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One of the best ways to enjoy delicious, flavorful spinach in minutes: Sautéed Spinach! My sautéed spinach recipe is a simple side dish that even reluctant vegetable eaters will love.
Jump to:
- Best Way to Cook Spinach
- Sauteed Spinach with Garlic Ingredients
- How to Saute Spinach
- Sautéed Spinach Recipe Tips
- How Long to Cook Spinach
- How Much Protein in Spinach
- Sautéed Spinach Recipe FAQs
- Spinach Side Dish Variations
- Storing and Freezing Sautéed Spinach
- Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
- Sautéed Spinach Recipe
Best Way to Cook Spinach
Introducing the best way to cook spinach: garlicky, seasoned Sauteed Spinach! Fresh spinach sautéed in fragrant garlic, wilted until dark green and seasoned to perfection - and it's so easy, too! Skip those frozen bags of cooked spinach and make your own for a simple, tasty side dish even picky eaters will love.
Your whole family is going to love my cooked spinach recipe for a nutritious and delicious side dish for everything from weekday dinners to holiday meals. Or, you could eat it by itself - it's really that good!
Even better, it only takes 10 minutes to cook spinach! Sauteing spinach is a sure way to make you and your kiddos eat your greens that taste amazing - once you know how to saute spinach, I guarantee you will want to make it this way every time.
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic Ingredients
- Fresh Spinach
- Minced Garlic
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
How to Saute Spinach
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, pour in olive oil.
- Once heated, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Toss fresh spinach into the pan with the garlic.
- Cook until spinach is dark green and wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sautéed Spinach Recipe Tips
- I swear by this one, don't forget the salt! Adding just a pinch of salt brings out the flavor in the spinach.
- Most spinach comes in pre-packaged bags pre-washed, but I recommend washing and drying it anyway.
- To avoid overcooking your spinach, pull it off the heat as soon as it starts to wilt and still a vibrant dark green color.
- You can easily substitute spinach for baby spinach!
How Long to Cook Spinach
Cook spinach until it is dark and wilted, about 5 minutes, for best results and flavor. If you saute spinach for too long, it will become bitter, so be sure not to overcook it.
How Much Protein in Spinach
According to the USDA, Spinach has nearly 1g of protein per cup (approximately 0.9g). Our sauteed spinach recipe makes enough for 2g of protein per serving, so it's a great choice to serve alongside other high protein side dishes with dinner.
Sautéed Spinach Recipe FAQs
To make sautéed spinach less bitter, add in freshly minced garlic or chopped onion to the skillet to help reduce any bitterness. You can add other flavors to your spinach side dish too, like a squeeze of lemon, or use butter instead of oil for a buttery flavor.
Sautéed spinach can be made ahead of time! Reheat cooked spinach in a skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes, or until heated through.
Spinach Side Dish Variations
- Oniony: Add a chopped onion, shallot or green onion in the skillet and cook for about 1 minute before adding in your spinach.
- Cheesy: Sprinkle a few tablespoons of crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese over the top of sautéed spinach before serving!
- Lemony: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over top before plating and serving.
- Bright: Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar in your skillet with the spinach before serving.
- Nutty: Substitute olive oil for sesame oil or walnut oil before sautéing your spinach.
Storing and Freezing Sautéed Spinach
Store cooked spinach in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can make sautéed spinach in advance, but it tastes best when served immediately.
Freeze sautéed spinach in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 10 months! I love to add in stews, soups, or dips. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove.
Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
Did you try this recipe? Let us know in the comments below, and leave a rating! We love to hear from you.
Sautéed Spinach Recipe
Equipment
- Large Shallow Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 8 oz Spinach
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- pinch salt to taste
- punch pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium-high heat pour in olive oil.2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Once heated, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.1 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- Toss fresh spinach into the pan with the garlic.8 oz Spinach
- Cook until spinach is dark green and wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, if needed to taste.pinch salt, punch pepper
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- I swear by this one, don't forget the salt! Adding just a pinch of salt brings out the flavor in the spinach.
- Most spinach comes in pre-packaged bags pre-washed, but I recommend washing and drying it anyway.
- To avoid overcooking your spinach, pull it off the heat as soon as it starts to wilt and still a vibrant dark green color.
- You can easily substitute spinach for baby spinach!
Nutrition
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