Here are all the best spinach recipes to add loads of leafy greens to your diet! Try it in soups, salads, pasta, pizza and more.
Looking to eat more spinach? It’s hard to find a vegetable that’s more nutritious. Though some people have sworn spinach as their mortal enemy, luckily there are all sorts of delicious ways to eat it in recipes! Here are our best spinach recipes: best in terms of the best ways to eat more spinach! Many of them are healthy, like spinach salad and spinach green smoothies, but others are a little more decadent: like spinach artichoke pizza! Let’s get cooking.
And now…our best spinach recipes!
Wow, is this sauteed spinach recipe something to write home about! It's scented with garlic, wilted until bright green in a bit of olive oil. It’s finished off with lemon juice to give it a brightness. The flavor is fresh and vibrant, not lifeless and mushy as you might expect! It tastes so good, you'll find yourself sneaking seconds.
Here’s a spinach recipe to impress. It’s everything a classy spinach salad should be, full of texture and flavor contrasts. You’ll barely notice you’re eating this healthy leafy green when it’s covered tangy balsamic vinaigrette. There’s crunchy smoky pecans, almost bacon-like glazed with maple syrup and soy sauce. Add hard boiled eggs or a crisp-tart apple, and you’ve got a stunning side salad that will make everyone ooo and ahhh. (It happens every time we serve it…really.)
Here’s a fun way to turn everyday rice into a classy side dish: Spinach Rice! Take plain old white rice and cook up a pot with spinach and garlic, then flavor it with a pop of lemon and sprinkle of feta cheese. It’s an elegant Mediterranean-style side dish that you can serve for guests or just use to spice up weeknights. And, it’s a great way to load up on spinach. The savory, fresh flavors are unreal!
Here’s a spin on spinach artichoke dip that takes this classic to a new level! When we serve this tangy, creamy dip, everyone parks themselves around the bowl. This version is baked in the oven and served warm. It's made with Greek yogurt and less mayo and cheese than the typical dip, giving it a healthy-ish spin. Serve with pita chips. Also try the quick and easy version that's served cold: Easy Spinach Dip.
Looking for a spinach recipe for breakfast or brunch? Try a crustless quiche! It’s deliciously savory and hearty, with lots of protein to keep bellies full all morning. Even better: it’s so easy to whip up! No need to bother with a quiche crust: just whisk together the filling and pop it in the oven. This crustless spinach quiche is a bit of a miracle: even our spinach-fearing 4 year old loves it!
Want to get your greens in the best way? This is the best spinach smoothie that’s so tasty, you’ll forget that you’re eating your greens. This tasty smoothie can be made two ways: with cashews for some protein, or with more fruit to keep it nut-free. Either way, it’s plant-based and packed with nutrients…as you’d expect a green drink would be!
Want to get your greens and eat your pizza too? Try this Spinach Pizza! It’s got the power to change the minds of spinach haters everywhere. Yes, this pizza is all about garlicky, savory flavor! Any bitterness in the spinach melts away into the three cheeses. Ricotta makes for a creamy base, and mozzarella and Parmesan add stretchy texture and savory flavor.
You've likely seen spinach tortillas or wraps in a store: but did you know you can make them at home? These brightly colored tortillas get their all-natural color from spinach leaves. It's a fun project: reserve an hour for a kitchen DIY!
Adding spinach to pasta is another one of our favorite tricks! In this spinach alfredo recipe, creamy alfredo sauce coats the pasta, and the spinach takes on the cheesy flavor of the sauce. This one's great for the spinach wary.
Why not add some green goodness to mac and cheese, too? This mac and cheese with spinach recipe is a family favorite, featuring Greek yogurt stirred into the cheese sauce for added nutrients. The spinach instantly takes on all that cheesy flavor.
Spinach artichoke is everyone's favorite combination: why not eat it on top of a pizza! This spinach recipe pairs the leafy green with tangy artichokes, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan atop our pizza dough master recipe. It's a true treat!
Why not make spinach into...meatballs? This spinach meatballs recipe is a stunner, pairing spinach with feta and herbs, then baking the meatballs in the oven. They come out crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, perfect for pairing with spaghetti as a cozy meal.
