Sauteed Spinach is an easy and healthy side dish that can be made in just a few minutes with only a few ingredients. Dressed up with golden raisins, garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemon, this sauteed spinach recipe is anything but bland.
If you love spinach you may also love Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing, Strawberry Spinach Salad, Skinny Spinach Artichoke Dip, or Spinach Pizza.
Sauteed Spinach
Sauteed Spinach has to be one of the EASIEST, most classic side dish recipes to make.
And it comes together in minutes!
My version of sauteed spinach is dressed up. Because let’s be honest, wilted spinach alone does not sound that appealing.
But when you dress up sauteed spinach with lemon, garlic, and red pepper flakes—now you are talking! Throw in some yellow raisins, and suddenly this easy side dish really does burst with flavor.
The sweetness of the raisins helps to tone down the bitterness of the spinach. The lemon helps brighten the flavors. The red pepper flakes awaken your senses and garlic because EVERYTHING is better with garlic.
The Best Sauteed Spinach Recipe
As I stated, this is an EASY recipe! The only important thing to remember is that your spinach will wilt SIGNIFICANTLY while cooking.
Step One: Saute Garlic
- In a large non-stick stock pan (or dutch oven), heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add in the garlic and saute for 1 minute–do not let your garlic brown. If this happens, you MUST start over!
Step Two: Saute Spinach
- Add spinach, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to pan and toss the spinach to coat with the oil.
- Cover the pot and cook for 1 minutes over medium heat.
- Remove lid, stir spinach and cover again. Cook for 1 minute covered.
- Remove lid, stir spinach and continue to saute for 1-2 minutes, until spinach is wilted.
- Remove from heat and drain off excess liquid off sauteed spinach if desired. Do this by placing sauteed spinach in fine mesh colander and gently pushing down with wooden spoon.
- Add in squeeze of fresh lemon juice and golden raisins if using.
- Serve.
More Vegetables Side Dish Recipes
- Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
- Green Beans Almondine
- Healthy Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Grilled Mexican Corn
Sauteed Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced about 1 tablespoon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons golden raisins optional
- 1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash spinach well. Use salad spinner or kitchen towel to fully remove liquid from spinach leaves. Trim off any large stems on the spinach.
- In a large non-stick stock pan (or dutch oven), heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the garlic and saute for 1 minute--do not let your garlic brown. If this happens, you MUST start over!
- Add spinach, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to pan and toss the spinach to coat with the oil.
- Cover the pot and cook for 1 minutes over medium heat. Remove lid, stir spinach and cover again. Cook for 1 minute covered. Remove lid, stir spinach and continue to saute for 1-2 minutes, until spinach is wilted.
- Remove from heat and drain off excess liquid off sauteed spinach if desired. Do this by placing sauteed spinach in fine mesh colander and gently pushing down with wooden spoon.
- Add in squeeze of fresh lemon juice and golden raisins if using. Serve.
I would like to know about the starting over part if you brown the garlic. Why is that?
Hi John! Burnt garlic gives the dish a really bitter taste and can easily ruin the overall taste.
Sauteed spinach is one of my favorite sides! Love your ideas for dressing it up! It’s a great way to change it up!
The raisins really add a pop Dara! Glad you enjoyed!
I love this spinach recipe…you added so much flavor!!
The added flavor makes a pretty boring side dish much tastier!