This post may contain affiliate links to products I use and highly recommend. You can read my full disclosure .
This Keto Creamed Spinach is easy, cheesy, and the the perfect copycat side dish to what you might find at a steakhouse or Boston Market. The main difference is that it’s actually low-carb and omits things like flour, whole milk and cornstarch. Make this easy recipe in just 15 minutes!
Why Make This
Creamed spinach is one of my favorite ways to get picky eaters, non-veggie, non-spinach loving fans to eat their greens. Also, spinach has a great nutritional value and is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and more, making it a top 10 perfect side dish.
- Easy side dish recipe: The simple ingredients make this creamy spinach a great side dish for any occasion, whether you make it for a busy weeknight, meal prep, or a relaxing weekend afternoon.
- No cornstarch flour as a thickening agent: One benefit of using heavy cream, Parmesan Cheese, and creamed cheese is that this creamed spinach recipe does not need a thickener like cornstarch or flour to make it creamy or to get that creamy texture that you love.
- Fraction of the carbs: places like Boston Market and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse offer cream spinach as one of their side dishes. Though Boston Market and Ruth’s Chris do not list all of the ingredients on their sites, one estimate is that their versions have at least 10 grams of carbs.
- Versatile side dish: This is one of my absolute favorite keto side dish recipes because it has a ton of flavor, and it goes perfectly with chicken, ribs, seafood or steak (especially, my Beef Top Sirloin)
Ingredients Needed
My Keto Easy Creamed Spinach recipe is very similar to classic versions of this dish. It requires basic ingredients and contains fewer carbs compared to some other recipes out there.
For a Keto option, this is one of, if not, the best creamed spinach recipe that you’ll make. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Parmesan Cheese: I’m using the fresh variety that you can pick up in the refrigerated cheese section of the market. The grated kind looks just like the kind that you can pick up for Italian dishes. I get it fresh since it has a milder flavor and is less processed and salty.
- Cream Cheese
- Heavy Cream: Some creamed spinach recipes use whole milk or half and half, both of which have more carbs than heavy cream. So, I’m using heavy cream to cut carbs. It also tastes delicious!
- Salt: You can add additional salt if you want to, but the parmesan cheese adds some salty flavor naturally. I’d only add salt to this recipe at the very end after tasting it.
- Black Pepper
- Spinach: Fresh spinach (especially fresh baby spinach) is a bit easier to work with because you don’t need to thaw and remove the extra liquid first. If you opt for frozen spinach, be sure to thaw it in the pan first to remove as much moisture and excess water as possible.
- Shallots
- Minced Garlic
How to Make Creamed Spinach
Sauté the shallots & garlic in a large skillet (photo 1).
Make the cream sauce by adding the spices, heavy cream, cream cheese, and Parmesan Cheese to the pan. The longer you cook the sauce, the more it will reduce (photo 2).
Add in the spinach to the cream sauce & cook until wilted (photos 3 – 4).
Top Cooking Tips & Recipe FAQs
- Reheating & Storage: The best way to store any leftover low-carb creamed spinach is in an airtight container for the next day (up to 3-4 days). When I’m ready to enjoy the dish, I simply pop it in the microwave for 1 minute on medium heat.
- Fresh is Best: You can use either fresh or frozen spinach. But, I find fresh spinach works best since frozen spinach is already wilted.
- Lighter variation: If you want to make this dish a little lighter, a good idea is to start by replacing some of the heavy cream with chicken broth. You can also use less cream cheese, and then reduce the overall cheese amount to your personal preference.
- Extra Flavor (Optional): Add a little bit of onion powder and Italian seasoning to your cooked spinach to taste.
My easy keto, low carb creamed spinach recipe contains 2 net carbs per serving. In terms of calories, each serving has 238 calories. But, the majority of the calories come from fat and some come from protein, which makes the creamed spinach keto-friendly.
If you are using frozen spinach, you can add it into your pan after you sauté your onions and garlic. By sautéing it before making the cream sauce, you’ll be able to thaw it in the pan and remove some of the liquids.
Recipes to have with this Low Carb Creamed Spinach
This Creamed Spinach pairs well with several entrees. If you are stuck on ideas, here are a few of my favorite dishes to pair it with:
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast
- Keto BBQ Ribs
- Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
- Oven-Fried Crispy Wings
- Pan Seared Scallops
- Air Fryer BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs
Keto Creamed Spinach Recipe
Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1/3 cup Shallot, sliced thinly
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 cup Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
- 2 oz Cream Cheese
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 10 oz Spinach, I used fresh and 10 oz was 2 bags
- 1/3 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Salt to taste, optional
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and shallots to the skillet. Saute until they are translucent (~2 minutes).
- Turn the pan heat to medium low. Then, add the heavy cream, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and black pepper to the pan. Use a silicone spatula to incorporate the ingredients. You want the cream cheese fully melted.
- Add the spinach to the pan and mix it with the sauce. You want to cook this until it is slightly wilted.
- Taste the Creamed Spinach and decide if you'd like to add a pinch of salt (~1/8 tsp). Serve immediately.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!