Next up in our spinach recipes: the easiest way to eat spinach. In a salad! But this isn't just any salad. It will blow you away: and it only takes 15 minutes to make! Here baby spinach leaves are topped with thin-sliced apples and pears, crunchy maple-glazed walnuts, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. WOW, it's good! And it wow's the crowd every time, too.
Variations: Blueberry Salad, Blackberry Salad, and Strawberry Spinach Salad
Here's a cozy, comforting spinach recipe: Spinach Ricotta Lasagna! The tomato sauce has just the right zing and garlic nuance, and the spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy. It’s scented with fresh thyme and a little lemon zest, which takes it to over the top status. There’s no one who will turn down a piece!
This glowing green hummus recipe gets its color from...you guessed it! Spinach. This spinach recipe is full of good-for-you ingredients like chickpeas and tahini. Cilantro and lime give it a bright and tangy flavor! It's a fun variation on that ever popular spread for dipping pita chips and veggies.
This veggie quesadilla recipe has double the spinach: it's in the tortillas and the filling! If you don't have time to make spinach tortillas at home (see above), grab some store bought ones. Then fill them with black beans, sweet potatoes, and sauteed spinach for a veggie-packed filling! (And a little cheese, of course.)
This curry with chickpeas and spinach recipe is designed for weeknights and comes together in just 20 minutes! It's seriously flavorful, filled with ginger, garlic, cumin and curry powder, with a little coconut milk swirled in to make it creamy. Serve with basmati rice (or Instant Pot rice).
One of our top ways to add spinach to recipes: throw baby spinach into soups! It cooks in less than a minute and instantly absorbs the flavor of the soup. This Italian soup features doughy gnocchi dumplings and lots of veggies.
More soup recipes iwth spinach: Vegan Sweet Potato Soup, Farro & Brussels Sprouts Soup
Here's a fan favorite spinach recipe: our "famous" spinach artichoke grilled cheese! It's all the goodness of spinach artichoke dip, packed between two layers of toasted bread. And it takes just minutes to put together.
One last spinach pasta recipe, if you please! We love adding spinach to our pasta because it so easily takes on the flavors of the dish. It's an easy way to get all those spinach nutrients! This mushroom pasta with goat cheese, fresh herbs and lemon is a quick and easy dinner recipe tastes like it took all day to make.
Spinach nutrition
What’s so great about spinach? Spinach is one of the 20 best vegetables you can eat! Here are some of the benefits that spinach offers:
- High in calcium, more than other vegetables
- Very high in Vitamin K and Vitamin A
- Low in calories (1 cup of raw spinach has 45 calories)
.) It’s almost like the little black dress of salads: it’s brilliant for any occasion.
Print20 Great Spinach Recipes: Easy Sautéed Spinach & More!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Here’s the very best sautéed spinach recipe, guaranteed to make eating your greens taste amazing! Even better, it takes just 10 minutes to whip up.
Ingredients
- 3 bunches (1 ½ pounds total with stems, or 12 ounces leaves)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 large garlic cloves, smashed
- Mounded ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste if desired
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- If your spinach is in a bunch, chop off the stems. For bunch or baby leaves, roughly chop the leaves (this should only take a few seconds, just to get the larger pieces a bit smaller).
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the whole garlic cloves for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. The carefully the add spinach leaves and cover the pan. It will seem like a lot of volume, but it will wilt down to be very small. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Remove the lid. Depending on the size and maturity of your spinach leaves, it may already be done, or stir and continue cooking about 30 seconds until the spinach is wilted but still bright green.
- Stir in the kosher salt and fresh lemon juice. Taste and add additional salt to taste: spinach is very susceptible to salt, so use only small bits at a time! The flavor should pop but not be salty.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Spinach Recipes
More on eating leafy greens
Need more inspiration outside of these spinach recipes? We’ve got lots of it. Here are a few more resources for getting your greens:
- Delicious Ways to Eat Leafy Greens Featuring kale, spinach, chard and more!
- Best Kale Recipes Kale is another super nutritious green: head to these tasty recipes for the best ways to eat it.
- Best Recipe for Beet Greens Did you know you can even eat beet greens? Here’s the best way to do it.
Let us know if you have any questions!
★★★★★
I love spinach recipes! This one looks delicious.