Velvet Spinach & Mushroom Delight

Welcome to your new favorite side dish: Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms! This classic recipe takes a beloved steakhouse staple and brings it right into your home kitchen, making it incredibly accessible for weeknight dinners or grand holiday feasts. Creamy, cheesy, and utterly delicious, it’s a versatile dish that also happens to be a perfect vegetarian accompaniment for your holiday table. What’s more, it can be prepared a day in advance, saving you precious time when hosting. Get ready to elevate your meal experience with this comforting and flavorful side.

Originally shared in March 2018, this recipe has been a timeless favorite, especially as the holiday season approaches. We’ve revisited and refreshed the content, adding extra insights and notes to ensure it remains a go-to for many years to come. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many of us are deep in planning mode, mapping out menus and perfecting recipes. If you’re searching for a proven, delicious side to complement your holiday turkey, roast chicken, or a magnificent prime rib, look no further. Our Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms recipe is precisely what you need.

I have always been a tremendous fan of spinach in all its forms—creamed spinach, spinach soufflé, fresh spinach salads—you name it! This particular creamed spinach recipe has been a staple in my kitchen for years. Its rich, savory profile makes it an ideal companion for any special occasion meal, seamlessly pairing with everything from a succulent holiday roast to a perfectly cooked, juicy steak. The addition of earthy mushrooms takes it to another level, adding depth and a delightful textural contrast that truly sets it apart.

Contents

Why You’ll Love This Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms Recipe

Steakhouse Quality at Home: Recreate that luxurious dining experience without leaving your house.
Perfect Holiday Side: It’s elegant enough for special occasions but easy enough for any gathering.
Vegetarian Friendly: A fantastic option for guests who prefer a meat-free dish.
Make-Ahead Marvel: Prepare it up to a day in advance, reducing stress on the day of your event.
Simple & Quick: Despite its gourmet appeal, it comes together in just about 20 minutes of active cooking time.

Essential Ingredients for Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms

Creating this delectable side dish requires a thoughtful selection of fresh, quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the dish’s signature creamy texture and rich, savory flavor profile.

Baby Spinach Leaves: We use four 6-oz bags, with stems removed. Baby spinach is tender and wilts down beautifully, providing that essential green base.
Butter: Divided for cooking the mushrooms and creating the roux. Butter provides a rich, foundational flavor.
Baby Bella Mushrooms: 8 oz, chopped. These mushrooms add an earthy, umami depth that complements the spinach perfectly. Their firm texture holds up well in the creamy sauce.
Yellow Onion: 1/4 cup, finely chopped. Aromatic onions sautéed to tenderness provide a sweet counterpoint to the savory elements.
Garlic Cloves: 2 cloves, minced. The quintessential flavor enhancer, garlic adds a pungent, aromatic kick.
All-Purpose Flour: 3 Tbsp. This is crucial for creating a roux, which thickens our creamy sauce to the perfect consistency.
Milk: 2 cups. The base of our creamy sauce, milk provides richness and helps carry the flavors. Whole milk is recommended for the best texture.
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: To taste. Essential seasonings that balance and enhance all the other flavors.
Nutmeg: 1/8 tsp. A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg is a classic addition to creamed spinach, offering a subtle warmth and sophistication that truly elevates the dish.
Gruyère Cheese: 1 cup, grated. This semi-hard Swiss cheese melts beautifully, lending a nutty, slightly sweet, and complex flavor that makes the sauce irresistibly cheesy.
Panko Bread Crumbs: 1/2 cup. For that perfect golden, crispy topping that adds a delightful textural contrast to the creamy interior.

This dish is remarkably easy to prepare. It takes approximately 20 minutes of active cooking time to whip up this flavorful side. One of its greatest advantages, especially during busy holiday preparations, is that you can make it almost entirely a day in advance. Simply prepare the mixture, spoon it into your baking dish, and hold off on the panko crumbs. The day you plan to serve it, just sprinkle the panko bread crumbs over the top and bake until heated through and golden brown. Dishes like this, which significantly reduce last-minute kitchen chaos, are truly a lifesaver when entertaining. Enjoy the simplicity and deliciousness!

