Steakhouse Creamed Spinach

4.67 from 6 votes

Total Time: 30 mins

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If you love the creamed spinach served at great American steakhouses, you will love this recipe! Made with fresh baby spinach, Steakhouse Creamed Spinach is easy to make in around 30 minutes and can be enjoyed right out of the skillet or made ahead of time and baked later! It also makes a great side dish for Maryland-Style Crab Cakes!

Steakhouse Creamed Spinach in white oval bowl with serving spoon.

Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

Creamed spinach is a classic steakhouse side dish right along with Au Gratin Potatoes, Twice-Baked Potatoes, and Macaroni and Cheese. It’s a great low-carb side dish that’s perfect with almost anything!

This Steakhouse Creamed Spinach recipe is thick, creamy, velvety and absolutely delicious with the addition of Boursin cheese! It’s a luxurious side dish that even spinach skeptics will fall in love with.

This recipe for creamed spinach is:

  • Perfect as a weeknight side dish because it comes together in about 30 minutes.
  • A luxurious, elegant side dish perfect alongside your lovely roast or beef tenderloin for the holidays or special occasions.
  • Perfect for low-carb diets when a low-carb or keto flour is used.
  • Adaptable to other greens such as kale or Swiss chard.
  • Over-the-top delicious with a lovely fresh taste because of the fresh spinach.
  • Easily doubled.

I think it’s the best steakhouse creamed spinach recipe!

Steakhouse Creamed Spinach in white oval bowl with serving spoon.

How to Make Steakhouse Creamed Spinach:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this recipe for creamed spinach. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact quantities.

Ingredients for Steakhouse Creamed Spinach in glass bowls.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

  • Baby Spinach: You’ll need one pound of fresh baby spinach which I highly recommend using instead of frozen chopped spinach. Frozen chopped spinach is a great convenience item that’s less expensive than fresh baby spinach, but sometimes it takes on a “spinachy” taste. If that’s what you prefer to use, be sure to squeeze out all the excess water.
  • Butter: I always use unsalted butter in cooking so I can adjust the salt level myself.
  • Shallots: Shallots are a member of the onion family and are used extensively in French cooking. They grow in clusters (heads) similar to garlic but without the quantity. I like to use them in this recipe because they have a mild oniony flavor that doesn’t overpower the baby spinach. Regular onion can be used instead if you prefer.
  • Flour: Use regular all-purpose flour if you don’t require gluten-free, low-carb or keto. Substitute a gluten-free or keto flour if necessary.
  • Nutmeg: Nutmeg and spinach have a natural affinity with each other. A pinch is all you need so don’t skip it!
  • Half-and-Half: Half cream and half whole milk. You can substitute all heavy cream but you’ll want to leave out the flour because it will be too thick. You can substitute all whole or 2% milk.
  • Boursin Cheese: Boursin is actually the brand name of a soft, spreadable flavored cheese product, developed by a young Normandy cheesemaker named Francois Boursin. He blended gournay cheese which is a soft, spreadable, sweet, mild cheese made of cream with garlic and herbs, introduced it and people fell in love. There are numerous varieties including a dairy-free version. For this creamed spinach recipe, I use Boursin with Garlic and Fine Herbs which you can find in the gourmet cheese section of your grocery store.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

  • Gather and prep all the ingredients.
  • Place the spinach in a colander and get it wet under cool running tap water.
Baby spinach in white colander.
  • Cook the spinach: Working in batches and with only the water on the spinach, place it in a large nonstick skillet and heat the skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Cover the skillet to help wilt the spinach. When that batch is wilted, add more spinach and let that wilt until it’s all wilted. Season the spinach with salt and black pepper to taste.
Fresh unwilted baby spinach in nonstick skillet.
Wilted baby spinach in nonstick skillet.
  • Transfer the spinach back to the colander. Gently press on the spinach with the bottom of a ladle or 1-cup measuring cup to extract any residual water. Set aside.
Wilted baby spinach in white colander.
  • Make the sauce: In the skillet used to wilt the spinach, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Add the shallot, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the shallot is softened, being careful to not burn it or brown the butter.
  • Add the garlic and cook briefly for 10 to 15 seconds or until it’s fragrant.
Cooked shallots in butter in nonstick skillet.
  • Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes or so, being careful to not brown the flour.
Cooked shallots in butter in nonstick skillet with flour added.
Cooked shallots and flour being whisked with wire whisk in nonstick skillet.
  • Add the half-and-half. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or so until it has thickened.
Thickened half and half in nonstick skillet being stirred with red and black rubber spatula.
  • Add the Boursin cheese and break it up to melt it and get it incorporated into the thickened half-and-half.
  • Add the cayenne, nutmeg and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the Parmesan cheese melts.
Thickened half and half in nonstick skillet with Boursin cheese added.
Thickened cheese sauce in nonstick skillet being stirred with red and black spatula.
  • Finish it up: Add the wilted spinach back into the creamy base and stir until everything is evenly combined. Add salt and black pepper to taste if desired. Serve immediately or cool and transfer to a baking dish to reheat at a later time.
Wilted spinach added to cheese sauce in nonstick skillet.
Completely incorporated wilted baby spinach in cheese sauce in nonstick skillet.
  • Delish!!! Sprinkle with a little more Parmesan cheese for a lovely, luxurious steakhouse-inspired creamed spinach side dish!
Steakhouse Creamed Spinach in white oval bowl with serving spoon on light blue-gray background.

