This delicious creamy spinach casserole with cheesy panko breadcrumbs is a great side dish to serve on the holidays, bring to a potluck dinner, or just a weeknight dinner.
My daughter always loved Boston Market's creamed spinach, and I have tried to make it, but it's just not the same. Instead, I tried to make my own creamed spinach recipe with a little heavy cream in the spinach and a nice cheesy toasted breadcrumb topping.
Ingredients
- frozen chopped spinach - thawed and drained
- onion
- garlic
- olive oil
- heavy cream
- butter
- Parmesan cheese
- Panko bread crumbs
- salt and black pepper
There's something about spinach and panko bread crumbs that makes them a great match. You could substitute regular breadcrumbs, but I enjoy the lighter, crunchier texture of the panko.
Making a Creamy Spinach Casserole
A spinach casserole with cream, butter, cheese, and breadcrumbs is full of flavor but it is hardly low in calories but it does have good nutritional value.
Most people think of spinach as being high in iron, but it's also a great source of protein, calcium, and several other important vitamins and minerals. For example, a bag of fresh spinach, which basically cooks down to nothing, contains over 8 grams of protein and more vitamin C, A, and potassium than you need for the day, according to this chart on nutritionalvalue.org.
Perhaps that will let you overlook the extra calories.
I know everyone that came to our table liked it and there was only a tiny bit left over which was quickly eaten the next day. You could keep it in an air-tight container for a few days but I would not freeze it. Don't worry it's so good I doubt there will be much left to keep.
More Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
Spinach Casserole with Cheesy Panko Bread Crumbs
Ingredients
- 2 - 1 pound bags frozen spinach chopped - thawed and drained (16 ounces)
- 1 small onion - diced
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup butter melted 1 stick
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Saute onions and garlic in olive oil in a large skillet, on medium heat for a few minutes, making sure the garlic does not burn.
- Add spinach and salt and pepper.
- Stir and continue to saute for about 2-3 minutes.
- Add cream to the spinach mixture and combine well.
- Remove from heat and pour into a baking dish, approx. 9 x 11 inches. (~3 quart casserole dish)
- In a separate bowl combine melted butter, Parmesan and bread crumbs.
- Stir until combined.
- Sprinkle over spinach.
- Bake in a 350 oven for 30 minutes and the top is golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Denise
This looks really good! That panko topping looks so good. I'm going to make this tonight. Do you think I can use half and half? That's all I have on hand.
Patti Estep
Thanks Denise. You can definitely use half-and-half. It may be a little runnier but it will still taste good.
Sandi Haslett
I made this recipe so I could top it with the pork panko crumbs that I bought. However the store did not sell anything labeled "Cream" only "Half and Half" and "Whipping Cream". I wasn't sure which to buy, but ended up buying the whipping cream because I didn't want leftovers and they sold a half pint (8 ounces) container.
Either part of the instructions were wrong, or I didn't drain the spinach enough because the resulting spinach/onion/garlic mix turned out very watery after baking for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. It tasted nice, just a wet creamy mess under the panko and cheese.
What did I do wrong?
Patti Estep
Sandi, I'm sorry your casserole didn't turn out for you. That's very frustrating. I don't think whipping cream would be a problem, however, it's very possible that the spinach needed to be drained more. I usually press as much water out of the thawed spinach as possible. Maybe I should edit the post to reflect that process. I hope you get a chance to try it again and thanks for letting me know.
LijaW
Yeah, it is so hard to get all the moisture out of that frozen spinach! I've even started 24 hours in advance to let it dry out in the fridge in a colander.
Patti Estep
So true Lija. Some people ask if they can use fresh spinach and you can but you need to buy so much more of the fresh as it shrinks down to nothing when it's cooked.
Miz Helen
Your recipe has been pinned to our Full Plate Thursday Featured Board and is featured on Full Plate Thursday! Thanks so much for sharing with us! Hope you have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Hil
Yummy! and vegetarian, perfect for my family!
Thanks for sharing at Bloggers Spotlight!
Debra Needles
Mmmm...I love spinach 🙂 Looks so yummy. Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday Blog Hop!
Theresa @DearCreatives
I need to try making more casseroles. Yum! Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Shared. Happy Holidays!
Miz Helen
Hi Patti,
We will love your Spinach Casserole it looks delicious with the Panko and Cheese. Hope you have a fantastic weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Caroline
I like the idea of the crispy topping over the spinach, and cheese is always good! Thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday.
Monika Dabrowski
This sounds delicious and I love that the spinach is still quite green, not overcooked! Great pics:)
Sandra L.
I love Creamed Spinach and this looks delicious. Funny my daughter and I were talking about what sides to have for Christmas Day Dinner and we both what about Creamed Spinach. She loved the idea but we both agreed it gets cold so quickly. I think your recipe and trick to keeping it warm are perfect and I printed out the recipe.
Beverly
I haven't had Boston market's cream spinach in a long time. This sounds great.
Thanks for sharing at Over The Moon Party,
Bev
Lori
This sounds so interesting. Spinach is so good for you! Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
what a great way to serve spinach! Thanks for sharing on the What's for Dinner link up - Would love to have you give us a comment at the party!
Julie
I used to love the spinach at Boston Market. I had forgotten all about it. I love the idea of using pandora and can't wait to try it!
Patti Estep
Hi Julie,
It's not as creamy as Boston Market but my daughter really liked it. I hope you do too.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Carole @ Garden Up Green
These looks tasty and easy, can't go wrong. I love spinach so I will definitely be giving this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!
Donna Harvey
Hi Patti, I am always looking for something new to make for Holiday Meals. I'm definitely going to try this one. We love Spinach, garlic and Anything with CHEESE. I think this one will be a favorite year round. Thanks
Patti Estep
Hi Donna,
It turned out pretty good and one thing I didn't write was that I made it a few hours ahead and kept it warm in the oven and it was not dry at all. I thought about putting a little cheese in with the cream too. Maybe next time. I hope you love it and thanks for stopping by,
Patti