This Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon is one of the quickest, easiest vegetable side dishes you’ll ever make. A delicious way to boost your menu with fiber and nutrients.
So much thought goes into the main course but simple, healthy side dish recipes like this one are so important to have in your back pocket. They’re the recipes I turn to over and over again when planning my menu for the week.
It doesn’t get much easier than a skillet full of this Sautéed Spinach cooked in garlicky olive oil and finished with fresh lemon juice and a little crushed red pepper. It cooks in under 5 minutes and goes with pretty much any protein you’re serving. And most importantly, it is delicious!
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Minced garlic
- Fresh baby spinach – Baby spinach typically comes prewashed and has less substantial stems than regular spinach. It’s ready to cook straight from the package without any prep. If you are using bulk spinach, be sure to rinse it well and spin it dry in a salad spinner. If using regular spinach, trim and discard any thick stems.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh lemon juice
- Crushed red pepper flakes – Totally optional but they add a nice kick.
How to Make Sautéed Spinach
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over MEDIUM heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for a minute or two or just until fragrant. Reduce heat a little, if needed, to avoid burning the garlic.
- Add the spinach, a handful at a time, packing it down into the pan with your hand. It will be a great big mound but will cook down very quickly. Move the spinach around and toss it in the garlic olive oil.
- Cover the skillet briefly, 30 seconds or so, just until the spinach begins to cook down.
- Remove the cover and toss again. Remove from the heat just as soon as the spinach is mostly wilted. Pour off the excess liquid from the bottom of the skillet, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and add the lemon juice. Toss well to combine. Sprinkle the Sautéed Spinach with a little crushed red pepper, if desired, and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon is a natural choice to serve with seafood. Great choices include Lemon Basil Baked Cod or my Blackened Mahi Mahi. It’s also delicious with roasted or grilled chicken or steak.
More Easy and Nutritious Side Dishes
- Air Fryer Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
- Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
- Instant Pot Broccoli
- Chickpea Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes
Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 pound baby spinach
- ½ lemon, juiced
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large, deep skillet and place over MEDIUM heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for a minute or two or just until fragrant. Reduce heat a little, if needed, to avoid burning the garlic.
- Add the spinach, a handful at a time, packing it down into the pan with your hand. It will be a great big mound but will cook down quickly. Use tongs to move the spinach around and toss it in the garlic olive oil. Cover the skillet briefly, 30 seconds or so, just until the spinach begins to cook down. Remove the cover and toss again. Remove from the heat just as soon as the spinach is mostly wilted. Pour off excess liquid from the bottom of the skillet, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and add the lemon juice. Toss well to combine. Sprinkle with a little crushed red pepper flakes, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home. All information provided regarding nutrition on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Content related to nutrition is not medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice. The website is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. Before beginning any diet program, modifying your diet, or making changes to the diet of a child in your care, including following the nutrition information available on the website, you should seek advice from a licensed professional.
