Creamed Spinach with Caramelized Onions
Creamed spinach is a classic side dish that doesn’t take much to create. But you can make it even tastier with the addition of some caramelized onions. Let’s see how you make this delicious dish so you can add it to your next party menu!
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- Any occasion dish: It’s a delicious, savory side dish that is perfect for any dinner occasion.
- The onions: Caramelized onions add a sweet and flavorful touch to the creamy spinach.
- Quick to make: It’s an easy dish to make and can be prepared in under 40 minutes.
- Great flavours: The combination of flavors provides an interesting twist on a classic vegetable dish.
Ingredients
- Onions: Go for large ones then half them and slice thinly
- Spinach: Fresh is always best for this recipe
- Garlic: Use fresh cloves for the best flavor
- Cream cheese: Choose a plain version for the recipe
- Heavy cream: That’s double cream if you are in the UK
- Parmesan: Finishes the dish with its nutty flavour
Grab the full ingredients details and instructions in the recipe card below!
Substitutions and Additions
- Cream cheese: Replace cream cheese with ricotta or cottage cheese.
- Heavy cream: Replace heavy cream with almond milk, oat milk, or other non-dairy alternatives.
- Parmesan: Instead of Parmesan cheese, you could use crumbled feta cheese, goat cheese, or nutritional yeast for a vegan option.
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the onions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions become nicely golden brown and caramelized, approximately 30 minutes.
Transfer onions to a plate and set aside.
Step 2: Cook the spinach
In the same skillet you used to caramelize the onions, add the garlic and the spinach, a few handfuls at a time, stirring to wilt to fit it all in the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally until the spinach is completely wilted and cooked down.
Step 3: Add the other ingredients
Stir in butter, cream cheese, and heavy cream. Continue cooking until the cream cheese melts into the spinach and everything becomes nice and creamy.
Step 4: Stir and season
Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Step 5: Finish and serve
Transfer the creamed spinach into a serving bowl and top with caramelized onions. Garnish with a little fresh chopped parsley for color and freshness.
Recipe tips
- Add more toppings: For added flair and texture, top the dip with chopped olives or tomato slices.
- Add to the spinach: For extra flavor, add a dash of nutmeg and/or lemon juice to the creamed spinach before serving.
- Make it crunchy: For a crunchy topping, sprinkle some toasted breadcrumbs or crumbled bacon on top of the creamed spinach before serving.
Recipe FAQ
What kind of spinach should you use for creamed spinach?
The best type of spinach for creamed spinach is fresh baby spinach leaves. They hold their texture better when cooked and taste great with the caramelized onions and cream sauce. Frozen leaf spinach can also be used, but it may not have as much flavor or texture.
Storage & reheating
- Fridge: Let the spinach dip cool and then you can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: You can freeze the cooked spinach but this does change the texture of the sauce so personally, we tend to avoid freezing things with cream if we can help it.
- Reheating: You can reheat on the stove or in the microwave, heating gently and stirring regularly. Add a little more cream or some milk if the sauce seems too thick.
More recipes
Want more ideas? Check out these other related recipes!
- Caramelized Onion Dip
- Baked Potato Skins with BBQ Chicken and Caramelized Onions
- Instant Pot French Onion Chicken
- Garlic and Chive Cauliflower Mash
Creamed Spinach with Caramelized Onions
Make this classic side dish with extra flavour due to the caramelized onions
Ingredients
- 2 T extra virgin olive oil
- 2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 lbs. spinach, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 T butter
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- ½ c heavy cream
- ¼ c parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions become nicely golden brown and caramelized, approximately 30 minutes.
- Transfer onions to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet you used to caramelize the onions, add the garlic and the spinach, a few handfuls at a time, stirring to wilt to fit it all in the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is completely wilted and cooked down.
- Stir in butter, cream cheese, and heavy cream. Continue cooking until the cream cheese melts into the spinach and everything becomes nice and creamy.
- Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Transfer the creamed spinach into a serving bowl and top with caramelized onions. Garnish with a little fresh chopped parsley for color and freshness.
Notes
Let the spinach dip cool and then you can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 493Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 617mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 7gSugar: 7gProtein: 14g
