Holiday season is among us! Add this Vegan Creamed Spinach recipe to your table this year. It’s made with dairy-free butter, fresh spinach, garlic, and onion for that rich, cozy flavor everyone loves. Completely dairy-free and gluten-free, this easy side dish is creamy, comforting, and sure to become a new holiday staple at your dinner table!
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Learning how to make creamed spinach has never been easier! Savory, warm, fragrant, and healthy, this easy creamed spinach recipe is a delicious side dish to serve alongside your favorite vegan main courses such as pasta, casseroles, and veggies or as a side to your holiday meals.
Best of all? This recipe is easy, quick, and ready in under 10 minutes!
This recipe for creamed spinach is a great option for those who are wanting to eat their leafy greens. Flavors of nutmeg, cream, and garlic are mixed and simmered with the rich flavors of spinach. So tasty!
Recommended Ingredients & Equpiment
This recipe is made with just a handful of simple ingredients that are easy to find in most well-stocked grocery stores. You will love how quickly this recipe is prepared!
Here is everything you need.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: Use a high-quality vegan butter. My favorite brands of vegan butters are Miyokos and Earth Balance.
- Onion: One white onion is used for sautéeing in this recipe. Feel free to get creative and use different types of onions for different flavors.
- Cream: Any kind of dairy-free cream will be great for this recipe as long as it is unsweetened and unflavored. Alternatively, you can use cashew cream.
- Nutritional Yeast: Flaky nutritional yeast is a great way to add extra flavor to any savory vegan recipe. Similar to parmesan, nutrititional yeast adds depth and extra nutrients.
- Spinach: Fresh spinach is best for this recipe.
Recommended Equiment
You will need a large skillet, kitchen utensils with measuring cups and spoons, a wooden cutting board, and a kitchen knife.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One – Sauté the Onions
First, in a large nonstick skillet, melt the vegan butter over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until fragrant, soft, and translucent, about three minutes.
Add the freshly minced garlic and cook for another minute until the garlic is fragrant.
Pro Tip: Be careful not to burn the garlic. This is very easy to do if the heat is up too high!
Step Two – Add the Cream and Spinach
Next, add the vegan cream, milk, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to the skillet. Stir until the ingredients are well combined. Bring the mixture to a low simmer and allow it to cook for a few minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
Once the cream is slightly thickened, add the spinach into the cream sauce and mix until combined. Cook the spinach for an additional minute until soft and wilted.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Serving and Storing
Serving – Serve this vegan creamed spinach recipe during the holidays and alongside many other side dishes and main course meals.
Storing – Store the leftover spinach in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three days. Reheat the spinach in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave or warm in a skillet on the stovetop.
Tips & Tricks
- If the spinach is too watery, cook it over medium-low heat for a few extra minutes until the excess liquid evaporates.
- Add chopped fresh or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.
- For protein or extra flavor, add some crispy homemade tempeh bacon.
- Make this recipe ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frozen spinach for vegan creamed spinach is definitely doable. It will recreate the dish wonderfully; however fresh spinach adds a lot of texture and flavor that the frozen stuff just doesn’t. If you do decide to use frozen spinach, be sure to thaw fully and drain any excess water to preserve the flavor and integrity of this holiday side dish. You may also need to increase your cooking time to help evaporate any extra moisture from the freezer.
Your vegan creamed spinach sauce should be plenty thick. And if you do end up with a sauce that’s just a little too watery, we have a couple quick and easy fixes for you.
1. You can try lowering the heat on the pan to reduce the sauce and evaporate any excess liquid. Just 3-5 minutes on medium-low should do the trick. Also keep in mind it will reduce a little more once cooled.
2. If that doesn’t work or you don’t have time for that one, mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoon of your dairy free milk, then add it to your sauce. This will thicken the vegan creamed spinach almost as soon as it’s added.
Whichever thickening tip you try, let us know down in the comments how it turned out. We love honest feedback at mydarlingvegan.com.✌️
This one is an absolute yes. I make it for almost every holiday and large gatherings as a side dish. The richness and creamy texture offer a wonderful bite when paired with a vegan roast or any other festive main entree.
With the holidays upon us, nobody wants to be stuck on survival mode in the kitchen. Make ahead some holiday sides so the days we get to see family and friends are easier and just more fun. Prepare your vegan creamed spinach the night before by making the sauce and refrigerating it. Reheat on the big day with a splash of dairy-free milk then add your fresh cooked spinach just before serving.
More Vegan Side Dishes
- Classic Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
- Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Sauce
- Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
- Cheesy Vegan Mashed Potatoes
- Root vegetable gratin
Make sure to check out all my vegan side dishes for more inspiration.
Vegan Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
- 28 ounces spinach fresh
- 1 White onion diced
- 4 Garlic cloves minced
- 2 Tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 ½ Cup Vegan cream
- ½ Cup unsweetened plant based milk
- 2-3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- Pinch of pepper and nutmeg
Instructions
- In a nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat and add the onion. Sauté until softened and translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Then add garlic and cook for a few seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly.
- Add the vegan cream, milk, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir until well combined. Bring to a low simmer and cook for a few minutes. The sauce should thicken slightly as it cooks.
- Add the spinach into cream sauce until evenly combined, cooking for an additional minute or so until the spinach is wilted all the way through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. (If the spinach seems a little watery, cook over medium-low heat for a few minutes until any excess liquid evaporates.)
Hi, we’re Shayne and Kristina! I’m the chef and editor here at My Darling Vegan, and Kristina is the photographer and writer. Together we’re carrying on this space with the same focus on easy, flavorful vegan recipes that anyone can enjoy at home. Check out our
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