A cheesy low carb creamed spinach made with a cream cheese sauce. You won’t miss the extra unnecessary carbs found in most recipes.
I’m a big vegetable eater and I absolutely love spinach. Spinach smothered in cream sauce is one of my favorite sides.
Most cheesy creamed spinach recipes are made with a flour roux. The addition of flour is not necessary to thicken the sauce if cream cheese is added and less milk or cream is used.
Another change that lowers the carbs a bit is using onion powder instead of fresh chopped onion. You can get the same flavor with less carbs using the dry onion powder. That’s why I like to keep a jar in my spice rack.
I also like the additional flavor that the cream cheese brings to this low carb creamed spinach dish. This recipe is similar in taste and texture to the one that is served at Boston Market. Which used to be my favorite side there.
When I first made this cheesy dish, I used two boxes of frozen spinach. But, then I tried it with fresh spinach and liked it better. You can use either one.
It’s totally optional, but I think adding crushed pork rinds on top is a nice touch. It adds some crunch and a bit more color. You can also adjust the amount of spinach to your liking. I personally like it drenched in the sauce.
This low carb creamed spinach has become one of my favorite side dishes for the holidays. It goes well with both turkey and ham. And, I can sometimes get my daughter to eat her vegetables because this cheesy spinach is so good.
The prep for this cheesy creamed spinach dish is also quick and easy. It doesn’t take long to throw it together. So, not only is it a good side dish for holidays, it’s also perfect for busy weeknights too.
Like macaroni and cheese, I think this dish is warm and comforting. My family enjoys having it as a side throughout the fall and winter seasons. Thank goodness none of us has to follow a dairy free diet. We just love cheese too much!
If you also love spinach and cheese, give this low carb dish a try. The cheesy cream sauce is terrific way to get the family eating their veggies.
What’s your favorite way to serve spinach? Does it include cheese?
Cheesy Low Carb Creamed Spinach Recipe
Cheesy Low Carb Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 (10 oz) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained or equivalent fresh
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
- salt and pepper
Instructions
-
Saute garlic and onion powder in 3 tablespoons butter. Mix in spinach and cook on low, covered, about 5 minutes.
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In another pot, mix 1 tablespoon butter with cream cheese, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. Cook on medium heat until cream cheese is melted. Whisk until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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Add cheese sauce to cooked spinach. You can eat as is or make ahead to reheat in a casserole sprinkled with crushed pork rinds.
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Adrienne says
OMG made this tonight and it was DELISH! Used fresh spinach, 1/4 cup less heavy cream to make thicker and added freshly grated nutmeg. Soooo good! Thank you for a great low carb dish.
Lisa says
You’re welcome!
Jessica says
What about using fresh spinach? How much would I use and would I cook it first or mix it raw?
Lisa says
You’d use the same, just cook first and drain.
Mindy says
I cut this recipe by 1/4 (cooking for one) for two servings and it turned out fantastic!! I’ve never had creamed spinach, but had a bag of fresh and gave it a whirl. I served it over a grilled hamburger patty (no bun – doing keto) and it was so good. For my other serving, I’m going to put it over a grilled marinated portobello mushroom cap…Thanks
Lisa says
Thanks for the suggestions Mindy!
Wendy says
This was fantastic! I cut the recipe in half since there were just 3 of us and I almost wish I had made the entire thing! I will definitely be making this again.
Lisa says
Yay! Good to hear this one worked out so well for you.
Meredith says
I think heavy cream adds too much fat and calories. Could I substitute anything else for this?
Lisa says
You can use coconut milk or almond milk or dilute the heavy cream with water.
Terena says
Just made this & it is delicious! The serving size is a bit confusing. Says it serves 8 but under the nutritional information it says a serving is one cup. All total this recipe made 3 cups when I used the 20 oz chopped frozen spinach. It comes out to 2 net carbs for 1/2 cup which would be 6 servings. It did make lots of sauce, I think next time I might add more spinach. Does it make larger servings if you use fresh spinach? Sorry, I’m really not trying to be nitpicking but I am confused. Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Lisa says
It’s like half cup serving. The cup size is misleading. I’ll get that fixed.
Yvonne says
I made a cream spinach recipe today before I saw your blog. I didn’t use cream cheese, I used heavy cream. I didn’t miss the cream cheese because I’ve never had it that way but it turned out great without it. I didn’t sauté onions either, I just added sparingly some Cayanne pepper and some Tumeric because that’s what just happened to be sitting there but the topper to all this is I sautéed 4 large shrimp in some olive oil then added the spinach, then cream and Bam! In 3 mins I had my meat and vegetable. Next time I may add some dry garlic powder. I think I am going to enjoy this website. Thank you. I have a too-good-for-words stuffed 1/2 bell peppers with ground turkey that you might be interested in and it is so quick and easy. I made it last night and it was so good I wanted to have it for breakfast this morning. Which I did. :-). Can also be frozen.
