55 Easy Spinach Recipes That Go Way Beyond Salad

updated Jul 27, 2020

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Credit: Olive & Mango
Tuscan Tortellini Salad

While there are so many leafy greens to choose from at both the farmers market and the grocery store, we reach for spinach the most. Not only does it come in so many accessible, easy-to-cook-with forms (looking at you, baby spinach clamshells and frozen spinach bags), but it also holds near endless potential. Spinach salads and quick weeknight sides are a given, but that’s just the beginning for spinach. Since it wilts so well, it can be tucked into practically everything, be it pastas, egg bakes, sandwiches, and more. Here are over 55 of our best recipes to help bring more spinach to the table.

Spinach Salads & Sides

Simple salads and side dishes are the most popular place to feature spinach — and for good reason. The green is so versatile that there are countless ways to serve it.

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Quick Stovetop Spinach

All you need is spinach, a pan, and a pair of tongs for the fastest way to cook spinach.

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Spinach Salad with Warm Brown Butter Dressing

The warm dressing here results in a salad that's perfectly wilted.

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Easy Lemon-Ginger Spinach

Not only is this easy weeknight side packed with light, refreshing flavors from lemon and ginger, but it also goes with everything.

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Classic Creamed Spinach

Tender spinach cooked in a gentle, creamy sauce of aromatics and fresh spices is always a favorite.

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Stir-Fried Spinach with Garlic

Feel free to toss shrimp or chunks of chicken into the pan to make your stir-fry a complete meal.

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Creamy Spinach with Dill

Less creamy than creamed spinach but just as luxurious, this is the simple side that brightens up any meal.

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Braised Coconut Spinach & Chickpeas with Lemon

This braise is lovely as a side with hearty meats but it's also perfect as the main over rice or another cooked grain.

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Creamless Creamed Spinach

Yes, it's possible to have creamed spinach without cream! We'll show you how.

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Easy Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Feta

A simple baby spinach salad filled with fruit, nuts, and cheese that's perfect as a quick side dish any day of the week.

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Creamy Spinach Bake

The crispy breadcrumb topping is what makes this bake extra special.

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Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

The combination of spinach, strawberries, almonds, and goat cheese is a classic for a reason. Don't forget the poppyseed dressing!

Spinach & Pasta Recipes

There are so many good opportunities to tuck spinach into your pasta dinner — be it a creamy spaghetti, cheesy lasagna, or one-pot situation.

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Spinach-Artichoke Cheesy Tortellini

This cozy one-pot tortellini comes together in minutes, thanks to Trader Joe’s artichoke antipasto and quick-wilting baby spinach.

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Creamy Spinach Parmesan Orzo

This quick and easy creamy orzo pasta made with spinach and Parmesan cheese is the perfect meatless dinner.

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Orzo Salad with Spinach Pesto, Olives & Feta

Make a double batch of the spinach pesto to use as a sandwich spread for lunch.

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Pesto Pasta with Lemon, Spinach, Edamame & Toasted Almonds

Edamame and almonds lend protein to this pasta and give it staying power.

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Orzo with Butternut Squash, Spinach & Blue Cheese

If you don't like blue cheese, feta or goat cheese are great substitutes.

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Slow-Cooker Sausage and Spinach Lasagna

This hands-off approach to lasagna is just as gooey and comforting as the oven-baked version.

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One-Pot Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo

This one-pot creamy orzo pasta is loaded with mushrooms, spinach, and plenty of Parmesan cheese.

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Double Spinach Pasta Casserole with Pesto & Asiago Cheese

An easy, freezer-friendly pasta bake that's filled with pesto, Asiago cheese, and baby spinach.

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Creamy Tortellini with Sweet Potato and Spinach

The combination of sweet potatoes and spinach make for an especially colorful skillet.

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Bacon & Spinach Orzo Salad

You'll toss the spinach with just-cooked orzo and a warm bacon vinaigrette, which is just hot enough to soften the greens.

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Spaghetti with Mascarpone, Meyer Lemon, Spinach, and Hazelnuts

This creamy mascarpone-dressed spaghetti is flavored with Meyer lemon zest and juice and enhanced with wilted spinach and toasted hazelnuts.

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Gnocchi with Spinach, Bacon, and Blue Cheese

With a package of gnocchi, some bacon, blue cheese, and a handful of spinach, this fast and fancy pasta dinner hits the table in less than 30 minutes.

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Fast and Fancy Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese

Everything you love about spinach-artichoke dip and comforting mac and cheese, in an ultra-luxe (and surprisingly simple) weeknight dinner.

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Bundt Spinach-Spaghetti Pie

Why twirl your spaghetti when you can slice it?

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Chicken Pasta Bake with Spinach & Parmesan

A big box of fresh baby spinach keeps this creamy, family-friendly pasta bake from feeling too rich.

