaw and squeeze out all water/moisture before proceeding with the recipe.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
5Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 130Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 597mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this creamed spinach recipe as much as mine does! It’s a quick way to get a lot of spinach into your day and tastes so incredibly indulgent!
For more steakhouse favorites you can make at home, check out our Guide to How to Cook the Perfect Medium-Rare Steak or our Homemade Chip-Style French Fries recipe.
I used one can of spinach and used the directions. I modified it with Tony Chachere’s seasoning instead of black pepper. I also used flour because I was out of cornstarch. It is excellent!!! Thank you for posting!!!
That sounds amazing – I am DEFINITELY trying it with cajun seasoning next. Thanks for the idea!