• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Recipe Index

Feasting not Fasting

Because life's too short to be hungry

  • Home
  • About
    • Collaboration
    • Contact
  • Recipe Index
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Appetizers
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks and Smoothies
    • Lunches
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Condiments
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Stews
  • By Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Blender
    • Crock Pot/Slow Cooker
    • Freezer
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
  • By Diet
    • Dairy-Free
    • Gluten-Free
    • Keto
    • Low-Carb
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Appetizers
  • Baked Goods
  • Breakfast
  • Desserts
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads
  • Side Dishes
  • Snacks
Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Sautéed Spinach with Garlic

Sautéed Spinach with Garlic

January 18, 2023 by Christy 31 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Pin Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Pin73.0K
Share285
Tweet
Yum27
73.4K Shares

Who knew sautéed spinach could taste so good? This quick and easy spinach recipe is a delicious low calorie side to any main dish. It has an extra kick of flavor from olive oil, garlic, onion, a dash of crushed red pepper and lemon. Plus it can be ready in 15 minutes or less!

Table of Contents

  • Why you’ll love this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step by step process
  • Tips and tricks
  • Frequently asked questions
  • What to pair sautéed spinach and garlic with
  • Easy Sautéed Spinach
    • Ingredients US CustomaryMetric
    • Instructions
    • Notes
    • Nutrition
      • did you make this recipe?
close up of spinach cooked with onions and garlic on a serving plate

Spinach has had a bad rep for a while now regardless of Popeye’s love for it. It can be slimy and weird when done wrong and I’m sure we all have had bad sautéed spinach at one time or another. Well, fear not spinach haters – better spinach is on the way!

I’m a big fan of spinach and love that you can use it in so many types of recipes! Check out my spinach pancakes for a fun and nutritious twist on a breakfast classic, my easy veggie quiche which is always a cozy favorite at any gathering, or this spinach artichoke dip stuffed portobellos for a flavorful, nutrient dense main or side dish!

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Quick and simple since it will be ready in 15 minutes.
  • Perfect side dish to fish, chicken, other veggie entrees… whatever you’d like!
  • Light, low calorie, and diet friendly with under 90 calories per serving.
  • Easy to heat up and use as leftovers.
  • Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse with health benefits stemming from high levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Magnesium and Iron.
  • This garlicky sautéed spinach and garlic recipe is entirely vegan, gluten free, Whole 30 compliant, paleo, Keto, low carb – did I leave anything out? It works for any diet!
  • It’s a great warm dish of leafy greens for winter when you don’t want a smoothie!
5 stars

Featured Comment:

“To quote the old Chicago ballad, “I’ve been searching so long, to find the answer…” to truly delicious cooked spinach, and lo and behold, I’ve finally found it! Praise be!!! The lemon juice makes all the difference!!! I still love spinach raw, but when it gets a little past its “spinach salad fresh” prime, I’ve got a viable, quick, easy, and delicious alternative!”

– ALYCIA NICHOLS

flat lay of sauteed spinach with crushed red pepper flakes and garlic

Ingredients

This spinach recipe calls for simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

  •  Olive oil – this adds the perfect base for any vegetable sauté and since the pan won’t heat over 400° F, it is completely fine for this recipe.
  • Onion – onion adds great flavor in this recipe but you can leave it out if you don’t like it.
  • Garlic – fresh is best and it will take about 3 medium sized garlic cloves but store bought minced garlic is fine too.
  • Spinach – you’ll need a whole pound of spinach, but it cooks down significantly. It’s a great way to use up fresh spinach leaves. Fresh baby spinach works great and so does mature spinach with the tough stems cut off with any large pieces chopped.
  • Salt & Pepper – I used Himalayan pink salt and fresh cracked pepper which you can adjust to preference.
  • Lemon Juice – use fresh lemon juice to give the dish acidity and freshness to round out the full flavor profile.
  • Red Pepper Flakes – this add a little bit of heat but it’s optional. I leave them out whenever I’m either not craving spice or if it just won’t go well with whatever else I’m serving. You can swap for whatever spice or other seasoning you prefer.

Step by step process

To highlight how easy this recipe is, I’ve broken it into a three step picture process!

  1. Over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in a large skillet or dutch oven.
    Pot with garlic and onion in it being sauteed
  2. Add spinach, salt, and pepper and cook down until brighter in color, wilted, and tender, stirring as the spinach cooks.
    Pot with spinach being cooked down
  3. Add a squeeze of lemon and red pepper flakes (if desired) to the cooked spinach, and you’re done!
    Large pot with cooked spinach in it

Yup, it’s that easy!