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Tuscan Tortellini Salad with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Toss sweet and chewy sun-dried tomatoes, fresh baby spinach, and a whole lot of shaved Parmesan into the mix, and this pasta salad is sure to become a new family favorite.

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Cheesy Spinach Slow Cooker Tortellini

With just five minutes of prep, this cheesy slow cooker tortellini delivers a satisfying dinner with a dose of veggies in one hour.

Kid-Friendly Recipes with Spinach

Spinach has a reputation for not being kid-friendly, but we think if you incorporate it into some of the dishes your kids love, it can be a winner.

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Spinach and Refried Bean Quesadillas

It's hard to beat quesadillas for dinner. These ones are stuffed with cheese, spinach, and beans.

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Muffin-Pan Spinach Lasagna

These individual lasagnas are perfect for kids and adults, alike.

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White Pizza with Avocado, Spinach & Mozzarella

If you don't have a grill you can also make this pizza in the oven.

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Potato Nachos with Pinto Beans and Spinach

Here's an easy, veggie-driven way to get dinner on the table when you've got a toddler or young kid to feed.

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Gnocchi Lasagna with Spinach, White Beans, and Sausage

This family-friendly casserole is surprisingly light and fresh, thanks to the addition of spinach and white beans.

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The Best Spinach-Artichoke Dip

When served with veggie sticks and whole-grain crackers, spinach-artichoke dip makes a perfectly acceptable dinner.

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Spinach, White Bean, and Taleggio Pizza

You can skip the white beans, if your kids don't like them, but definitely don't skip the melty cheese.

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Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Spinach & Red Peppers

Tucking veggies into mac and cheese is always a smart way to get more of the good stuff on their plate.

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Spinach and Feta Hand Pies

Make a double batch of these hand pies and freeze some: They're a perfect choice for a quick meal when you need it.

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Tomato Soup with Gnocchi and Spinach

A bag of frozen filled gnocchi and fresh baby spinach from Trader Joe's is all you need to turn a box of creamy tomato soup into classy comfort food.

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This lighter take on spinach-artichoke dip is just as easy to wipe clean.

Spinach Smoothies

Get a dose of veggies before you’ve even finished your morning cup of coffee by blending a few handfuls of spinach into your smoothies.

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Easy Banana Kiwi Smoothie

This kid-friendly smoothie balances the spinach with bananas, avocado, and kiwi for a sweet, creamy flavor.

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Raspberry Ginger Power Smoothies

Pungent ginger and a squeeze of lime juice will awaken your tastebuds, while a scoop of Greek yogurt gives this not-too-sweet raspberry smoothie substance.

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Blueberry-Spinach Smoothie Packs

For my family, this method of assembling a muffin tin of smoothie ingredients and stashing them in the freezer has been a breakfast game-changer.

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Green Smoothie with Spinach, Pear, and Ginger

Pear might not be a common smoothie addition, but it lends perfect sweetness to this smoothie.

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Super-Power Morning Smoothie

This is a classic green smoothie recipe to memorize.

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Green Piña Colada Smoothie

Don't worry — this morning recipe skips the rum, but it's still so tasty.

Other Great Spinach Recipes

Truly, it’s hard to go wrong when it comes to this leafy green. Here spinach is wilted into soups, tucked inside sandwiches, added to egg dishes, and more.

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Lemony Tortellini Spinach Soup

With a 30-minute cook time and the majority of the ingredients already hanging out in your fridge, a fast and fresh dinner has never looked better.

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Breakfast Polenta Squares with Spinach & Bacon

These savory squares also make for a perfect light lunch or hearty snack.

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Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach & Cheese

The next time it feels like you're in a chicken dinner rut, split the breasts open then stuff them with spinach, two kinds of cheese, and garlic.

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Make-Ahead Spinach and Feta Egg Casserole

Filled with leafy spinach and chunks of crumbled feta, and laced with fresh dill, this egg casserole just might remind you of spanakopita.

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5-Ingredient Spinach Risotto

When you're just not sure how to use up that big box of spinach, keep this creamy, cheesy, impossibly easy risotto in mind.

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Spinach and Blue Cheese Burger

Blue cheese, spinach, and caramelized onions transform a juicy beef burger into a French-inspired dinner.

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Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Chicken

Here the slow cooker turns lemony poached chicken breasts into a luxurious dinner with wisps of green spinach and forkfuls of tender, nutty artichokes.

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Spinach Quiche Recipe

This flavorful spring-inspired quiche is packed with fresh baby spinach and smoked Gouda.

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Scrambled Chickpea and Spinach Pitas

These protein-packed pitas can be batched and frozen for future meals.

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Eat this vibrant green dish with your favorite Indian flatbread or alongside some rice.

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