Easy Ina Garten Creamed Spinach Recipe: Classic Comfort in Minutes

Creamed spinach transforms ordinary leafy greens into a sumptuous culinary experience that elevates any meal with its rich, velvety texture.

Sophisticated comfort food rarely looks this enticing, promising a decadent blend of vibrant ingredients and indulgent dairy.

Green vegetables seldom receive such luxurious treatment, making this dish a true celebration of flavor and elegance.

Nutritious and creamy, this classic preparation turns humble spinach into a showstopping side that catches everyone’s attention.

Professional chefs and home cooks appreciate the magical way simple ingredients can become something extraordinary through careful technique and thoughtful seasoning.

Each forkful delivers a harmonious balance of earthy greens and smooth, silky cream that feels simultaneously familiar and exciting.

Diners will be captivated by this irresistible rendition of a timeless recipe: bon appétit!

Why Ina Garten’s Creamed Spinach Is a Classic

• Savor Luxurious Creaminess: This spinach dish delivers a velvety smooth texture that coats your palate with rich, indulgent flavors from the combination of cream, milk, and two delightful cheeses.
• Master Quick Gourmet Cooking: Ina Garten's recipe transforms simple spinach into an elegant side dish with minimal effort, making restaurant-quality cooking accessible to home chefs in just over an hour.
• Enjoy Nutrient-Packed Comfort Food: Packed with spinach and elevated by the warmth of nutmeg and cheese, this recipe turns a healthy vegetable into a decadent, satisfying comfort meal that feels both nutritious and incredibly delicious.
• Impress with Effortless Entertaining: Perfect for dinner parties or holiday gatherings, this creamed spinach recipe looks and tastes sophisticated while being surprisingly simple to prepare, guaranteeing compliments from your guests.

Core Ingredients for Ina Garten’s Creamed Spinach

• Butter: Rich, flavorful base for sautéing and adding creamy texture.
• Cream: Provides luxurious, smooth consistency to the sauce.
• Milk: Helps create a light, creamy sauce base.
• Parmesan Cheese, Gruyere Cheese: Sharp, melty cheeses for deep flavor and golden crust.

• Onions: Sweet, foundational flavor that adds depth to the sauce.
• Spinach: Main vegetable ingredient, provides nutritious green color and earthy taste.

• Flour: Essential for thickening the sauce and creating smooth consistency.
• Nutmeg: Warm, subtle spice that complements the creamy spinach.
• Salt and Pepper: Classic seasonings to enhance overall flavor profile.

Steps to Make Ina Garten’s Creamed Spinach

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 425°F, getting ready for a delicious spinach adventure.

Step 2: Sizzle the Onions

Grab a sauté pan and melt butter over medium heat. Toss in the onions and let them dance until they turn soft and see-through, which takes about 15 minutes.

Step 3: Create the Creamy Base

• Heavy cream
• Whole milk

Stir and cook until the sauce transforms into a thick, luxurious blanket.

Step 4: Prepare the Spinach

Grab your defrosted spinach and squeeze out every single drop of liquid. Be ruthless! Add the drained spinach into your dreamy sauce.

Step 5: Build and Bake the Masterpiece

• Parmesan cheese
• Salt
• Pepper

• Remaining Parmesan
• Gruyere cheese

Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Pointers for the Best Ina Garten Creamed Spinach

• Sprinkle Wisely: Distribute freshly grated cheese evenly to create pockets of melted, flavorful goodness throughout the spinach.
• Rest Strategically: Allow the creamed spinach to settle for a few minutes after cooking, helping the sauce thicken and flavors meld together.
• Season Delicately: Gradually introduce salt and pepper, tasting carefully to build a perfectly balanced flavor profile without overwhelming the dish.
• Squeeze Completely: Remove every drop of moisture from frozen spinach using a clean kitchen towel, ensuring a rich and creamy final texture.
• Select Carefully: Pick crisp, unblemished onions that promise maximum flavor and contribute to the dish's overall delicious foundation.

How to Store Ina Garten’s Creamed Spinach

• Vacuum Seal Method: Extract air completely from a freezer bag using a vacuum sealer before storing Creamed Spinach. This technique prevents freezer burn and preserves the dish's original texture and flavor for up to 3 months. Professional chefs recommend this method for maintaining optimal quality.
• Portioning Technique: Divide leftovers into individual serving-sized containers before refrigerating or freezing. Small portions reheat faster, reduce waste, and make meal planning easier. Each container should hold enough for a single serving, making future meals convenient and quick.
• Glass Container Strategy: Transfer Creamed Spinach to clean, clear glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Glass prevents flavor absorption from other foods and allows easy visibility of contents. Transparent containers help track freshness and prevent forgotten leftovers from languishing in the back of the refrigerator.

