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    Home » Side Dish » German Style Creamed Spinach

    German Style Creamed Spinach

    Last updated on April 20, 2020. Originally posted on December 23, 2019 By Elaine 54 Comments

    973 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    German Style Creamed Spinach for Pinterest 2
    German Style Creamed Spinach for Pinterest 3
    German Style Creamed Spinach for Pinterest

    This is my grandmother’s German style creamed spinach recipe. This comforting holiday side dish turns out so creamy and flavorful that you will want it even when the holidays pass. It’s delicious and can be on the table in less than ten minutes.

    A spoonful of spinach held over a white bowl of it

    My grandmother Bena was of German descent and this is one of the dishes she made. I could eat a whole pan of this creamy side dish. I could literally sit on the floor with a pan of this creamed spinach in my lap and shovel it in my mouth, smiling the whole time with my spinach-coated teeth.

    I would put Popeye to shame.

    It’s been a while since I’ve made this side dish, probably because of how much I would eat if I did. And oh, have I missed it!

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.

    Helpful tips

    • I’ve only made this recipe using frozen spinach but it can also be made with fresh. Using fresh is a little more work because you need to cut the spinach. You also need to replace the water you would have gotten from defrosting the frozen spinach.
    • You will also have to cook it if you use fresh spinach. Add ⅛ – ¼ cup water to the spinach and heat until wilted. Start with ⅛ cup and add more later if you find you need it in the roux.
    • Defrost frozen spinach by taking it out of the freezer one hour before you start the recipe. Unwrap the packages of spinach and place them in a medium saucepan so they defrost easily.
    • If you don’t want to wait the hour to defrost the spinach, just turn the heat on medium under the saucepan and heat until hot.
    • If you prefer, you can place spinach in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 1 – 2 minutes until hot.
    • Do NOT discard the water from the pan! You will need this to thin out the roux.
    • My grandmother used Crisco shortening and flour to make a roux, but I use butter and flour in this recipe.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • Spinach – frozen chopped spinach makes this dish quick and easy. You can use fresh spinach but you’ll have to chop it in medium-to-small pieces.
    • Butter – organic and grass-fed if I can get it. You can also use Crisco shortening or margarine, but I like pure butter since there aren’t any additives.
    • Flour – organic all-purpose white flour.
    • Salt – sea salt.

    How to make German style creamed spinach

    Pre-step

    Take out frozen spinach at least an hour before you start the recipe. Unwrap the packages and dump the spinach in a medium saucepan. Do NOT discard the water that results from defrosting.

    Add salt and set aside.

    See helpful tips above for alternative defrosting methods.

    Step one

    Gather the ingredients – 2 packages frozen spinach, flour, butter and salt.

    Frozen spinach for Bena's German style creamed spinich

    Step two

    Unwrap the spinach and place it in a medium saucepan, turn the heat to medium and bring it to a slight boil, Then lower it to a simmer.

    Step three

    Add butter to a medium sauté pan.

    Butter in a pan and flour in the background

    Step four

    Turn the heat to medium under the butter. Once it melts, add the flour and use a whisk to combine them. Continue until the mixture browns and thickens.

    You can see it bubbling away on the stove in the photo below.

    Butter and flour made in a roux in a cast iron pan

    Step five

    Transfer the roux to the spinach and stir. Turn up the heat and bring to another light boil. Remove from heat and transfer spinach to a serving bowl.

    A big white bowl of creamed spinach with fresh spinach in the background

    Let’s see an old photo with the spinach playing its part by being the best side dish ever. On the plate with the spinach is roasted leg of lamb and mashed celery.

    A white plate with spinach, mashed celery and lamb

    Yum!

    I hope you enjoyed this German style creamed spinach recipe! I certainly do!

    And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

    If you’ve tried this I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

    A spoonful of creamed spinach

    German Style Creamed Spinach

    A creamy and delicious spinach side dish that can be on your table in less than 10 minutes!
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Side Dish
    Keyword: creamed spinach, german creamed spinach, german style creamed spinach, spinach side dish
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 8 minutes
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 275kcal
    Author: Elaine Benoit

    Ingredients

    • 2 packages spinach (I use frozen, but thaw them in a pan)
    • ½ cup butter
    • ½ cup flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Unwrap spinach, transfer to saucepan and either let it thaw in the pan or turn the heat to medium low to help it along
    • Take a medium sauté pan and heat it on medium. Add butter and once it has melted, add flour and whisk it together until creamy
    • Salt the spinach and add the crisco/flour mixture until you like the consistency, the creamier the better
    • Transfer to a serving dish
    • Eat
    • Smile
    • Enjoy

    Equipment

    saucepan
    whisk
    See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!

    Notes

    Helpful Tips
    • I’ve only made this recipe using frozen spinach but it can also be made with fresh. Using fresh is a little more work because you need to cut the spinach. You also need to replace the water you would have gotten from defrosting the frozen spinach.
    • You will also have to cook it if you use fresh spinach. Add ⅛ – ¼ cup water to the spinach and heat until wilted. Start with ⅛ cup and add more later if you find you need it in the roux.
    • Defrost frozen spinach by taking it out of the freezer one hour before you start the recipe. Unwrap the packages of spinach and place them in a medium saucepan so they defrost easily.
    • If you don’t want to wait the hour to defrost the spinach, just turn the heat on medium under the saucepan and heat until hot.
    • If you prefer, you can place spinach in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 1 – 2 minutes until hot.
    • Do NOT discard the water from the pan! You will need this to thin out the roux.
    • My grandmother used Crisco shortening and flour to make a roux, but I use butter and flour in this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 808mg | Potassium: 1079mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 18699IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 197mg | Iron: 6mg
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    Originally published December of 2016.

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    973 shares

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you,  if you click the link and buy. You can read my disclosure here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris

      December 29, 2016 at 11:00 am

      ‘Nother great recipe from Bena’s archives. Wish I’d known her cooking first-hand. OX

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 29, 2016 at 11:06 am

        Me too! 🙂

        Reply
    2. sue | theviewfromgreatisland

      January 01, 2017 at 11:47 am

      I had German grandparents and this is just like the spinach they used to make, love it!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2017 at 12:43 pm

        Sue! Did you have the German style peas as well?

        Reply
        • sue | theviewfromgreatisland

          January 02, 2017 at 1:03 am

          No, but my Nana’s braised red cabbage was famous 😉

          Reply
          • Elaine

            January 02, 2017 at 9:58 am

            Sue,

            That sounds yummy. I went to your site and yummed it. I can’t wait to try it!

            Reply
    3. Sandra Shaffer

      January 01, 2017 at 12:56 pm

      Love a good family recipe! This spinach looks way better than what I cook up. I definitely think you should share Bena’s peas too!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2017 at 1:01 pm

        Sandra!

        Thank you, and I will. They are scrumptious and like the spinach, I can eat the whole pan myself.

        Reply
    4. Willow | Will Cook For Friends

      January 01, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      I am a huge fan of spinach, and could probably eat a whole pan of this, too! Sounds delicious!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2017 at 2:15 pm

        Thank you Willow! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Lisa Bryan | Downshiftology

      January 01, 2017 at 2:30 pm

      Love German food – reminds me of when I lived in Heidelberg years ago!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2017 at 5:01 pm

        Hi Lisa,

        That’s awesome that you lived in Heidelberg! I wish I could live in a foreign country sometimes.

        Reply
    6. Cricket Plunkett

      January 01, 2017 at 3:51 pm

      Some creamed spinach can be so heavy, this recipe looks perfect though!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2017 at 5:00 pm

        Thank you! It is pretty light.

        Reply
    7. Christopher

      August 27, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Mmm. I love this dish!! If only I could have had Bena make it for me!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        July 26, 2018 at 4:38 pm

        Thanks Christopher!

        Reply
    8. TK

      January 30, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      Wow, this is almost exactly my German grandmother’s recipe. The only difference is that she kept stirring the shortening/flour mixture until it reached a rich golden brown color, then mixed into the spinach. Yum!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 30, 2018 at 8:51 pm

        Thanks for commenting Tracy!! It’s the best, isn’t it? Did your grandmother make the German style peas too? The spinach is my favorite, but the peas are a close second.

        Reply
      • Sharon

        May 28, 2022 at 1:01 pm

        Almost identical to my mother’s recipe. Only difference back the, she used shortening and not butter. My favorite recipe. She also stirred the flour/shortening until a golden brown. She made a rue.

        Reply
        • Elaine

          May 31, 2022 at 11:41 am

          How fun!! My grandmother made it that way, Sharon and so does my sister. But I prefer butter myself. Thanks for your comment.

          Reply
    9. Ben

      December 23, 2019 at 11:29 am

      That looks delicious! I think this would be perfect with some pan-cooked chicken breast on top.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 23, 2019 at 12:39 pm

        Yum! Definitely Ben! Thank you.

        Reply
    10. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer

      December 23, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      Creamed Spinach is a must for the holidays! This looks so much like my mothers-in-law’s version. I’m totally craving a huge scoop of that right now! Yours looks so luscious and creamy!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 24, 2019 at 9:45 am

        Thanks so much Lori! It’s fun that your grandmother made it too!

        Reply
    11. Krissy Allori

      December 23, 2019 at 9:17 pm

      This is so easy and so good. I am going to add it to my holiday table this year. I’m guessing it will be a hit.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 24, 2019 at 9:46 am

        Thanks Krissy! And that’s great, I hope you all enjoy it.

        Reply
    12. Anita

      December 23, 2019 at 10:26 pm

      This is such an awesome spinach dish. It’s incredible that this dish only needs 4 ingredients!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 24, 2019 at 9:47 am

        Thanks Anita. It’s a family favorite to be sure!

        Reply
    13. Chef Dennis

      December 24, 2019 at 1:41 am

      I’m sure my wife will going to love this German style creamed spinach recipe so much. Looks really scrumptious. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 24, 2019 at 9:47 am

        Thank you Dennis! It’s a beloved dish in my family!

        Reply
    14. Dannii

      December 24, 2019 at 3:06 am

      That looks like such a great way to use spinach. So comforting.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 24, 2019 at 9:48 am

        Thanks Dannii! I agree, it’s a comfort dish for me.

        Reply
    15. SHANIKA

      December 24, 2019 at 10:30 am

      OMG! This creamed spinach looks amazing! I can definitely see this being a great appetizer for the Holidays with crackers or tortillas.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 25, 2019 at 9:35 am

        Thanks Shanika! I’ve been known to spread this spinach on bread. Hubby thinks I’m nuts but . . . Yum!

        Reply
    16. Marisa F. Stewart

      December 25, 2019 at 9:23 am

      I’ve been making this recipe for years and I didn’t know it had a “German” origin. Well, it doesn’t matter where it started, all I know is that it ends deliciously in my tummy. A great recipe even for those who turn up their noses at spinach.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 25, 2019 at 9:36 am

        Thanks Marisa! My grandmother used to call it German style . . . but I really don’t know the origin. I’m going to have to look that up!

        Reply
    17. Chelsey

      December 25, 2019 at 6:24 pm

      What a yummy dish!! I love spinach, and this creamy recipe looks just mouthwatering!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 26, 2019 at 8:16 am

        Thanks Chelsey!

        Reply
    18. Veronika

      December 27, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      WOW! It looks really delicious! I never tried a German style spinach before, but sure my hubby will looove it (as he is half German)! Saving the recipe!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 27, 2019 at 4:36 pm

        Thanks so much Veronika! I appreciate it.

        Reply
    19. Jess

      December 27, 2019 at 4:54 pm

      I absolutely LOVE creamed spinach! This recipe looks so creamy and inviting. I want huge bowl of it right in front of me! So delicious!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 28, 2019 at 10:01 am

        Thanks so much Jess! I adore this spinach dish!

        Reply
    20. Paula Montenegro

      December 27, 2019 at 6:41 pm

      So simple and so delicious looking Elaine! This recipe went straight to my pinterest make-now board! Perfect for game day.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 28, 2019 at 10:02 am

        Yay! Thanks Paula! I hope you like it when you try it!

        Reply
    21. Kathryn

      December 29, 2019 at 11:34 am

      You can never go wrong with a good family recipe! So great for the holidays and winter Sunday dinners!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2020 at 9:30 am

        Indeed Kathryn! And it’s a great way to get more vegetables in the diet! 🙂

        Reply
    22. GUNJAN C Dudani

      December 29, 2019 at 11:41 am

      I always look for healthy recipes especially when the new year is almost there. This creamed spinach fits my palate perfectly.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2020 at 9:29 am

        Thank you Gunjan! It’s a family favorite for sure.

        Reply
    23. Jo

      December 30, 2019 at 3:53 am

      Oooh that looks soooo good! Absolutely love creamed spinach. It’s so simple to make and so delicious! Love it with roasted meat, so yum!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 01, 2020 at 9:28 am

        Thank you Jo! It’s one of my favorite side dishes.

        Reply
    24. Katerina | Once a Foodie

      January 03, 2020 at 5:57 am

      This looks delicious and a perfect addition to the holiday table! I love recipes handed down from generation to generation. My grandma was Polish and some of her recipes were just delicious. Hope you had a lovely break and wishing you a very happy New Year!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 04, 2020 at 9:47 am

        Thanks Katerina! I wish I had more of my grandmother’s recipes but they are lost. And I wish you a happy New Year as well! 🙂

        Reply
    25. Farrukh Aziz

      May 07, 2021 at 8:51 pm

      4 ingredients and a hearty bowl of creamed spinach is everything I could ask for! I love how this is a German style way of making it!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 08, 2021 at 10:43 am

        Thanks Farrukh!

        Reply

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