How to Make Cream Spinach

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 Tested

Cream spinach is a great addition to any meal or a meal in itself. There are many ways to prepare it, but below you'll find how to get this deliciousness into your tummy in about five minutes! Or, if you can handle the wait, a bit longer... your choice!

Ingredients

Quick & Easy Method

2 (10 oz) bags of chopped spinach
2 (8 oz) boxes of cream cheese. Note: (1/3) less fat cream cheese is recommended
3 tbsps (45 g) of butter (optional)

Traditional Method

1 stick of butter
8 tablespoons (90 g) flour
1/2 whole medium onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 cups (475 ml) milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 pinch ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons (45 g) butter
24 ounces baby spinach

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Quick & Easy Method

1
Set out your ingredients. If you are using frozen spinach, you will need to let it thaw. The cream cheese needs to soften slightly as well.
2
In a medium size saucepan or pot, prepare the spinach according to directions on the bag or box. If there are none, just throw 3 tablespoons (45 g) of butter in with your spinach over medium heat to get it going.

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3
Add in the cream cheese one box at a time. Stir well, adding the second box only once the first half of the cream cheese has mostly melted. Switch to low heat and allow the cream cheese to blend in well with the spinach, while stirring continuously.
4
Remove from the heat, stir, and serve! Have this dish alone, with hot dinner rolls, or as a great side dish with a meal.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Traditional Method

1
Prep your ingredients. That's code for grabbing your cutting board, knife and veggies.
- Cut the onion in half. Make vertical slices very close together. Then, rotate it and cut it the other way to dice it.
- Mince your garlic finely. Once you think it's small enough, do it a teeny bit more.
2
Grab a pot for your cream sauce. Put in 1 stick of butter over medium-low heat. If your stove runs a bit colder, put it on medium.
- Once the butter is melted, add in 8 tablespoons (90 g) of flour.
- Immediately start whisking and cook for five minutes. It should turn golden brown.
- Add garlic and onions to your roux. Stir together to combine and cook for another minute.
- Slowly add in 2 cups (475 ml) of milk. Whisk constantly. Cook it for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally. It should start to thicken.
3
Sauté the spinach. If you have another pair of hands at your disposal, make him or her whisk the cream sauce while you do the spinach.
- Put 3 tablespoons of butter into a pot and let it melt.
- Throw in as much of the spinach as you can. As it heats, it will shrivel and shrink and you'll be able to add more. This may take a few additions. Stir it well, flipping it to cook it evenly.
- You want to stop cooking the spinach when it’s completely wilted but not mushy and overcooked. Grab a leaf from the pan and give 'er a taste test. It should be cooked and wilted, but still have a tiny bit of crunch to it.
4
Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to your cream sauce. By now it should be thick like gravy.
- Spoon the spinach into the cream. Stir it gently to entirely incorporate the greens into the creaminess. Try it before you deem it too creamy or to vegetable-y. Also, if you want to spice it up, add some cayenne. Then serve!
5
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

If the dish is frozen, should I thaw it before baking or microwaving?

Community Answer

Yes. Typically you want to thaw the dish on the bottom shelf of your fridge overnight. Then you can bake or microwave the dish as needed the next day.
Question

I boiled spinach and it turned out gritty. What should I do?

Community Answer

Don't worry about it. It only represents that it is fully cooked and safe to eat.

Warnings

Be sure that any extra moisture is removed from the spinach before adding the cream cheese. If left in, the sauce becomes very watery.

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