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An ultra cream and cheesy low carb keto creamed spinach recipe! It’s packed with so much cheesy flavor, even the kids will be asking for seconds!
There’s a very good reason this recipe for keto creamed spinach has been one of my most popular for years. Just one bite and you’ll quickly have a new favorite low carb side dish!
It’s super easy to make, and it’s irresistibly delicious. Even kids love it! And who couldn’t use a new way to get kids to eat their vegetables?
Personally, I’m a big vegetable eater. Spinach smothered in cream sauce is one of my favorite sides.
But most creamed spinach recipes are made with a high-carb flour roux. This makes them difficult to enjoy if you’re trying to stay low carb.
Thankfully, there is an easy way to transform this dish into a great low carb side. To make creamed spinach keto, a bit of cream cheese and heavy whipping cream is all you need! No flour necessary.
The taste and texture remind me of the creamed spinach I used to get at Boston Market. It was my favorite! Now, I’m so happy to have a low carb version.
This keto creamed spinach is very easy to throw together, which is perfect for the holidays or a busy weeknight. It’s the kind of warm, comforting dish that you’ll want to make again and again.
Is spinach good for keto
Spinach is a great vegetable to enjoy on the keto diet!
It’s very low in carbs, but high in vitamins and nutrients. Spinach is also a great source of fiber, iron, potassium, and magnesium.
Overall, if you’re looking for vegetables to add to your keto diet, spinach should be at the top of your list.
How to cook keto creamed spinach
This side dish is easy to throw together, so it’s great when you’re in a hurry. To prepare, just follow these simple steps:
- Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a medium pot.
- Mix in the minced garlic and onion powder. Saute for a few minutes until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the thawed frozen spinach and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and continue to cook for about 5 minutes.
- While the spinach mixture is cooking, heat another pot over medium heat. Mix in 1 tablespoon of butter with cream cheese, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. This step is what makes makes this recipe so cheesy and delicious!
- Cook until the cream cheese is melted, then whisk the sauce until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the cheese sauce into the pan of cooked spinach and mix it all together. Top each serving with fresh grated parmesan, if desired.
That’s it! All that’s left to do is enjoy!
What do you eat with creamed spinach
There are so many ways to enjoy low carb creamed spinach! In case you need some inspiration, here are a few ideas:
- Eat it with a fork. Seriously, this side dish is super delicious on all its own!
- Serve it as a dip. Pork rinds, keto parmesan crisps, or low carb tortilla chips would all go very well with this side.
- Reheat creamed spinach in a casserole sprinkled with crushed pork rinds for an easy, hearty dinner.
- Slather on top of chicken breasts to add a little fat to your lean protein.
I even had a reader tell me she used creamed spinach as a topping on her bunless burger, which sounds amazing! You will definitely need a fork and knife for that one.
But long story short, this easy and versatile keto side dish will go well with pretty much any meal. You can’t go wrong!
How many net carbs are in creamed spinach
This recipe will make about 8 half-cup servings. For a half cup, there are about 3 grams net carbs per serving.
So if you’re trying to keep your carbs low but looking for tasty ways to eat vegetables, this creamed spinach recipe is for you!
Can you eat canned spinach on keto
We always hear that fresh food is better. It makes sense to try to eat foods that are less processed.
But sometimes, fresh is harder to find. It’s also more expensive, and you run the risk of it going bad before you can eat it.
Well, I have some good news… Pop-eye was right all along! Canned spinach is packed with nutrients and very low carb, just like fresh spinach.
If canned spinach is easier to find than fresh or frozen, it will still work well in this recipe. And you can be happy knowing you’re still getting a big health boost.
Other low carb spinach dishes
Looking for other delicious ways to enjoy spinach as part of your low carb diet? Check out a few of these favorites:
- Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms With Spinach And Artichoke is so easy to make for a super tasty vegetarian low carb dish!
- Palak Soup is an Indian spinach soup recipe that is nutrient-dense, sublimely savory, and perfect for chilly nights.
- Ham And Cauliflower Rice Casserole With Spinach is a great way to use up leftover ham from the holidays that’s also delicious!
- Coconut Creamed Spinach With Pork Crackling is a paleo, dairy-free version of creamed spinach that includes pork belly.
- Spinach Mushroom Cheese Quiche is super easy to make and can be prepared with or without a crust.
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Cheesy Low Carb Creamed Spinach
Recipe Video (Click on Image to Play)
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.
- 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.
- Add cheese sauce to cooked spinach. You can eat as is or make ahead to reheat in a casserole sprinkled with crushed pork rinds.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
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Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Unauthorized use of this material without written permission from Lisa MarcAurele is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes.
Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
First Published: September 22, 2010… Last Updated: December 11, 2019
Anna Smith
Amazing recipe. Please let me know can I add keto chicken Bone broth powder in it? Here is the link of the powder that I’ve.
https://lonolife.com/products/keto-chicken-bone-broth-bulk-container
Lisa MarcAurele
It should be fine to add a little bone broth as long as you don’t add too much.
