Spinach is a delicious, affordable, wholesome leafy green that I love using in recipes! From soups to salads, spinach pasta, smoothies, and more, these are my favorite fresh and frozen spinach recipes guaranteed to satisfy.
Spinach is one of my most-used ingredients. Whether I'm making a spinach salad, sautéeing it in a stir-fry, baking with it, or blending it into smoothies, I'm always finding fresh ways to use spinach in recipes! As you'll see in the collection of easy spinach recipes below, spinach is extra versatile and perfect for satisfying a craving for something green. It's also a delicious swap for other leaves, like kale, in almost any food.
I've included old and new favorites, including spinach dinner ideas, side dishes, and a few tasty spinach appetizers. Spinach is delicious and savory as a star ingredient, and it also blends seamlessly with the flavors in casseroles, pastas, and soups. Best of all, these recipes are very approachable, and many are adaptable to fresh or frozen spinach.
Spinach has a fairly mild taste, and I really like it. Raw spinach tastes a little bit sweet and is very refreshing. It’s a little stronger than most other salad greens. Cooked spinach takes on a more savory and bitter flavor.
Can you freeze spinach at home?
Yes, though it's best to cook it first. Sauté the spinach until it’s fully cooked down. Let it cool, place it in an airtight container or freezer bag, and freeze for up to 6 months. I recommend only freezing raw spinach if you plan to use it in smoothies.
What's the best way to store fresh spinach?
Spinach notoriously has a short shelf life. To keep spinach fresher for longer, I like to place the leaves in a container or Ziploc bag. Then, wet a double layer of paper towels, wring them out so they're damp, and lay them on top of the spinach. This is the best trick I've found to keep spinach fresh for at least a week, even up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
20+ Must-Try Spinach Recipes
I always have spinach in the fridge, and after today, I hope you will too! Here are the spinach recipes I have on repeat, year-round. There's something for every meal, season, and occasion.
Spinach Dinner Ideas
One Pot Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms
Spinach and mushrooms are a match made in heaven. The earthy flavors go so well together, and make this pasta dish hearty and filling, but not heavy. The secret to this recipe is a little bit of lemon zest that makes all the flavors sing.
Artichoke dip is one of the most famous ways to eat spinach. It’s so decadent, rich, and flavorful, and it’s perfect for parties. This vegan recipe uses cashews, almond milk, and nutritional yeast to replace the fatty dairy found in many artichoke dip recipes.
Lasagna is also a very common way to eat spinach, especially for people who don’t eat meat. Spinach adds richness and savory flavor to lasagna, and it works so well with tomatoes. This recipe only has 5 ingredients, so it’s as easy as it is delicious.
Classic stuffed shells with spinach, creamy ricotta, pasta, and marinara sauce are the ultimate comfort food dinner. Have this Italian favorite on the table in just 25 minutes!
These savory pancakes are a great example of how you can add spinach to almost any meal and instantly make it tastier. You don’t have to do anything to the spinach in this recipe. Just add the raw greens to the pancake with the rest of the filling.
One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa with Spinach + Chickpeas
This Mediterranean-inspired quinoa recipe is loaded with the bold flavors of green olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and dried dill. Spinach balances everything out, making this a must-try dinner.
There are so many flavors going on in this satisfying spinach casserole recipe, and they all work wonderfully together. Spinach, artichokes, quinoa, chickpeas, and Parmesan cheese are mixed with a creamy, tangy sauce made out of cashews, lemon, garlic, tamari, and more. It’s absolutely fantastic!
This is one of the creamiest vegan pasta dishes I know! The secret? Pumpkin puree and almond milk replace the cream that’s usually in baked pasta. Spinach adds a nice contrast to the creamy pumpkin, with vegan cheese to tie it all together.
Spinach is common in Tuscan-style recipes, and this is one of the best. This creamy Tuscan pasta with spinach, white beans, and creamy tomato sauce is quick to make and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
I fill these homemade ravioli with a cheesy, herby blend of roasted butternut squash and spinach. They’re the perfect way to satisfy a craving for ravioli without dairy or gluten. Great for a cozy weeknight dinner!
This dish is hearty and comforting, perfect for a cold winter night. With spinach, lentils, quinoa, carrots, and mushrooms, this recipe is filling and soothing, without being too heavy.
This is the perfect recipe for a sunny lunch in the spring or summer. It’s simple to make, as the salad is just strawberries, spinach, almonds, quinoa, and optional avocado. The tangy lime and mint dressing make this spinach salad super refreshing.
Creamed spinach is a staple at any steakhouse or old-school restaurant. Instead of dairy, my vegan creamed spinach uses coconut yogurt and cashew cream. But the real secret ingredient is miso. It adds umami and richness, taking this spinach side dish to the next level.
This flavorful sweet potato lentil soup is easy to make and filled with hearty veggies and spinach. It's great for meal prep, and my recipe is also vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
One of my favorite vegetarian spinach recipes, this warm lentil salad is a perfect cozy meal. It's quick to make with maple miso dressing tossed with spinach, quinoa, roasted fennel, and pine nuts.
This flavorful Moroccan salad recipe combines quinoa, chickpeas, dates, spinach, cashews, carrots, and green onions. The spicy dressing is bursting with flavor, and the whole thing comes together in 10 minutes!
Spinach goes so well with the bold, tangy, and spicy flavors in this Thai peanut salad. It's loaded with fresh veggies, crunchy peanuts, and chickpeas, tossed in a rich dressing made from peanut butter, tamari, ginger, rice vinegar, lime juice, and hot sauce.
This creamy mushroom risotto is made with quinoa instead of rice, so it's gluten-free and vegan. It's also the perfect excuse to work extra greens into a meal! Spinach adds a pop of color and balances the three types of earthy mushrooms in the recipe.
Breakfast smoothies are a tasty and easy way to get a whole bunch of fruits and vegetables into your diet. I almost always add spinach to my smoothies because it bulks them up with greens without altering the taste. If anything, it makes the smoothie taste fresher!
The combination of banana, cantaloupe, cucumber, and spinach makes this smoothie light and fresh, while mint takes the flavors to the next level. It's also high in protein, thanks to almond milk, flaxseed meal, and protein powder.
This is such a practical recipe. These meal-prep breakfast sandwiches take minutes to assemble, and you can make a week’s worth at once, ensuring you have easy on-the-go breakfasts all week long.
This smoothie doubles down on the greens with spinach, kale, creamy avocado, and matcha powder! A good amount of frozen mango adds sweetness and makes for a perfectly balanced green smoothie.