Chef Tips and Tricks:

  • If the creamed spinach sauce seems too thick, remember that spinach has a lot of water in it and it’s very difficult to remove all of it. So, when you add the spinach back into the sauce, chances are very good it’s going to thin out. If not, just add a little more half-and-half or milk.
  • Got leftovers? Repurpose the leftovers by serving them over toasted bread, folding them into an omelet, stuffing a chicken breast or tossing them with pasta or rice. So many possibilities!
Steakhouse Creamed Spinach in white oval bowl with serving spoon.

Recipe FAQs:

Can I substitute frozen chopped spinach?

Yes, you absolutely can. I like to use baby spinach for a fresher taste, but it is more expensive. Substitute 2 12-ounce bags, thaw and squeeze all the excess moisture out.

Can a creamed spinach recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes! Make this Steakhouse Creamed Spinach according to the recipe, cool and place in a baking dish. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees until hot and bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes.

What is the origin of creamed spinach?

Believe it or not, creamed spinach has its origin in South Africa. It’s a classic recipe there traditionally served as a side dish or as part of the main meal.

Steakhouse Creamed Spinach in white oval bowl with serving spoon.
4.67 from 6 votes

Steakhouse Creamed Spinach

If you love the creamed spinach the great American steakhouses serve, you're going to love this recipe! Made with fresh spinach, it's easy to make and can be enjoyed right out of the skillet or made ahead of time and baked later!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound prewashed baby spinach
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or a keto-type flour
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 container (5.2 ounce) boursin cheese with garlic and herbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to tolerance
  • Pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions 

  • Place the spinach in a colander and make it wet under cool running tap water.
  • Working in batches and with only the water that adheres to the spinach, place it in a large nonstick skillet and heat the skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Cover the skillet to help wilt the spinach. When that batch is wilted, add more spinach and let that wilt until it's all wilted. Season the spinach with salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Transfer the spinach back to the colander to drain. Gently press on the spinach with the bottom of a ladle or 1-cup measuring cup to extract any residual water. Set aside.
  • In the skillet used to wilt the spinach, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Add the shallot, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the shallot is softened, being careful to not burn the shallot or brown the butter.
  • Add the garlic and cook briefly for 10-15 seconds.
  • Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, being careful to not brown the flour.
  • Add the half and half. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
  • Add the Boursin cheese and break it up to melt and get it incorporated into the thickened half and half.
  • Add the cayenne, nutmeg and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the Parmesan cheese melts.
  • Add the wilted spinach back into the creamy base and stir until it's evenly combined with the sauce. Add salt and black pepper to taste if desired. Serve immediately or cool and transfer to a baking dish to reheat at a later time.

Notes

SUBSTITUTIONS:
  • You can substitute all heavy cream, but you’ll want to leave out the flour because it will be too thick. You can substitute all whole or 2% milk.
TIP:
  • If the creamed spinach sauce seems too thick, remember that spinach has a lot of water in it, and it’s tough to remove all of it. So, when you add the spinach back into the sauce, chances are excellent that it will thin out. If not, add a little more half-and-half or milk.
MAKE AHEAD:
  • Make the creamed spinach as directed.  Cool and transfer to a baking dish.  Refrigerate until needed.
  • Reheat in a 350-degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbling.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 8gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 274mgPotassium: 752mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 11126IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 258mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Carol

Carol is a personal chef with 22 years of experience cooking food people want to eat! Here, you'll find expert techniques, time-saving tips, and flavor-packed dishes you'll be proud to serve family and friends.

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2 Comments

  1. Traci says:

    5 stars
    Yes! Straight, honest, delicious ingredients in this creamed spinach recipe – the way it should be. Easy to make too! Thanks for another winner. Yum yum!

    1. Carol says:

      Hi, Traci, Thanks so much and so happy you enjoyed!