Sautéed Spinach

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5 from 14 votes
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Spruce up your greens with my easy sautéed spinach recipe! With 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, you can have the perfect healthy side or add some color to your favorite dishes!

Craving more sauteed recipes? You’ve got to try my sautéed broccolini, sautéed arugula, and sautéed asparagus.

sauteed spinach.

I’m convinced anyone can learn to love spinach–even if your name isn’t Popeye. 

When lightly sautéed for a few minutes at high heat, you get tender, wilted spinach that retains its leafy texture. Plus, a little butter never hurt anyone!

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to sauté spinach
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More healthy side dishes to try
  8. Sautéed Spinach (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • So darn fast. From prep to plate, it’s done in about 5 minutes. 
  • Healthy. Spinach is so good for you because it’s low in calories but high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. 
  • An easy way to sneak in more greens. I love a spinach salad as much as anyone, but you can get triple the amount of spinach in the same volume if you sauté it!
  • Versatile. Serve this as a side or add it to other dishes for a health boost. 
  • No limp, mushy spinach! If you grew up with liquidy, mushy spinach and thought that’s what it’s supposed to taste like, I will convince you otherwise.

Ingredients needed

  • Fresh spinach. The star ingredient. I used baby spinach leaves, which are usually pre-washed. If you use mature spinach, you’ll want to wash, dry, and de-stem it, as there tends to be dirt in the stems. 
  • Butter. Just a dash helps add tons of flavor. 
  • Olive oil. To keep the spinach and garlic from sticking to the pan.
  • Garlic. Spinach and garlic are a dream team. Definitely use fresh garlic for this recipe!
  • Kosher salt and black pepper. For flavor.
  • Lemon slices. Optional, for garnish. 

How to sauté spinach

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

raw spinach in a skillet.

Step 1- Melt butter. Add butter and oil to a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach.

sauteing spinach in a skillet.

Step 2- Sauté. Once hot, add garlic, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until wilted. 

Step 3- Garnish. Remove the spinach from the pan and serve with lemon slices.

sauteed spinach with fresh lemon.

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Extra aromatics. Sauté shallots, onion, ginger, or scallions with the garlic. 
  • Bacon. Spinach and bacon go hand in hand, so cook bacon in the skillet, then use the bacon fat in place of oil to wilt the spinach. 
  • Cheese. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the spinach, or for a vegan option, use nutritional yeast.  
  • Garnish with a squeeze of lemon juice. 

Ways to serve sautéed spinach

The beauty of this spinach recipe is that it makes a great side or addition to all sorts of dishes. Here are some ideas:

Storage instructions

To store: Store leftover spinach in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. 

To freeze: Transfer leftovers to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. 

Reheating: Reheat in a large skillet or microwave in 20-second intervals until warm. 

homemade sauteed spinach.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make this recipe with frozen spinach?

Yes, you can use frozen spinach if that’s all you have at home. Add it to the pan with the garlic and cook until it’s thawed, wilted, and warmed through.

Is sauteed spinach healthy?

Yes! Your body better absorbs the nutrients from spinach when it’s cooked compared to when it’s fresh (source). Despite the dash of butter and oil, this is still a very healthy side dish. 

How do you saute spinach so it’s not bitter?

The best way to reduce bitterness is to cook it at a high temperature with other ingredients to balance the bitter flavor, like oil, butter, and an acid, like fresh lemon juice. 

More healthy side dishes to try

sauteed spinach recipe.

Sautéed Spinach

5 from 14 votes
Spruce up your greens with my easy sautéed spinach recipe! With 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, you can have the perfect healthy side or add some color to your favorite dishes! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!
Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 3 minutes
Total: 4 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

  • 2 bunches spinach washed and trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions 

  • Add the butter and olive oil to a large non-stick skillet or pan. 
  • Once hot, add the garlic, then the spinach, salt, and pepper, and saute for 2-3 minutes, or until wilted. 
  • Remove the spinach from the pan and serve with lemon slices.

Notes

TO STORE: Store leftover spinach in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. 
TO FREEZE: Transfer leftovers to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. 
REHEATING: Reheat in a large skillet or microwave in 20-second intervals until warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSodium: 448mgPotassium: 954mgFiber: 4gVitamin A: 16029IUVitamin C: 48mgCalcium: 171mgIron: 5mgNET CARBS: 3g
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Originally published March 2023, updated and republished September 2024

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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5 from 14 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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  1. 5 stars
    This could be so change for me! In my country spinach is eaten only mixed with cream/heavy cream. This sounds much healthier.