Sauteed Spinach and Onions

Have a bag of spinach hanging out in your produce drawer? Put it to good use with this easy 15 minute Sauteed Spinach and Onions. It’s the perfect side dish for busy weeknights!

What to Make with Spinach

Do you ever buy an “aspirational” bag of spinach? It’s not something you have specific plans for, more of a vague fantasy that you’ll suddenly transform into a nutrition queen who loves green smoothies and salads more than pizza.

“This is the week,” you think to yourself as you toss the spinach into the cart.

Then a week goes by and where is that aspirational spinach? Shoved somewhere in the back of the produce drawer, looking at you with limp, judgy eyes.

I’ve been there more than I care to admit. But sometimes spinach guilt leads to great things, and such is the case with this Sauteed Spinach and Onions.

Born of both the need for a quick side dish AND the need to use up some wrankly looking spinach, this recipe is simple, flavorful, and compliments a range of main dishes. We love to serve it with meaty main dishes like the Best Easy Meatloaf, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, and Honey Soy Salmon.

Ingredients in Sauteed Spinach

Surprisingly, this sauteed spinach doesn’t require a lot of extra ingredients to make it pop. Here’s what you’ll need.

• Olive oil– The gold standard for a veggie saute.
• Sweet yellow onions– While I often use onions as a flavor base for soups, casseroles, and sautes, I rarely let their flavor stand on their own. Here I chose to include a good amount of onions, cut in medium strips so you can really taste their distinct sweetness. If you don’t love the taste of onions, feel free to reduce the amount and/or chop them small.
• Garlic– I love a good shortcut pre-minced garlic, but it’s worth mincing it fresh for this recipe. It’s the main flavor agent in this recipe, so don’t be shy!
• Spinach– A LOT OF IT! Trust me, it will look absurd billowing above your pan, with leaves threatening to jump the proverbial ship at any moment, but after a few stirs it will be reduced to a mere fraction of its former, overflowing self.
• Salt and pepper– The original, undefeated seasoning staples.

How to Saute Spinach and Onions

1. In a large skillet with sides, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
2. Add the onions and saute for 7-10 minutes, until soft and starting to brown on the edges.
3. Stir in minced garlic and saute for about 30 seconds. Sprinkle with salt.
4. Add the spinach and stir into the onion mixture for 2-3 minutes, or until leaves are just wilted. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Notes and Tips for Perfect Sauteed Spinach and Onions

• Season as you go! Add salt to the onion and garlic mixture before you add the spinach, then season the final product as well.
• Make it spicy! A dash or two of red pepper flakes add a welcome bit of heat for those who like enjoy spice.
• Add lemon juice. A squeeze of lemon juice at the very end brightens up this side dish and masks the bitterness of the spinach.
• Just say no to soggy spinach. Cooking the spinach on high heat for just a few minutes helps water evaporate and keeps the spinach from becoming wet or soggy.
• Use the leftovers. Leftover sauteed spinach is great stirred into soups, hashes, or used as a stuffing for chicken. I made a really quick and delicious wonton soup using frozen wontons, chicken broth, and leftover spinach and onions.

More Easy Vegetable Side Dishes

Stumped on sides? Here are a few more of my favorites quick side dishes.

• Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
• Garlic Green Beans
• Spicy Asian Zucchini
• Roasted Teriyaki Green Beans with Mushrooms
• Air Fryer Potatoes

Continue to Content

Sauteed Spinach and Onions

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Quick Sauteed Spinach and Onions is an easy and healthy side dish you can have on the table in less than 20 minutes.

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 small or 1 large yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 cups (or 1 8 ounce bag) fresh spinach
• Kosher salt and pepper
• Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
• Squeeze of lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large skillet with sides, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
2. Add the onions and saute for 7-9 minutes, until soft and starting to brown on the edges.
3. Stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and saute for about 30 seconds. Sprinkle with salt.
4. Add the spinach and stir into the onion mixture for 2-3 minutes, or until leaves are just wilted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add a squeeze of lemon right before serving, if desired.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 97Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 218mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 6gSugar: 2gProtein: 8g

Please note nutritional information for my recipes is calculated by a third party service and provided as a courtesy to my readers. For the most accurate calculation, I always recommend running the numbers yourself with the specific products you use.

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