Garlic Sauteed Spinach

Name: Garlic Sautéed Spinach
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 pound baby spinach; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 garlic cloves (minced); kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

by Lisa Bryan

56 Comments

Updated May 23, 2024

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The best sautéed spinach! In less than 10 minutes you can transform a large bundle of spinach into wilted, garlicky, flavorful leaves. It makes for the perfect side dish and it’s welcomed as a “super greens” addition to a variety of meals and recipes.

A white bowl with garlic sauteed spinach with a spoon.

Sautéed spinach is hands down one of my favorite side dishes. It’s incredibly easy to make, and nutrient-packed. Plus, when you add minced garlic, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt it becomes this delicate, savory side dish that’s also extremely versatile.

If you’re a spinach lover like me, you’re likely a pro at adding it to recipes. You can sneak it into a green smoothie, bake it into a spinach artichoke dip, use it as a base for a spinach berry salad, or fold it into egg muffins. But don’t forget to enjoy it on it’s own, by quickly sautéing it in a pan. It’s the perfect side dish that’ll spruce up your favorite weeknight dinner recipes.

Sautéed Spinach Ingredients

For this recipe, we’re creating a garlic-infused oil to coat the spinach, which also helps it wilt down.

Baby Spinach: You can use bundles of fresh spinach or pre-washed packages of baby spinach.
Olive Oil: A drizzle of olive oil is my go-to, but you can also swap one tablespoon of oil for butter or ghee for a more buttery flavor.
Garlic: I’m using 3 garlic cloves for just the right amount of garlicky goodness. But feel free to use more or less!
Salt and Pepper: A sprinkle of seasoning ties all the flavors together.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Sauté Spinach

Make sure to give your leaves a good wash if you’re using a fresh bundle. But if you’re using it straight out of the box, there’s no need to re-wash.

Sauté the garlic. Drizzle oil in a pan and sauté the garlic for about 30 seconds. Just make sure to not overcook the garlic.

Sauté the spinach. Use tongs to flip the spinach so all sides are coated in oil and garlic.

Steam. Then cover the pan, let it steam for a minute or so, then stir again. After a few minutes it should be completely wilted.

Season and serve. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then serve it up with a few tasty options listed below!

Common Questions

Why does spinach shrink so much?

Spinach contains about 90% water, causing it to wilt down as it cooks. So when you think you’re cooking up a large batch, just remember that it will reduce drastically in size!

Is boxed baby spinach or fresh bundles better?

Both are great for sautéing. But if you want bigger leaves for a side dish, fresh bundles are a better choice. Just make sure to trim the stems before cooking.

Can you use frozen spinach?

While I personally prefer fresh spinach, you can certainly use frozen spinach in a pinch. Just make sure to defrost and thoroughly drain it before sautéing.

How To Serve Or Use Sautéed Spinach

Serve it as an easy side. It tastes great alongside baked chicken breasts, crispy chicken thighs, prime rib, beef brisket, or seafood such garlic butter shrimp, baked cod, or oven baked salmon.
Top it on a warm base. This makes for an easy, savory topping on a bowl of oatmeal with a hard boiled egg. You could also make a macro bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, roasted broccoli, and a poached egg.
Sneak it into recipes. With how small it becomes when cooked, it’s great for sneaking into recipes such my green shakshuka, one-pan chicken and rice, zucchini noodles with chicken and parmesan, and tons more!

A pan with garlic sauteed spinach on a table.

Storing And Reheating

While this is best served fresh, you can also store and reheat leftovers.

How to store leftovers. Keep them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
How to reheat sautéed spinach. Simply microwave it for 30 seconds, or until it’s warmed through.

More Sautéed Recipes

Quick and easy weeknight dinners rely on sautéed veggies. It’s such a quick-cooking method!

Sauteed Cabbage
Garlic Sauteed Swiss Chard
Parmesan Truffle Sauteed Zucchini
Sauteed Carrots (with bacon Dijon dressing!)
Sauteed Garlic Ginger Bok Choy

I hope you enjoy this garlic sauteed spinach. If you make this recipe, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Garlic Sautéed Spinach

5 from 23 votes

Prep: 5

Cook: 5

Total: 10

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Lisa Bryan

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Description

Garlic sautéed spinach transforms bundles of baby spinach into an easy, healthy and flavorful side dish that's made in just 10 minutes! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!

Video

Ingredients

▢ 1 pound baby spinach
▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
▢ 3 garlic cloves, minced
▢ kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for 30 seconds. You don't want the garlic browning too much.
Add the baby spinach to the pan. It will be a big mound, and you can use your hands to pack it in. Use tongs or a spatula to carefully flip the spinach over, so that all of the pieces get covered in oil and garlic.
Cover the pan for a minute to let it steam, then stir again. Repeat this process until the spinach is wilted down, about 5 minutes later.
Season with salt and pepper, then serve.

Nutrition

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: garlic sauteed spinach, sauteed spinach, spinach recipe

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Recipe originally published January 2021, but updated to include new information for your benefit!