The BEST Creamed Spinach recipe baked under a blanket of cheese. Easy, extra cheesy Spinach Gratin is the ultimate side dish that takes no time at all to make. Creamy spinach casserole blended with two types of cheese is sure to be a hit at any gathering.

overhead shot of creamed spinach gratin in a blue and white baking dish.


Creamed Spinach Gratin

I don’t know about you but my favorite part about Thanksgiving dinner is the sides. Growing up, my family Thanksgiving gatherings were more of a potluck because there were so many of us. This meant there was always a ridiculous buffet of anything and everything. 

I DO love a great pumpkin pie but I always gorge myself on so many sides that I never have room left to try any of the desserts. And believe me…that table was overflowing with goodness as well. But once you unbutton your pants….it’s time to pull back a bit and put the fork down. Except when it comes to homemade Creamed Spinach.

Now that it’s just a small part of my family that gets together (because, frankly, the family just got toooo big I think.) I make my favorites. And I’ve tweaked them just enough over the years that they are now perfect (to me anyway)….and a tradition. 

It makes hosting the holiday easier if you have some go-to dishes that you know will turn out amazing even if the turkey has a mind of it’s own that day. Honestly, I don’t know anyone that says the turkey is their favorite part of the dinner anyway. So don’t sweat it!

Spoonful of creamed spinach being scooped out of a baking dish.

What is Creamed Spinach?

Creamed Spinach is just that….cooked spinach blended in a creamy sauce that takes minutes to whip up. My first taste of it was at Boston Market and I just couldn’t get enough of it. This recipe is almost the same as the Boston Market version but I blended in cheese.

I, now, love it so much but rarely make it at home which is weird because it’s really super simple to make from scratch. And this easy Spinach Gratin is just creamed spinach with cheese in it….and on it. Then baked into a golden, bubbly cheesy masterpiece that goes so well with any dinner, in my opinion.

This easy Creamed Spinach recipe is so simple and quick to pull together….just make sure that your spinach is thawed before you start. (I learned the hard way years ago.) And you can assemble the dish with the cheese topping up to two days in advance and then bake it while the turkey is resting.

Cheese being poured into a skillet with creamed spinach.

How To Make It

This recipe is so easy to pull together you can have it on the table in no time flat!

Heat the butter in a large skillet.

Add the onions and cook until translucent.

Stir in the flour and nutmeg. Cook for 2 minutes.

Add the cream and milk. Stir until thickened.

Add the spinach to the cream sauce. (If you want to skip the cheese, you can at this point and you’ll have basic creamed spinach.)

Stir in the 1/2 the parmesan and 1/2 the gruyere.

Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.

Transfer the creamed spinach to a baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees.

Serve immediately.

It’s amazing on a “day after Thanksgiving” turkey/grilled cheese sandwich. I’ll share that one later. 🙂

Cheese being sprinkled over creamed spinach in a baking dish.

What To Serve With It

Just about anything goes well with creamed spinach with cheese….our favorites are not limited to holidays or steakhouse classics. We love to serve it alongside a Sunday roast chicken or our favorite weeknight dinner…Baked Chicken Breast.

But it’s fantastic with my Citrus Butter Roast Turkey and with a classic Filet Mignon for a cozy dinner for two (or four if you’re kids are always around, like mine.)

If you want to see what else we’re whipping up in our kitchen….follow us over on Instagram!

Overhead shot of creamed spinach in a baking dish with melted cheese on top.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes

Super quick and easy, the Best Sweet Potato Casserole with Cornflake Pecan Crust is a Thanksgiving must have. A great make ahead side dish for every holiday and occasion. | TheSuburbanSoapbox.com
overhead shot of creamed spinach gratin in a blue and white baking dish.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Creamed Spinach Gratin Recipe

A steakhouse classic, this easy Creamed Spinach is baked with a blanket of cheese.
No ratings yet

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 large Vidalia onions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 5 10- ounce packages chopped frozen spinach, thawed
  • 2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese

Equipment

  • baking dish

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  • In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and saute until translucent, about 15 minutes.
  • Stir in the flour and nutmeg and cook for about 2 minutes stirring constantly so the flour does not burn.
  • Pour in the cream and milk and cook until thickened.
  • Squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the spinach and add to the cream sauce.
  • Add 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of Gruyere and stir thoroughly.
  • Stir in the salt and pepper and remove from the heat.
  • Transfer the spinach mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese over top evenly.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbling.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Creamed Spinach Gratin can be assembled up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator tightly wrapped with plastic wrap.
Uncover and bake as directed right before serving.
Calories: 330.86kcal, Carbohydrates: 13.05g, Protein: 15.58g, Fat: 24.74g, Saturated Fat: 15.1g, Cholesterol: 77.65mg, Sodium: 1129.92mg, Potassium: 337.27mg, Fiber: 1.96g, Sugar: 6.34g, Vitamin A: 5836.59IU, Vitamin C: 5.66mg, Calcium: 510.31mg, Iron: 1.33mg

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa Parties