Spinach is a delicious and affordable green that’s really good for you. These 20 healthy spinach recipes will make your body and your stomach happy.
There are few ingredients that I use as frequently as I use spinach. It just gets so much use in my kitchen. And it’s not hard to see why! Spinach is versatile, healthy, affordable, and easy to cook with. You can eat it raw, blend it in smoothies, bake it, or sauté it. There’s no shortage of ways to use spinach, and you can usually add it to any recipe, even ones that don’t have greens. And did I mention how delicious it is?
I always have spinach in my fridge, and it makes its way into my cooking pretty much every day. So I decided it was a good time to share some of my favorite recipes that have spinach. These 20 recipes are easy to make, super healthy, and most importantly, very tasty! Whether you’re just getting into spinach or are a big fan looking to expand your recipes, you’ve got to give these a try. But before you get to cooking, let’s answer some common questions about this leafy green.
Is Spinach Good For You?
Here’s some great news: spinach isn’t just good for you, it’s great for you. Spinach is packed with important nutrients and minerals, such as potassium, iron, folate, and vitamins A, C, and K. It also has a good amount of fiber and calcium. Yet despite being full of health benefits, spinach is almost calorie-free. A cup of spinach only has 7 calories! So it's pretty easy to make healthy spinach recipes.
What Does Spinach Taste Like?
Spinach has a fairly mild taste, and I really like it. Raw spinach tastes a little bit sweet and is very refreshing. It’s a little stronger than most other salad greens. Cooked spinach takes on a more savory and bitter flavor.
How Much Protein is in Spinach?
Spinach is a good source of protein for people who are on a plant-based diet. One cup of raw spinach has 0.9 grams of protein. That may not seem like a lot if you’re eating a salad, but if you cook spinach, one cup is only one or two bites of food. You can also add tons of spinach to a smoothie to get protein benefits.
How to Store Fresh Spinach
One problem with spinach is that it can go bad in the fridge very quickly. Thankfully there’s a way to combat this. Put the spinach in a container or a bag, then get a double layer of paper towel wet. Wring out the paper towel, and place it on top of the spinach. This will help your spinach stay fresh for at least a week, and usually up to 2 weeks.
Can You Freeze Spinach?
Yes, you can absolutely freeze spinach. Fresh spinach doesn’t freeze incredibly well, so I only recommend freezing raw spinach if you plan to use it in smoothies. Otherwise, your best bet is to sauté spinach until it’s fully cooked down. Then you can let it cool, place it in an airtight container or bag, and leave it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
What Cuisines Use Spinach?
Spinach is eaten pretty much all over the world, but it’s especially common in the Mediterranean. But you can find spinach in most cuisines, or replace other greens with spinach in almost any food.
Questions About Pets and Spinach
A lot of people wonder if spinach is a dangerous food to have around pets. Here’s everything you need to know.
Can Dogs Have Spinach?
Spinach isn’t poisonous to dogs, so there’s no problem if your pup eats some. However, it’s high in oxalic acid, which can cause kidney damage or failure. So it’s not recommended that you make spinach a huge part of your dog’s diet.
Can Cats Have Spinach?
Yes, cats can eat spinach. They probably won’t want to munch on it raw, but many cat foods have spinach in them for nutrients and minerals.
20 Must-Try Healthy Spinach Recipes
Now let’s get to cooking some quinoa. These 20 recipes are easy to make, super healthy, and packed with flavor. You’re going to love them!
One Pot Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms
Spinach and mushrooms are a match made in heaven. The earthy flavors go so well together, and make this pasta dish hearty and filling, but not heavy. The secret to this recipe is a little bit of lemon zest that makes all the flavors sing.
Artichoke dip is one of the most famous ways to eat spinach. It’s so decadent, rich, and flavorful, and it’s perfect for parties. But it’s usually very unhealthy. This vegan recipe, however, with cashews, almond milk, and nutritional yeast replacing the fatty dairy that most artichoke dips have.
Lasagna is also a very common way to eat spinach, especially for people who don’t eat meat. Spinach adds so much richness and savory flavor to lasagna, and it works so well with tomatoes. This recipe only has 5 ingredients, so it’s as easy as it is healthy.
This dish is so hearty and comforting, it’s perfect for a cold winter night. With spinach, lentils, quinoa, carrots, and mushrooms, this recipe is filling and soothing, without being too heavy.
This is the perfect recipe for a sunny lunch in the spring or summer. It’s so simple to make, as the salad is just strawberries, spinach, almonds, quinoa, and optional avocado. The tangy lime and mint dressing make this salad super refreshing.
