Healthy and Easy Creamed Spinach Recipe

(3 votes)
11 Comments
3 minutes
May 27, 2024
Andi GleesonJump to Recipe

Healthy Creamed Spinach: Less cream, more spinach, just as good! You’re going to love this addition to your dinner plate!

Healthy Creamed Spinach

Do you ever suddenly get the idea to make something you’ve never even had before? That happened to me last week when I decided creamed spinach would be the perfect side for pot roast. Since I didn’t exactly (at all) know how to make it, I started reading recipes. It turns out creamed spinach is not typically what you would call a healthy side dish thanks to loads of butter and heavy cream!

How to Make Healthy Creamed Spinach?

Do you cook with heavy cream very often? I almost never do. It makes me feel really guilty! If you saw my figure (especially after a year or so of medication that causes weight gain), you might not think I’m the most diet conscious. I really do try to make (mostly) healthy choices though. I could use some work on portion sizes, but I try not to eat foods that are absolutely loaded with fat and calories. If you ask me, any recipe involving more than a couple of tablespoons of heavy cream generally falls into that category.

Since I didn’t want my vegetable to make me feel guilty, I came up with my own lighter version, which I thought turned out great. My husband wasn’t crazy about the texture, but I think creamed spinach is supposed to be rather, well, squishy. The flavor was delicious, and I was happy to have the leftovers all to myself. It’s like spinach dip that you can eat for dinner. That sounds good to me! Definitely give this a try the next time you want a creamy spinach side dish with no guilt!

Tips and Tricks to Make this Healthy Creamed Spinach Even Better

I think you will love this easy and healthy creamed spinach recipe but I also have some additional tips, tricks, and modifications you can make to the recipe depending on your personal preferences.

  • Add some finely diced white onion and saute it with the garlic. I like the extra flavor from the onion.
  • Add a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce for some kick. You can add this right at the end before removing from the stove.
  • If you do not like spicy you can add a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice.
  • For an even healthier and lighter version you can use olive oil instead of butter and switch out half the milk with chicken broth. If you do this I recommend adding some extra parmesan cheese for more flavor. I like to add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese in with the cottage cheese and then sprinkle a little on top when serving.
  • Instead of spinach use other greens such as Swiss chard, kale, or a combination. I like adding a little kale or Swiss chard with my spinach as it gives it a little more texture but you still get the nice flavor of the spinach. All three of these greens are packed with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber so you are going to get a very healthy side dish no matter what.
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Healthy Creamed Spinach Recipe

Healthy and Easy Creamed Spinach Recipe

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5 from 3 reviews

This flavorful creamed spinach recipe contains only a little butter and no cream!

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, and saute until white and fragrant, about one minute. Stir in flour.
  2. Slowly stir in milk about 1/4 c. at at time, whisking constantly to create a smooth sauce. Add salt and pepper.
  3. Stir in spinach and cottage cheese. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes. Taste and add additional salt to taste.
  4. Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese if desired.
  • Author: Andi Gleeson
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Category: Side Dish

Wondering what to do with the rest of the cottage cheese? Try this Creamy Easy Mac and Cheese!

Andi Gleeson, food blogger

Andi Gleeson

Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.

11 comments

Shannon
9 months ago

I think this sounds good. I think the texture would be better if you use an immersion blender to blend the cottage cheese and milk together to make a smoother sauce. That\’s what I do when I use cottage cheese to make alfredo. Going to try this tonight!

Jules B
10 months ago

I love this. I’ve been looking for a spinach recipe for a long time. Thank you.

L. Lamont
6 years ago

Can this be made ahead and reheated in microwave?

samantha
11 years ago

Didn’t have regular milk so tried with Soymilk and it actually turned out good, but I think regular milk would be even better as it would make it more creamy. Spooned this over red yams and topped with cheese. Delicious!

Andi
11 years ago

That sounds delicious, Samantha! I’m happy to hear it turned out well even with soy milk. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a comment :)

Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
12 years ago

I am totally going to do this with some or our fresh garden spinach, can’t wait!

The Weary Chef
12 years ago

Let me know how you like it!

tanya
12 years ago

I love the ‘less cream” concept Andi! I think my kids would appreciate that too! Will be appearing on our dinner plates very soon.

The Weary Chef
12 years ago

Thanks, Tanya. I’m impressed that your kids will eat this. I wish mine were such good eaters!

Anne ~ Uni Homemaker
12 years ago

I love creamed spinach! And love the idea that it’s more spinach than cream. Delicious!

The Weary Chef
12 years ago

Thanks so much, Anne!

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