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Dairy Free Creamed Spinach (veggie-packed!)

5 from 4 votes

What’s Inside: A quick and creamy veggie side dish that even cheese lovers will agree is amazing, made with frozen spinach and my cauliflower cheese sauce. This simple dairy-free creamed spinach is fast, easy to make or prep ahead, and is Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30, and AIP-friendly.

View from above of dairy free creamed spinach on a large grey oval plate, sitting on a white surface. There is a wooden spoon resting on the side of the plate.

Best Creamed Spinach Ever

This plant-based side dish is not only incredibly tasty, it’s also Gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30, and AIP-friendly.

I know…you are wondering how on earth anything can taste so good AND satisfy this criteria. Well it’s actually so much simpler than you would think! The creamy ‘cheesy’ sauce is made from cauliflower and coconut cream!

 

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Eating mindfully doesn’t (or at least it shouldn’t) cause you stress or anxiety. I’m here to show you how to eat and plan realistic meals that fill your body with goodness and the nutrients it needs in a fun and tasty way that the whole family will enjoy…even the fussy eaters!

That being said, this dairy-free creamed spinach recipe can be made in half an hour and is soo yummy! Even cheese lovers will love the ‘cheesy’ taste and your body will thank you for pumping it full of feel good vitamins and nutrients.

Why Is Spinach So Good For Me?

Let’s talk about Spinach! There’s a reason Popeye the Sailor Man was so strong and healthy because he was forever downing cans of spinach! While I don’t recommend the Popeye diet, there are truths to this story. I’m here today to tell you all the WONDERFUL things about spinach and why it is so good for your body, gut, and general well-being!

Inside spinach is 3 main elements that help regulate our body—calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Calcium as we all know helps build healthy bones and strong teeth. Spinach also contains vitamin k which actually helps allow your bones to absorb the calcium!! This means your body can store all the goodness and strength inside your bones!

Magnesium is said to increase your metabolism, regulate your heart, maintain your blood pressure, and even help toward living a stress-free life. Spinach also has a high content of potassium which makes a fabulous combination for preventing high blood pressure.

Iron is what your body needs to burn body energy effectively. It boosts energy in the human body and also helps carry oxygen all over your body, which is particularly important for women who are menstruating!

Spinach leaves are also packed with fiber which aids your body in good digestion, helps to regulate low blood sugar, and also prevents constipation. It’s also full of vitamins to boost your immunity and keep you energized throughout the day.

The vitamins hidden inside each leaf also help your skin glow from the inside, help prevent acne and even have natural anti-aging properties! Bonus.

View form above of creamed spinach with coconut milk on a large grey oval serving plate. It is very green with a white sauce throughout. The plate is on a white counter.

How to Make Gluten-Free Creamed Spinach

Making this dairy-free creamed spinach couldn’t be easier! All you need is some spinach and a few pantry staples and your own your way to creamy spinach town.

First off, you’ll need to make my dairy-free cheese sauce, made with cauliflower and coconut cream. It’s super creamy and you won’t believe there’s no cheese inside it! You can even batch-cook this sauce in advance and refrigerate or freeze it which will speed up the cooking time significantly!

Once you have my heavenly pretend-cheese sauce, it’s really just a case of quickly sautéeing all the other ingredients before mixing it all together for the quickest most delicious, dairy-free creamed spinach ever!

FAQs

How long will this dairy-free creamed spinach stay fresh for?

If you haven’t eaten this all in one go, no problem! Pop any leftovers into an airtight container and you can refrigerate for up to 3 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months!

What is the best way to reheat this dish?

Firstly, if frozen, make sure the creamed spinach is completely defrosted. Then pop it into a pan or skillet on the stove top, and heat it on low until it’s completely warmed throughout but not boiling.

Do you have to keep spinach in the fridge?

Yes – absolutely! Bacteria can grow rapidly between 40 °F and 140 °F, even an unopened bag of washed spinach shouldn’t be left out of the fridge for more than 2 hours as it can start to breed germs. I like to keep my spinach in a separate container, upright in the fridge.

Close up of vegan creamed spinach. Only part of the edge of the plate is visible on the right. The dish is very green with a white sauce throughout it.

More Dairy-Free Side Dishes

If you are looking for more dairy-free ways to add some color and taste to your meals, check out my list of favorites!

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is a low-carb, AIP-approved mashed potato alternative. Made in only 20 minutes.

Like charred, crispy green veggies? Then you will absolutely love my Ghee-Roasted Brussel Sprouts. Full of flavor and look great on any holiday table!

Warm Green Bean Salad With Bacon is a simple-to-make and packed with flavor.

Looking for a rice alternative? Try my Broccoli Rice, it’s a bit like cauliflower rice which I’m sure you’ve heard of, but it’s brighter and only requires 3 ingredients! It’s also great for scrappy cooking as you can use up all the stalks and stems!

Do you love squash but hate how long it takes to cook? Me too, so I came up with my quick Roasted Spaghetti Squash, making healthy weeknight meals super simple!

If you made this Dairy-Free Creamed Spinach, please consider leaving a star rating and comment below. Or you can tag me, @foodbymars, on Instagram and Facebook. I love seeing your recreations!

dairy free creamed spinach in a serving bowl and spoon

Dairy-free Creamed Spinach (veggie-packed!)

5 from 4 votes
A quick dairy-free veggie side dish that even cheese lovers will love! Packed with delicious flavors and made with frozen spinach and my heavenly cauliflower 'cheese' sauce.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 7 people

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cauliflower cheese sauce (1 full batch)
  • 2 pounds frozen cut leaf spinach or whole spinach thawed and squeezed very dry (see note)
  • 3 Tbsp ghee or extra virgin olive oil olive oil for AIP
  • 2 finely chopped shallots approx. 1/2 cup
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • sea salt to taste
  • ¼ t tsp freshly ground black pepper (omit for AIP)
  • Pinch freshly grated nutmeg, or ground nutmeg (omit for AIP)

Instructions:

  • Make the cauliflower cheese sauce and set aside. Ensure spinach is thawed (or lightly steamed), drained, and squeezed dry. (See note below)
  • To a skillet over low-medium heat, add the ghee and melt or olive oil until shimmering. Add chopped shallots and cook until translucent (approx. 3-4 mins). Then add the garlic and mix in for just another minute or so (don’t burn).
  • Pour in the cauliflower cheese sauce and stir well for a minute or so, reduce the heat to low (you should see small bubbles).
  • Add a pinch of salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stirring again.
  • Lastly, mix in the spinach and cook while stirring it into the creamy sauce (approx. 5 minutes).
    Season to taste and serve warm.

Notes:

If you didn’t thaw the frozen spinach, you can follow the bag directions to steam in either the microwave or on the stovetop ahead of time. Drain and squeeze dry with kitchen or paper towels and set aside.
Keywords: dairy-free
Course: Side Dish
-Alison Marras
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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3 comments

  1. This was amazing! Far better than I had dared to hope. I have so been missing creamy comfort foods and this really hit the spot.

  2. This worked out great! I’ve been getting sick of simple bowls of wilted spinach. Easy prep… only made a half portion to see if I would like it and it was delicious. Used the AIP instructions and, instead of the nutmeg, used a pinch of mace.

    Hits a craving I didn’t really know I had.

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