Fun Spins on Ina Garten’s Creamed Spinach

• Leafy Mediterranean Blend: Swap spinach with a mix of Swiss chard, kale, and fresh arugula for a robust, earthy flavor profile that adds complex nutrients and texture.
• Smoky Bacon Infusion: Crisp chopped bacon pieces and sprinkle them throughout the creamed spinach, introducing a savory, smoky element that elevates the classic recipe.
• Spicy Southwestern Spinach: Add diced green chiles, cumin, and a dash of cayenne pepper to create a zesty, southwestern-inspired version with a warm, tangy kick.
• Vegan Creamy Alternative: Replace dairy with cashew cream, nutritional yeast, and plant-based milk, maintaining a rich, creamy consistency while offering a dairy-free option.

Parting Words on Ina Garten’s Creamed Spinach

Ina Garten’s creamed spinach elevates simple ingredients into a luxurious side dish that whispers comfort and sophistication.

Parmesan and Gruyere cheeses meld seamlessly with silky spinach, creating a rich culinary experience that lingers in memory.

Nutmeg adds warm depth, transforming humble greens into an elegant accompaniment worthy of fine dining.

Balanced textures and complex flavors make this recipe a true showstopper for weekend gatherings or special dinners.

Home chefs can easily master this classic technique, bringing restaurant-quality sides to their own kitchen.

The final golden-crusted masterpiece promises to delight palates and spark conversation – share this recipe, drop a comment below, and spread the deliciousness with friends who appreciate gourmet comfort cooking.

Ina Garten Creamed Spinach Recipe

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4.9 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s creamed spinach elevates classic comfort with rich, velvety elegance. Parmesan cheese and cream blend seamlessly, creating a luxurious side dish that delivers pure culinary satisfaction to dinner tables everywhere.

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Ingredients

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Vegetables:

• 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
• 4 cups (600 grams) chopped yellow onions (2 large)

Dairy and Cheese:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) milk
• 4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (100 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup (50 grams) grated Gruyere cheese

Seasoning and Thickeners:

• ¼ cup (30 grams) flour
• 1 tablespoon (15 grams) kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to a toasty 425°F (218°C), ensuring the rack is positioned in the center for even heat distribution.
2. Melt the butter in a spacious sauté pan over medium heat, allowing it to become golden and fragrant. Gently add the finely chopped onions, stirring occasionally until they transform into a soft, translucent, and delicate mixture, approximately 15 minutes.
3. Sprinkle the flour and freshly grated nutmeg over the caramelized onions, carefully stirring to create a smooth, aromatic roux. Continue cooking for 2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste.
4. Pour the heavy cream and whole milk into the pan, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and create a silky, thickening sauce. Cook until the mixture reaches a luxurious, velvety consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
5. Thoroughly drain the defrosted spinach, using your hands or a clean kitchen towel to squeeze out every drop of excess moisture. This step ensures your dish remains creamy and not watery.
6. Fold the drained spinach into the luscious sauce, incorporating it evenly throughout the creamy base. Gently stir to distribute the vibrant green vegetable.
7. Integrate 1/2 cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese into the spinach mixture, creating depth of flavor. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
8. Transfer the sumptuous mixture to a prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Generously sprinkle the remaining Parmesan and Gruyere cheeses across the top, creating a golden, crispy crown.
9. Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese melts into a bubbling, golden-brown crust and the edges become slightly crisp.

Notes

• Transform ordinary spinach into a luxurious steakhouse-style side with this foolproof technique.
• Slow-cook onions until perfectly soft, releasing sweet caramelized flavors that form the dish’s flavor foundation.
• Remove excess moisture from spinach to guarantee a thick, velvety consistency without watery separation.
• Blend fresh or frozen spinach with rich cream and complementary cheeses for maximum texture and depth.
• Sprinkle with nutmeg for a subtle warmth that elevates this classic side from simple to extraordinary.
• Prepare ahead and refrigerate up to 24 hours, making dinner preparation seamless and stress-free.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Side Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 300 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 540 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg