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    Home » Vegetable Recipes » Sautéed Spinach

    Sautéed Spinach

    Last updated: Nov 1, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    In this easy recipe, fresh spinach is sautéed in garlic-infused olive oil, then dressed with butter and lemon juice. It's a simple and delicious side dish that's ready in minutes.

    It's so good in fact, that even my kids agree to eat it! So if you too have reluctant vegetable eaters in your house, you should definitely give it a try.

    Sauteed spinach topped with butter.

    I love spinach, but not surprisingly, my kids are not fans. So I'm always looking for ways to make this vegetable more palatable for them.

    This recipe is an easy and tasty way to cook fresh spinach. As it turns out, if I add enough butter, even The Picky Eater usually agrees to have some! Butter makes everything better, right?

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this sauteed spinach recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    • Olive oil: I love using extra virgin olive oil. It's wonderfully flavorful.
    • Minced garlic: Mince it yourself, or use the stuff that comes in a jar. Both work, although freshly minced tastes better.
    • Fresh spinach: I make life easy and buy a bag of pre-washed leaves. But you can obviously wash and dry them yourself. Just make sure they are thoroughly dried.
    • Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the dish could end up too salty.
    • To finish and flavor the dish: Butter and freshly squeezed lemon juice. I love using creamy European butter, and freshly squeezed lemon juice has the best flavor.
    The ingredients needed to saute spinach.

    Instructions

    Please scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions.

    This is a truly simple recipe that elevates spinach into a delicacy. It is also very easy to make: You start by cooking fresh spinach leaves in garlic-infused olive oil. Then you dress the cooked leaves with butter and lemon juice. That's it!

    Needless to say, spinach is delicious when prepared with heavy cream, butter, and parmesan. This creamed spinach recipe is wonderful.

    But when you use truly fresh baby spinach leaves, they are so delicate, almost sweet. So you can use minimal ingredients and cook them very briefly for a truly delicious side dish.

    In this recipe, the spinach is sauteed in olive oil. The butter is used not for the actual cooking but for finishing the dish and adding another layer of flavor. The combination of olive oil, butter, garlic, and lemon juice is amazing.

    A six-photo collage showing the steps for sauteing spinach.

    Expert tip

    While one pound of spinach may seem like a lot, remember that spinach loses quite a bit of volume as it cooks. So this is indeed a good amount of spinach to make for four people.

    And that's why you need a large, deep skillet or saucepan when making this recipe - to accommodate the large volume of raw leaves.

    Frequently asked questions

    What spices go well with spinach?

    Young baby spinach leaves are very tasty and don't need a lot of spices. They go very well with salt, pepper, and garlic. You can also add a pinch of onion powder, nutmeg, thyme, and/or red pepper flakes.

    What takes the bitterness out of spinach?

    It helps to use young baby spinach leaves. They're not very bitter. In addition, citrus flavors help, which is why I like to squeeze fresh lemon juice on top of this dish.

    What's the best oil for cooking spinach?

    I'm a big fan of using olive oil for cooking it, then topping the finished dish with butter. But you can also simply cook it in butter.

    Variations

    The best way to vary this recipe is to add spices. You could try a pinch of onion powder and/or dried thyme.

    You could also cook the spinach in ghee instead of olive oil. It has a wonderfully nutty flavor.

    If you don't have fresh lemons, try using a teaspoon of white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

    Serving suggestions

    Sautéed spinach is easy to make and it's ready quickly. I like to pair it with oven-baked meats such as ribeye roast and crispy baked chicken thighs.

    But really, this is a very versatile side dish that goes with anything. You can even serve it with a couple of fried eggs for a tasty meatless meal.

    Storing leftovers

    I don't typically have leftovers when making this recipe. But on the rare occasion that I do, I find that they keep fine in the fridge for a couple of days in an airtight container. Although this dish is best when served fresh.

    Sauteed spinach served on a white plate with a napkin and forks.

    Related recipes

    • Creamed Spinach
    • Steamed Spinach
    • Spinach Fritters
    • Spinach Frittata

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Sauteed Spinach
    4.98 from 99 votes
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    Sautéed Spinach

    Fresh spinach is sautéed in garlic-infused olive oil, then dressed with butter and lemon juice. It's a simple and delicious side dish.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 84kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
    • 1 lb. baby spinach leaves pre washed
    • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or ¼ teaspoon fine salt)
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • In a very large, deep pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until no longer raw, but not browned.
    • Add the spinach, carefully mixing with a wooden spoon to coat the leaves in the olive oil. Depending on how deep your skillet is, you might need to add it in several batches, as I do in the video below.
    • Cook the spinach, stirring with a wooden spoon, until it's just wilted, about 3 minutes. 
    • Turn the heat off and stir in the salt, pepper, lemon juice, and butter. You can also reserve the butter for topping the spinach after you remove it from the pan, as I do in the video. It makes for a pretty presentation.
    • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the spinach to a serving bowl. Serve immediately.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    While one pound of spinach may seem like a lot, remember that spinach loses quite a bit of volume as it cooks. So this is indeed a good amount of spinach to make for 4 people.
    And that's why you need a large, deep skillet or saucepan when making this recipe - to accommodate the large volume of raw leaves.

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 0.25recipe | Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 230mg | Fiber: 2g
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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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