Garlic Sauteed Spinach

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I’m going to show you how to sautee spinach in olive oil and garlic with a simple spinach seasoning for the most delicious, versatile side dish! It’s so easy to make and pairs well with all kinds of dinners. It’s ready in just 10 minutes!

Jump to:

• Sautéed Spinach Recipe
• Sauteed Spinach Recipe Ingredients
• How to Saute Spinach
• Tips for Sauteing Spinach
• FAQ
• Seasoning Spinach
• Can you freeze spinach?
• What to Serve with Cooked Spinach
• Pin it for later!
• Recipe
• Reviews

Sautéed Spinach Recipe

Sauteed spinach is one of the best side dishes for everything from chicken and steak to pork and more. It’s one of the easiest side dishes you can make, but spinach has so much natural flavor that it elevates every dish.

This is my family’s favorite way to cook spinach! Try this easy recipe once and you’ll want to make it all of the time to pair with your dinner ideas, but it even works well with lunch and breakfast, too. Eggs and spinach are a match made in heaven!

I had no idea how easy it was to make spinach. Now I make it all the time. Thank you!

Tilly on Twitter

Sauteed Spinach Recipe Ingredients

• Fresh Spinach: You can use fully grown spinach or baby spinach according to your taste preferences.
• Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic cloves for the best flavor. A garlic press is awesome for this!
• Olive Oil: I use extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. It adds great flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: I recommend using kosher salt or Maldon sea salt flakes.
• Lemon Juice (Optional): This is optional, but fresh lemon juice adds so much to sauteed spinach. Only use fresh – not the bottled kind.

How to Saute Spinach

1. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Once hot, add minced garlic and cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
3. Toss fresh spinach leaves into the pan with the garlic.
4. Cook until dark green and wilted, about 5 minutes. Top with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Top with salt and pepper to taste and a fresh squeeze of lemon (optional).
6. Serve and enjoy!

If you love this recipe, you must try my Easy Creamed Spinach!

Tips for Sauteing Spinach

• Be careful never to let the garlic burn. There is nothing worse than burnt garlic.
• You can also use frozen spinach to make this dish. Don’t thaw the spinach – cook it directly from frozen.
• You will know the spinach is ready when all leaves have shrunken down and are dark green.

FAQ

Seasoning Spinach

I keep my sauteed spinach recipes simple with oil, garlic, and a little salt and pepper, but you can change it up and add other seasonings that make these greens pop. Depending on your main course, it’s fun to experiment with what you can add to sauteed spinach with garlic!

• Curry seasonings: Spinach goes well with turmeric, coriander, ginger, paprika, and cumin. Try making a curry spinach recipe and you will be pleasantly surprised.
• Hot spices: Add a little cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, or chili powder for a kick if you love spice as much as we do. It’s even better to chop up and mix in some spicy Bacon.
• Vinaigrettes: Try sherry, balsamic vinaigrette, or lemon vinaigrette with sauteed spinach.

Can you freeze spinach?

Yes! If you’re unsure how to freeze spinach, this is the easiest way.

1. Cook the spinach as instructed and store it in freezer-safe bags.
2. Label it with the freezing date and then quickly defrost it to use in your favorite dishes.

Frozen cooked spinach lasts up to 10-12 months in the freezer. You can also use frozen spinach to make this dish. Don’t thaw the spinach – cook it directly from frozen.

What to Serve with Cooked Spinach

• Any seafood! I love it with Prawns!
• Grilled Chicken Breast
• Dutch Oven Pot Roast
• Grilled Tuna Steak
• Blistered Tomatoes

Recipe