Kelly
This was the most delicious creamed spinach I have ever had. Plus it was so easy to make. This will be a reciept to keep and make for years to come! Thanks
Terri S
Made this for dinner Omg much better than Boston Market
Cynthia Camplain
My husband and I really like this recipe. It’s quick and easy to make. Yummy, too.
Lisa MarcAurele
Agree! My kids eat this one because it’s so cheesy.
Sara
Delicious! This has quickly become a weekly regular. I sometimes half the recipe using the full amount of spinach depending on the macros I need, and it is still just as tasty. Thanks for so many wonderful recipes!
Brynn
HOLY COW is this good!!! I’ve always made creamed spinach with a roux and even if/when I’m not doing such a low carb way of eating anymore, I’ll still keep making it this way instead! I used fresh spinach and it’s to die for – thank you so much!!
Lisa MarcAurele
My pleasure! Glad the low carb creamed spinach was such a hit.
Stacey
I made this for Christmas; it was the best. So easy to make and tastes better than some expensive restaurants I have ate at. My grandchildren (ages 9 yrs to 21 months) loved it’s well as the adults.
Thank you for sharing
Lisa MarcAurele
You’re welcome. I’m so glad the family enjoyed the cheesy creamed spinach side dish.
Wendy
Absolutely delicious!!!
I served mine with sauteed mushrooms and a pork chop….yummy!!
Lisa MarcAurele
Creamed spinach always goes well with pork!
Halley
This is so yummy!! Made it many times over, but this time did not get to defrost the spinach fully in time, and could not ring it out properly. It came out a bit soupy because of the excess water. Tip on how I can make it creamy again?
Lisa MarcAurele
You could try adding more cheese or a thickener like xanthan gum.
JIM
I made this and added minced breakfast link sausage! Oh my God so freaking good!!!
Lisa MarcAurele
Great idea to add in some meat!
Izora
Thank you!! This was so delicious although I had forgotten to add the cream cheese and believe me I had all intentions to add it however, it turned out great!!
Lisa
Good to know it works out without the cream cheese!
Karen Shaw
HUGE YUM! Made exactly as written except I used both fresh and frozen (in bag) spinach. Fast and easy to prepare and both my husband and I loved it. Cheesy and creamy and a great side dish with almost anything. We are Keto eaters and I will be making this again for sure.
Lisa
Thanks for writing in to let us know how much you enjoyed it!
MRose
Love, Love, Love! I have made this twice in two weeks. My family likes it too! Yummy!! Very decadent!
Lisa
Always great when the rest of the family eats the low carb creations!
Adrienne
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
You’re welcome!
Jessica
What about using fresh spinach? How much would I use and would I cook it first or mix it raw?
Lisa
You’d use the same, just cook first and drain.
Mindy
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
Thanks for the suggestions Mindy!
Wendy
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
Yay! Good to hear this one worked out so well for you.
Bonnie
I also cut in half for 3. My husband finished it off. No leftovers. I used milk instead of cream. Still tasted great without the fat.
Meredith
I think heavy cream adds too much fat and calories. Could I substitute anything else for this?
Lisa
You can use coconut milk or almond milk or dilute the heavy cream with water.
Terena
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
It’s like half cup serving. The cup size is misleading. I’ll get that fixed.
Yvonne
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
The stuffed peppers sounds yummy. I haven’t made them with turkey. Thanks for sharing the creamed spinach recipe!
Debora
This creamed spinach is absolutely delicious easy quick
Yvonne van der Westhuizen
I can’t find heavy cream .
Just normal or whipping.
Can I use it successfully to make this recipe.
Love spinach.
Lisa
Either of those should work. As long as it’s the higher fat cream.
Mollie
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
It’s about 8 servings.
Mele
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
So glad it was a hit for you! 🙂
Mele
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
Romano is a great choice for cheese too! Glad it worked out for you!
Dawn
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
Thanks for sharing your method! I agree that this one is a keeper.
cindyhoog
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
Sounds like a great way to get the kids to eat spinach! 😀
Mary-Elizabeth Vanderpost
How do you think this would reheat as leftovers?
Lisa
I’ve reheated it with no issues.
Vicki
Absolutely fabulous!!!
Lisa
I think so too! 🙂
Lisa
Thanks!
Stephanie C
Could you use fresh spinach? If so, how much would I need?
Lisa
It would still be about 20 ounces.
Joe M.
This was really good and easy to make!
Lisa
Thanks Joe! Glad it worked out for you. 🙂
Phillip
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
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
Oh great! I was just going to see if I could find the info for you, but seems like you got it.
Meredith
Phillip, I actually have the same question. So how much raw did you find would be close enough?
Rae
Very good! Thank you.
Lisa
I’m glad you liked it! It’s one of my favorite side dishes.
Shelly C.
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
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
My 9 year old loved this. Winner!
Lisa
That’s great! I’m still struggling getting my kids to eat spinach.
Janelle B.
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
Glad you gave it a try! We love it too!
Fred
It’s Very good!
Lisa
Thanks! So glad you liked it.
Lucy
I’m not a big spinach eater but this looks very appetizing (plus I think I saw spinach on sale!!).