Name: 10-Minute Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 large bunches of spinach or a 10 ounce box of baby spinach; 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped; 2 tablespoons ghee or olive oil; Salt, to taste; About 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

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This 5 ingredient sautéed spinach with garlic recipe is a super easy side dish that is made in a skillet in just 10 minutes! It pairs beautifully with many different types of meals, from pan seared chicken to oven roasted fish. A simple back pocket veggie recipe that’s perfect for any night of the week!

Close up shot of a large white speckled plate of garlic sauteed spinach. Next to a few lemon wedges. On a speckled tan background, next to a small dish of salt.

Let’s be real. Some nights it feels like there is just not enough time to get a complete meal on the table.

Between busy schedules and days that feel like they’re over before they started, planning meals can seem like one more task to fit in at the end of an already packed day!

That is why I love this recipe for sautéed spinach with garlic. It is THE easy side dish that we rely on to pull together a complete meal on those nights when don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

It comes together in about 10 minutes, and is so wholesome and versatile that it rounds out just about any main dish. Adding olive oil, chopped garlic, and a squeeze of lemon (if that’s your thing) really takes it to the next level of DELISH flavor!

Why you’ll love this sautéed spinach

It is:

Wholesome
Super easy to make
Garlicky
Savory
Fresh
Ready in just 10 minutes!

Close up shot of spinach sauteed with garlic, in a light colored non stick pan.

Ingredients

(If you’re already ready to get started, scroll all the way down to the bottom for the full printable recipe!)

2 bunches of spinach or a large container of baby spinach – You can use either 2 bundles of fresh large leaf spinach, or a 10 ounce container of baby spinach. This is going to seem like a TON of spinach. But trust me, it shrinks SO much that it will all fit in your pan.
Olive oil – Olive oil or even ghee are both good fat choices for this recipe.
Garlic – The chopped garlic is actually sautéed with the olive oil before adding the spinach. This softens the garlic flavor and infuses the olive oil. Feel free to use as much or as little garlic as you like!
Salt – Just a sprinkle of salt should do it for this recipe. Since the spinach shrinks so much while it cooks, you’ll probably want to wait to add salt until after it’s already wilted.
Lemon – The bright acidity of a small squeeze of lemon brings all the flavors of this garlic sautéed spinach together. If you don’t have lemon on hand, don’t sweat it. It’s still delicious without!

Overhead shot of the ingredients needed to make garlic sauteed spinach. Large fresh spinach leaves, a small dish of salt, a piece of lemon, a bowl of olive oil, and a small dish with chopped garlic. On a light brown speckled surface.

All you need to make this spinach is the ingredients listed above, a cutting board, a knife, and a large skillet.

Starting out with your biggest skillet will make cooking the spinach a little more manageable. If you don’t have a large skillet, add the spinach in handfuls, waiting to add the next handful until the previous spinach has wilted and shrunk down.

How to make sautéed spinach with garlic

If using bunched spinach that is not pre-washed wash it well – this type of spinach often has quite a bit of loose dirt lingering on the leaves. It’s okay if the spinach is a little wet before you start cooking.
Heat olive oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for just one minute, being careful not to let the garlic brown.
Add spinach and toss continuously until it is just barely wilted – for about a minute or two.
Season to taste with salt.
Finish with lemon juice and serve!

See?! SO EASY!

Overhead shot of a light colored non stick skillet with olive oil and fresh garlic.

Overhead shot of a light colored non stick skillet with olive oil and sauteed garlic.

Can you use frozen spinach?

Fresh spinach is my preference for this recipe, but frozen spinach will also work in a pinch. Just make sure to thaw and drain your frozen spinach before adding it to the skillet with the sautéed garlic.

Serving suggestions

This spinach is the perfect side dish for so many different types of main dishes. Here’s some of my favorites to get you started.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken
30-Minute Baked Chicken Breast
Oven Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
Mediterranean Chicken Bowls
Baked Garlic Herb Turkey Meatballs
Cajun Shrimp with Garlic Aioli

Overhead shot of a large white speckled plate of garlic sauteed spinach. Next to a few lemon wedges. On a speckled tan background, next to a small dish of salt.

Pinterest pin for Sautéed Spinach with Garlic

Love this side dish? Try these other recipes!

Mexican Roasted Cauliflower
Oven Roasted Broccolini
Cauliflower Mash
Dairy Free Cauliflower Mac and “Cheese”
Cilantro Lime Rice
Simple Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Roasted Sweet Potatoes

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Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!