As we approach the holiday season, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and yours. I am incredibly thankful for each and every one of you and for your continued support over the years. May your holiday season be filled with joy, delicious food, and cherished moments. Happy Holidays! XO MaryAnn

Expert Tips for Perfect Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms

Achieving restaurant-quality creamed spinach and mushrooms at home is easy with a few key techniques and considerations:

Thoroughly Drain the Spinach: This is arguably the most crucial step. Excess water from the spinach will dilute your creamy sauce. After wilting, press as much liquid as possible out of the spinach using a colander and the back of a spoon, or even your hands. The drier the spinach, the richer and more concentrated your creamed dish will be.
Building the Roux: A properly cooked roux (butter and flour mixture) is essential for a smooth, lump-free sauce. Cook the flour and butter for at least a minute after combining to cook out the raw flour taste. Whisk constantly as you slowly add the milk to ensure a silky texture.
Mushroom Prep: Don’t overcrowd the pan when sautéing mushrooms; this ensures they brown nicely instead of steaming. Cook them until their liquid has evaporated and they start to caramelize slightly for maximum flavor.
Nutmeg is Key: While it might seem like a small detail, a tiny pinch of freshly grated nutmeg truly enhances the overall flavor profile of creamed spinach, adding a subtle warmth and complexity. Don’t skip it!
Cheese Choice Matters: Gruyère is fantastic for its melting properties and nutty flavor, but other good melting cheeses like Parmesan, white cheddar, or a blend of Italian cheeses can also work. For an extra rich flavor, consider a touch of cream cheese or mascarpone.

Make-Ahead Instructions and Storage

This dish is an ideal make-ahead option, perfect for holiday entertaining or busy weeknights:

Prepare Ahead: You can prepare the entire spinach and mushroom mixture (without the panko topping) up to one day in advance. Spoon it into your baking dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
Baking Day: On the day of serving, remove the dish from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking to allow it to come closer to room temperature. Sprinkle with panko bread crumbs and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time if needed to ensure it’s thoroughly heated through and bubbling.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently in the microwave or oven until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of milk to restore creaminess if it has thickened too much in the refrigerator.

Delicious Variations to Try

While this recipe is fantastic as is, feel free to customize it to your liking:

Add a Savory Crunch: For meat-lovers, consider adding some crumbled crispy bacon or prosciutto to the mixture. If you’re looking for a super easy option, pre-cooked crumbled bacon from the salad dressing aisle works wonderfully (I’ve been known to do this when feeling lazy!).
Different Mushrooms: Experiment with different types of mushrooms like cremini, shiitake, or even wild mushrooms for varied flavor profiles.
Spice It Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a subtle kick if you enjoy a bit of heat.
Herbaceous Twist: Fresh thyme or a touch of rosemary can also be incorporated for an extra layer of aromatic flavor.

More Delicious Side Dish Recipes to Enjoy

Planning a feast? Here are a few other fantastic side dish recipes that pair beautifully with any main course:

Green Beans with Mushrooms, Onions, and Mornay Sauce

Quick Easy Potatoes Romanoff

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Crispy Prosciutto

Easy Holiday Broccoli Casserole

Overhead photo of Creamed Spinach in white oval dish on a blue background.

Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Servings: 6 servings

This Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms is a steakhouse favorite made at home! It’s the perfect side for your holiday table.

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Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

4 6-oz. bags baby spinach leaves, stems removed
2 Tbsp. butter, divided
8 oz. Baby Bella mushrooms, chopped
1/4 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
In a large saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the spinach, a handful at a time, waiting for it to wilt before adding more. When all the spinach is wilted, drain thoroughly in a colander. Using a large spoon or your hands, press out as much water as possible from the spinach. This step is crucial for a rich, undiluted sauce.
In the same saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chopped mushrooms, finely chopped onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the vegetables are softened and some of the mushroom liquid has cooked away, stirring often.
Reduce the temperature to medium-low and stir in the all-purpose flour. Cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly to create a roux and cook out the raw flour taste.
Slowly whisk in the milk, a little at a time, to prevent lumps. Continue to whisk often as the mixture simmers until it thickens to a creamy consistency.
Stir in the kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, nutmeg, grated Gruyère cheese, and the drained spinach. Mix until well combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce.
Spoon the mixture into your chosen baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the top with panko bread crumbs.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the creamed spinach is bubbling around the edges. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

As mentioned above, this dish is fantastic for making ahead. Prepare the mixture the night before, spoon it into your baking dish, cover, and refrigerate. The day of serving, simply sprinkle with panko crumbs and bake until heated through and golden.

This side dish is vegetarian-friendly, but for a heartier option, I’ve sometimes added crumbled, cooked bacon. It’s a favorite for some! You can even use pre-packaged crumbled bacon for ultimate convenience when you’re short on time.

Nutrition

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish

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