Tips and tricks

  • The best way to keep your final dish from getting watery is to use a slotted spoon to move the spinach onto a serving plate or bowl since it releases a lot of excess water when cooking.
  • If using mature spinach, chop any big spinach leaves that are larger than hand sized once or twice to make it easier to eat and remove stems.
  • Always wash your spinach! Ideally use a salad spinner and cold water. This way you can rinse using the bowl part, then the colander portion and then spin it all dry. You can also rinse in a colander and pat dry with kitchen towels. Even pre-washed baby spinach should be rinsed but you won’t need to be as thorough with it.
  • You can use this cooked spinach in any recipe that calls for frozen, just leave out the lemon and crushed red pepper.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and microwave before eating.
close up image of spinach on a white plate with lemon next to it

Frequently asked questions

What spinach is best to sauté?

Any spinach works in this easy recipe. I like to use baby spinach since it is easier to work with and has a more delicate flavor. Mature spinach works great too if you chop up any extra large pieces and remove the stems. You can use up some of the older spinach you haven’t gotten around to yet too. Just make sure to check for and discard any older slimy pieces and rinse well.

Can I leave out the red pepper flakes?

Yes! If you’re not a fan or not feeling up for some spice, you can totally leave it out.

How do you make sautéed spinach not bitter?

Using fresh garlic and minced onions truly transforms spinach and removes the bitter taste!

What to pair sautéed spinach and garlic with

It’s such a versatile healthy side dish that it will go well with pretty much anything, but here are some of my favorite pairings:

  • With this citrus baked chicken
  • With salmon (this Traeger Smoked Salmon or this oven baked salmon) or fish of any kind
  • Alongside bison meatballs or this lemon veggie pasta
  • With this mushroom pilaf for a vegetarian meal
  • Served with scrambled eggs or poached eggs for breakfast
vertical image of cooked spinach on a serving platter
Recipe
close up of spinach cooked with onions and garlic on a serving plate
Recipe
5 from 6 votes
click the stars to rate!

Easy Sautéed Spinach

Created by: Christy Gurin
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
4
This quick and easy spinach recipe is a delicious low calorie side dish with an extra kick of flavor from garlic, and is ready in 15 minutes!

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb. fresh baby spinach
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
  • 2 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.
  • Add onion and sauté 2-3 minutes until onion starts to turn translucent.
  • Add garlic and stir a minute longer until garlic is aromatic but not brown.
  • Add spinach, salt, and pepper and stir to coat spinach in oil. Continue stirring every 30 seconds until spinach is wilted (about 4-5 mins). Do not continue cooking once spinach is done wilting. Immediately remove from heat.
  • Add lemon juice and red pepper flakes (if desired) and stir. Adjust salt level if needed. Transfer to a serving dish with a slotted spoon to drain out the juices.

Notes

  • Use a slotted spoon to move the spinach onto a serving plate or bowl since it releases a lot of excess water when cooking.
  • If using mature spinach, chop any big spinach leaves that are larger than hand sized once or twice to make it easier to eat and remove stems.
  • Always wash your spinach! Ideally use a salad spinner and cold water. This way you can rinse using the bowl part, then the colander portion and then spin it all dry. You can also rinse in a colander and pat dry with kitchen towels. Even pre-washed baby spinach should be rinsed but you won’t need to be as thorough with it.
  • You can use this cooked spinach in any recipe that calls for frozen, just leave out the lemon and crushed red pepper.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and microwave before eating.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 663mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 10654IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 3mg

did you make this recipe?

Make sure to follow on Pinterest @feastingnotfasting and on Instagram @feastingnotfasting

Originally published October 13, 2015. The post content has been updated sine then but the recipe is the same.

posted in: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, Quick and Easy, Side Dishes, Stovetop, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian, Whole-30

Previous
Asian Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Next
How to Make Oat Flour

Reader Interactions

    Comments & Reviews

  1. Dannean says

    August 19, 2019

    5 stars
    Yes. Im starting to LOVE sauteed spinach! Put a lil twist on it & added sweet red peppers to it really really delicious

    Reply
    • Christy says

      August 20, 2019

      That sounds simply AMAZING!

      Reply
  2. Rick Prentice says

    July 1, 2019

    Nice and Easy… I like throwing some sliced mushrooms in with the onions and garlic.Yummy!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      July 16, 2019

      That sounds absolutely delicious!

      Reply
  3. Liz says

    June 13, 2019

    Thanks. Great recipe. I cooked my spinach with scallops and added it to butternut squah noodles with pesto. A very delicious dinner.

    Reply
  4. Di-Di | The Foxy Flexitarian says

    May 23, 2019

    5 stars
    Spinach and lemon juice is a match-made-in-heaven. Thank you so much for this wonderful post and recipe Christy. I’ve included it in a mini spinach recipe roundup.