Lisa says
The stuffed peppers sounds yummy. I haven’t made them with turkey. Thanks for sharing the creamed spinach recipe!
Debora says
This creamed spinach is absolutely delicious easy quick
Yvonne van der Westhuizen says
I can’t find heavy cream .
Just normal or whipping.
Can I use it successfully to make this recipe.
Love spinach.
Lisa says
Either of those should work. As long as it’s the higher fat cream.
Mollie says
This is amazing! Love it. Is it really only 352 calories for 1 cup? How many servings does the whole recipe make?
Thanks so much
Lisa says
It’s about 8 servings.
Mele says
This recipe is so easy and absolutely delicious! I used pecorino/ Romano ( cause that’s what was in the fridge ) and it came out perfect. Thank you so much, Lisa.
Lisa says
So glad it was a hit for you! 🙂
Mele says
This recipe is absolutely delicious. I used pecorino Romano instead of the parmesan (because that’s what I had in my fridge,) and it came out perfect!! Love the low carb creamed spinach Lisa!
Lisa says
Romano is a great choice for cheese too! Glad it worked out for you!
Dawn says
This was delicious. I melted all of the butter together with the cream cheese, whisked in the cream and seasonings, then melted in the shredded Italian cheeses. Added drained cooked spinach at end and heated through. This easy recipe is a keeper.
Lisa says
Thanks for sharing your method! I agree that this one is a keeper.
cindyhoog says
I made this dish when my 7 grandchildren were over visiting, I was thinking (foolishly) at least I will have a side dish that fits in my diet. The kids were first in line and I heard them commenting amongst themselves “I don’t know what this green stuff is but it’s good”! By the time I got thru the line there was maybe 2 tablespoons left and the kids were wanting me to make more!
Lisa says
Sounds like a great way to get the kids to eat spinach! 😀
Mary-Elizabeth Vanderpost says
How do you think this would reheat as leftovers?
Lisa says
I’ve reheated it with no issues.
Vicki says
Absolutely fabulous!!!
Lisa says
I think so too! 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks!
Stephanie C says
Could you use fresh spinach? If so, how much would I need?
Lisa says
It would still be about 20 ounces.
Joe M. says
This was really good and easy to make!
Lisa says
Thanks Joe! Glad it worked out for you. 🙂
Phillip says
I love the recipe, and lots of the others you have here; not all just meat and fat like most 🙂 And no low carb tortillas either 🙂 (can’t buy those in Amsterdam). I try to avoid frozen packaged goods; any idea where I could find the 20 oz frozen to fresh conversion number ? I have 600 grams of fresh spinach here but I kind of doubt that will measure out to 20 oz thawed frozen…… Hope you have some idea, as I certainly do not ! 🙂
Phillip says
found it, the google is patient we say. at least, an approximate (which engineers like you and I hate, but OK, ballpark it is). looks like I have enough 🙂
Lisa says
Oh great! I was just going to see if I could find the info for you, but seems like you got it.
Meredith says
Phillip, I actually have the same question. So how much raw did you find would be close enough?
Rae says
Very good! Thank you.
Lisa says
I’m glad you liked it! It’s one of my favorite side dishes.
Shelly C. says
Had a WHOLE family get together this weekend. Being the new (and only) diabetic in the family, my mom was struggling to come up with something to make, besides the roasted turkey breast, that I COULD eat, and the rest of the family WOULD eat. I turned to you again, as I have MUCH of the time, of late, and found this recipe! It was fantastic! There were LOTS of left overs of EVERYTHING that was cooked . . . EXCEPT for THIS DISH! Everyone LOVED it! My family has decided that you must be some kind of miracle/genius worker or something, to work full time, raise three kids, take care of the home, AND have the time to do ALL OF THIS! TRUST ME! My family, well, lets just say they are NOT easily impressed! 🙂 Thank you Lisa for making our Spring Birthday Bash a success, as we used several of your recipes and the day would not have been nearly as successful and would have been much more stressful for all! (After all I ate through out the day, including TWO servings of your Tiramisu, my blood sugar was STILL only 106 last night!)(and no, I’m on no medication. just strict carb intake, <60g/day)
Lisa says
Thanks Shelly! I LOVE to get comments like this. It’s really what gives me the energy to do all these things. It really is difficult to balance everything, but stories like yours keep me going! Sounds like you are doing great controlling your diabetes by eating the right foods. 🙂
Jeannine Q says
My 9 year old loved this. Winner!
Lisa says
That’s great! I’m still struggling getting my kids to eat spinach.
Janelle B. says
Oh. My. Gosh. I’ve never had creamed spinach, I just made this, and it is my new favorite food. It’s really good!! And it’s something my carb free hubby can eat!
Lisa says
Glad you gave it a try! We love it too!
Fred says
It’s Very good!
Lisa says
Thanks! So glad you liked it.
Lucy says
I’m not a big spinach eater but this looks very appetizing (plus I think I saw spinach on sale!!).