Creamed spinach is a tasty low-carb steakhouse restaurant favorite. This easy keto recipe is the best spinach casserole side dish. It is creamy, cheesy, and satisfying. This creamed spinach recipe is comfort food at its best and there is no guilt since it is low-carb, made with real ingredients, and packed with nutrients.
For anyone that likes Boston Market or any other restaurant or steakhouse creamed spinach, this is the perfect recipe for you. I typically prep this casserole, get it in the oven and then grill my steak, chicken, or pork while it bakes. Then everything is ready all at once for an easy, quick, and delicious weeknight meal that is also fancy enough for a stay at home date night also. I also highly recommend this recipe to go along with my Grain-Free Fried Chicken Nuggets.
This recipe is for 8 servings. Each is 249 calories, 20.3g fat, 4.9g carbs, 2g fiber, 13.9g protein for a total of only 2.9g net carbs for this low-carb keto creamed spinach casserole recipe.
Ingredients for Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach
This creamed spinach casserole recipe calls for fresh spinach. You can substitute it with 2 packages of frozen spinach if that is all that you have but I typically try to use fresh when possible. Either way, make sure it is drained, squeezed, and as dry as you can get it. You do not want to water down your cheese sauce. Spinach is a great power food and has so much to offer.
For keto creamed spinach you need to use full-fat ingredients. This is to ensure the casserole is high-fat and low-carb. Please use heavy whipping cream, real butter, full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese, and regular parmesan cheese. Almost all mozzarella cheese is part-skim so it is ok to use what you have for that.
Nutrients in Spinach
One cup of raw spinach contains - 167g potassium, 120% daily VitK, 60% daily VitA, 15% daily VitC, 5% daily Iron, 3% daily Calcium,
For more about the nutrition that spinach offers check out SPINACH NUTRITION.
Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole ingredients
How to Make Easy Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach
Steam the spinach in a pot of boiling water until it is wilted and cooked. I use a steamer insert in my large soup pot. It will be a lot of spinach to start but will cook down a lot. Let cool completely. As you can see this is quite full but just wait.
Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole spinach in the pot to steam
Once the spinach is cooked, let it cool on your counter as you make the creamed cheese sauce on your stovetop. As you can see, the spinach has really shrunk down.
Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole steamed
Make the Creamed Cheese Sauce for the Spinach
Cheese sauce can be bland and just salty in general if you do not add a bit more to it for flavoring in my opinion. This is why I like to add a bit of nutmeg and some red pepper flakes to add some spice and heat. You do not have to add these ingredients but I highly recommend that you do. They add flavor without adding a ton of calories, carbs, or difficulty.
Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole spices
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant but do not let it brown, about 4 minutes. Add the heavy cream, and bring to a simmer. Next, add the mozzarella and stir to melt and combine evenly. Simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. still on low heat. To the cheese sauce add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg.
Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole creamed cheese sauce
Bake the Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole
Using your hands, grab handfuls of the spinach and squeeze to ensure there is no water remaining in the spinach before you add it to the pot. To the cheese sauce, mix in the spinach and stir to combine evenly.
Pour the mixture into a 1 ½- to a 2-quart baking dish that has been sprayed with olive oil. Then sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Bake until bubbling and lightly golden on top, about 20 minutes at 400°.
Let it rest about 10 minutes to cool a bit and to also set. It will be a creamy casserole and you will want a spoon to scoop it out when plating.
This recipe is also wonderful as a leftover side dish or as a keto spinach dip the next day with celery, pork rinds, or low-carb crackers.
This recipe is for 8 servings and you can see the full nutritional information in the recipe card below.
Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole ready
What to Serve with Keto Creamed Spinach
This amazing low-carb creamed spinach casserole goes great with so many entrees. Here is a list of main dishes both keto and regular that pair well with this delicious side dish.
And if you are a spinach lover - try my other recipe for a Simple Spinach Salad. Just omit the croutons for a keto-friendly version. Or a spring fruit favorite, Blueberry Spinach Salad.
Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole PIN
Product Recommendations for this Recipe:
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Low-Carb Keto Creamed Spinach Casserole
Ingredients
- 24 oz fresh baby spinach leaves
- 2 TB salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 C heavy whipping cream
- ½ C mozzarella cheese shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese full-fat, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ C parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°
- Steam the spinach in a pot of boiling water until it is wilted and cooked, about 3 minutes. I use a steamer insert in my large soup pot. It will be a lot of spinach to start but will cook down a lot. Let cool completely.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant but do not let it brown, about 4 minutes. Add the heavy cream, and bring to a simmer. Next, add the mozzarella and stir to melt and combine evenly. Simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. still on low heat. To the cheese sauce add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg.
- Using your hands, grab handfuls of the spinach and squeeze to ensure there is no water remaining in the spinach before you add it to the pot. To the cheese sauce, mix in the spinach and stir to combine evenly.
- Pour the mixture into a 1 ½- to a 2-quart baking dish that has been sprayed with olive oil. Then sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Bake until bubbling and lightly golden on top, about 20 minutes at 400°.
- Let the casserole cool about 5-10 minutes. You will want it to set. This will be a creamy casserole that requires a spoon for serving. Plate and enjoy.
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 8 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 249 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 20.3g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat 12g | 60% |
| Cholesterol 61mg | 20% |
| Sodium 618mg | 27% |
| Total Carbohydrate 4.9g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 7% |
| Total Sugars 0.5g | |
| Protein 13.9g | |
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Heather Jandrue says
This would make a great brunch item. Thanks for sharing.
Angela says
You are welcome.
Carmen Ceremuga says
This looks so yummy! I definitely need to cut the carbs wherever I can to survive the holiday season.
Angela says
Many of us do and we can still eat some amazing and tasty recipes even when cutting the carbs.
Emily says
Looks incredible! I would love to eat this with some crusty toasty bread
Angela says
That does sound good - to stay on my keto and gluten-free diet, I need to try this next time as a spinach dip with the Costco Keto bread I love so much. Thanks.
Ashley Pacheco says
I'm always looking for good and easy keto recipes. This looks yummy!
Angela says
This is a great recipe for you, both keto and yummy.
Lisa S says
This sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing.
Angela says
YOu are welcome.
Alexis Farmer says
This looks like something I’d have to make myself stop eating lol
Angela says
It is super addicting, especially in winter when you want something comforting and delicious.
Elaina Mogren says
So good! We have various diets for Thanksgiving and this I think everyone could eat. Thanks for sharing, can't wait to make it.
Angela says
I am so glad you found this recipe to help everyone have a delicious Thanksgiving meal.
Sandi Barrett says
Not sure I would eat it as a dip - I think I would just want a spoon! So good.
Angela says
It is a great spinach dip too.
Amanda says
This looks great! A wonderful way to eat more spinach. The sauce looks amazing.
Angela says
It is an amazing recipe and I hope you love it too.
Kendra says
Holy cow! This looks incredible! I love spinach...and especially cheesy spinach!
Angela says
Glad you found this cheesy spinach recipe, you will love it.
Dee | Grammy's Grid says
Oh yum, it looks so good. Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 18, open until November 26. Shared.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party! Have a lovely rest of the week.
Miz Helen says
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday, 511. We will be live for our special Thanksgiving Edition on Tuesday this week, be sure and stop by! Hope you have a very special Thanksgiving!
Miz Helen
Kayla Goodwin says
Amazing! This is definitely a keeper ! Thank you for sharing.
Angela says
Thanks so much, Kayla. I am glad you enjoyed the creamed spinach.
JoAnn says
A true WINNER recipe! I made 3 9'x13' trays of this for our 50th Wedding Anniversary family gathering (20 people including 9 adults, 4 teens, 3 "young-uns'", 2 pre-schoolers and 2 toddlers) and EVERYBODY loved it (I'm convinced it was the Nutmeg, lol)! I added 1 lb. of Boneless Chicken Breasts to 1 tray, 1 lb. Boneless Chicken Thighs to the 2nd tray, a mixture of both to the 3rd and 4-6 oz. of canned Mushrooms to each of them. I served refrigerated biscuits along side (for "the thems" who wanted) and a Citrus and Berry Fruit Salad (topped with homemade Whipped Cream for Dessert. A genuinely memorable event that included a genuinely memorable Dinner. Thanks for the share!
Angela says
Happy Anniversary - sounds like a lovely spread and joyous occasion. Thank you for sharing how you enjoyed this recipe on your special day.