These savory pancakes are a great example of how you can just add spinach to almost any meal and instantly make it healthier and tastier. You don’t have to do anything to the spinach in this recipe, you just add raw greens to the pancake with the rest of the filling. And just like that, the dish becomes yummier and much better for you.
There are so many flavors going on in this recipe, and they all work wonderfully together. The casserole is made out of spinach, artichokes, quinoa, chickpeas, and parmesan cheese. Then it’s mixed with a creamy, tangy sauce made out of cashews, lemon, garlic, tamari, and many more ingredients. It’s absolutely fantastic!
Creamed spinach is a staple at any steakhouse or old-school restaurant. Unfortunately, it’s usually quite unhealthy. But this vegan creamed spinach isn’t. Instead of dairy, it uses coconut yogurt and cashew cream. But the secret ingredient is miso, which adds umami and richness and takes the recipe to the next level.
I’m a huge fan of having smoothies for breakfast. It’s such a tasty and easy way to get a whole bunch of fruits and vegetables in your diet. I almost always add spinach to my smoothies, because it makes them so much healthier without really altering the taste. If anything, it just makes the smoothies taste fresher.
I love the combination of pumpkin and spinach. It tastes like autumn, and the flavors are so decadent together. These flatbreads are the perfect way to eat pumpkin and spinach, with goat cheese and turkey sausage adding additional richness and flavor.
One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa with Spinach + Chickpeas
Spinach is a very popular ingredient in the Mediterranean, and it’s not surprising why: it goes so well with almost all Mediterranean flavors. This dish is loaded with strong flavors like green olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and dried dill. The spinach balances everything out, making this a must-try dinner.
Even when it’s not an artichoke dip, artichokes and spinach go perfectly together. They’re mixed with pesto and nutritional yeast and placed on top of a super healthy pizza crust. This is as healthy as pizza gets, but also as delicious as pizza gets.
Thai Peanut Chopped Spinach Salad
I really love putting spinach in Thai food. I think it goes so well with the bold, tangy, and spicy flavors. This recipe is the perfect example. The salad is loaded with fresh veggies, as well as peanuts and chickpeas, but the star is the sauce. It’s made out of peanut butter, tamari, ginger, rice vinegar, lime juice, and hot sauce. And it’s absolutely perfect when mixed with spinach.
This is one of the creamiest pasta dishes I know, even though it’s entirely vegan. The secret is to use pumpkin puree and almond milk to replace the cream that’s usually in baked pasta. It also has a little bit of vegan cheese to tie it all together. The spinach adds a nice bitter flavor to contrast with the creamy pumpkin.
Who doesn’t love a mini quiche? These ones are absolutely popping with flavor, even though they only have 4 ingredients: spinach, artichoke hearts, quinoa, and eggs. All you need is some salt and pepper and a few minutes of prep work, and you have a perfect breakfast on the go.
Minty Melon Smoothie
This is one of the most refreshing smoothies I've ever had. The combination of banana, cantaloupe, cucumber, and spinach is so light and fresh, while mint takes the flavors to the next level. It also has lots of protein, thanks to almond milk, flaxseed meal, and protein powder.
This is such a practical recipe. It only takes 5 minutes to make, and you can make a week’s worth at once, ensuring that you have easy hand-held breakfasts all week long. It’s delicious, and it’s healthy enough to keep you energized for the day. This is the ultimate healthy breakfast sandwich.
This salad is a complete meal. With spinach, veggies, quinoa, and fish, you have everything you need for a filling and nutritious lunch. And the balsamic dijon dressing makes the entire salad irresistible.
10-Minute Spicy Moroccan Quinoa Salad
This is one of the most flavorful recipes I’ve ever made. The salad itself has strong ingredients that go so well together: quinoa, chickpeas, dates, spinach, cashews, carrots, and green onions. And the spicy dressing is bursting with flavor, with cayenne, cinnamon, tahini, lemon juice, and so many more flavors. This salad is one of a kind.
This smoothie doubles down on the greens, as it not only has spinach, but kale too. And just to keep with the green theme, it has avocado and matcha powder! A good amount of frozen mango adds sweetness to those ingredients and makes for a perfectly-balanced smoothie.
If you're looking for more healthy foods that you should try making, then I've got you covered. Just check out my recipe finder and you can find a healthy food for any occasion.
![VEGAN QUINOA PIZZA...topped with pesto, spinach + artichokes, then sprinkled with nutritional yeast for a nice cheesy flavor! [gluten-free]](https://www.simplyquinoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/spinach-artichoke-quinoa-pizza-307x1024.jpg)