    Reply
    • Christy says

      May 27, 2019

      Awesome! And thanks for sharing the love! I’ll make sure to share your post on Pinterest. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Terri says

    March 8, 2019

    That was soo delicious! Will be a new staple in our home for sure!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      March 24, 2019

      Great! I love having this recipe in my back pocket since it’s the EASIEST side dish ever. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Brandi Gilliard says

    July 24, 2018

    Would this work with frozen spinach?

    Reply
    • Christy says

      July 30, 2018

      I haven’t tried it but think it would probably work. It wouldn’t taste as fresh but would probably be okay!

      Reply
  7. Alycia Nichols says

    July 2, 2018

    5 stars
    To quote the old Chicago ballad, “I’ve been searching so long, to find the answer…” to truly delicious cooked spinach, and lo and behold, I’ve finally found it! Praise be!!! The lemon juice makes all the difference!!! I still love spinach raw, but when it gets a little past its “spinach salad fresh” prime, I’ve got a viable, quick, easy, and delicious alternative!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      July 8, 2018

      Praise be!! Its the best way to use up that old spinach that isn’t bad, but isn’t salad quality! I’ve switched up the seasonings a few times to match whatever I’m serving it with too and have had a lot of success with that, just FYI. 😉

      Reply
  8. Chandra says

    May 17, 2018

    I would love to try this recipe but there are too many ads popping up between each sentence. It’s frustrating to attempt to follow. Do you have a print button in your recipes? Maybe I’m overlooking it?

    Reply
    • Chandra says

      May 17, 2018

      Update: I went out and back into the site and found the recipe with print button. No ads. Trying this for dinner tonight.

      Reply
      • Christy says

        May 20, 2018

        Thank you so much for letting me know Chandra! My ad settings have been going a bit wonky lately and I’m trying to get it worked out. I’m glad it was better the second time you visited!

  9. Melinda says

    October 1, 2017

    This is SO good. I cannot believe the difference it makes to add lemon, garlic, onion and red pepper flakes. Yum. Now I love sautéed spinach. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      October 4, 2017

      Right? So simple but it comes together so well!

      Reply
  10. Roxana says

    September 4, 2017

    5 stars
    OMG just made this so good I love it

    Reply
    • Christy says

      September 4, 2017

      Awesome! Happy to hear Roxana! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Ahappyvegan says

    February 14, 2016

    5 stars
    I just made this tonight and it was amazing! So flavorful! I had to make a few changes in order to meet my nutritarian lifestyle but they were minimal (I replaced the oil with veggie broth and added 4 chopped mushroom caps to the mix). Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
    • Christy says

      February 15, 2016

      Glad to hear you liked the recipe and thanks for the tips! I’m going to have to try that next time I make this. 🙂

      Reply
      • Shiron says

        November 17, 2016

        5 stars
        Wuuh… i made it. Excellnt taste n good nutrition . Thanks lot.

      • Christy says

        November 17, 2016

        Oh good! Its such a simple recipe, but comes together so well. 🙂

Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

Share your thoughts!
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Christy - Author of Feasting Not Fasting.

Hi, Im Christy

The foodie, photographer and recipe developer behind Feasting Not Fasting, a site centered on making it easier to eat healthy.

More About Me

Simple healthy recipes straight to your inbox!

Subscribe for the newsletter for all the latest recipes delivered straight to you.

Featured Recipes

  • overhead picture of Mediterranean eggplant salad in a white bowl
    Mediterranean Eggplant Salad
  • Close up picture of chicken taco seasoning blend in a white bowl
    Chicken Taco Seasoning
  • close up picture of kale salad on a white plate
    Lemon Kale Salad
  • Prosciutto Melon Skewers
  • These baked pears with honey and almonds are the perfect healthy dessert for the holidays with cranberries and a nutty crunch all for 200 calories!
    Baked Pears with Honey and Almonds
  • I'm in love with this beet smoothie! Its delicious, high in protein and has the perfect amount of sweetness to balance out the earthiness of the beets.
    Beet Smoothie with Strawberries and Kale
Allure Logo.
Boston Mag Logo.
Buzzfeed Logo.
Glamour Logo.
Healthline Logo.
The Huffington Post Logo.
MSN Logo.
sheknows Logo.

Simple healthy recipes straight to your inbox!

Feasting Not Fasting

About

  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Collaboration

By Method

  • Air Fryer
  • Blender
  • Slow Cooker
  • Freezer
  • Instant Pot
  • Oven
  • Stovetop

By Diet

  • Dairy-Free
  • Gluten-Free
  • Keto
  • Low-Carb
  • Meal Prep
  • Paleo
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

By Course

  • Appetizers
  • Baked Goods
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Lunches
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads
  • Side Dishes
©2023, Feasting not Fasting. About Contact Privacy Policy Back To Top
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Simple healthy recipes straight to your inbox!

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
Save & Accept