The Secret for Fast and Shockingly Flavorful Creamed Spinach? Herby Boursin Cheese!
Classic creamed spinach is one of my all-time favorite side dishes—it’s rich, comforting, and the perfect match for any steakhouse-inspired dinner, from a Weeknight Cast Iron Steak to a Foolproof Holiday Prime Rib.
But THIS creamed spinach recipe is so absolutely unreal, it might just outshine the main course. 😎
No exaggeration—as much as I love a juicy steak, my fork always finds its way back to these greens. The secret weapon? One simple addition: Boursin cheese.
The first time I made creamed spinach with Boursin cheese, I was blown away.
Boursin is a soft, garlic-and-herb-studded cheese that melts beautifully, creating a rich, creamy sauce that coats the spinach with a big punch of flavor—no need for cream cheese or loads of heavy cream!
The result? Hands-down the best creamed spinach recipe I’ve ever tried. It’s shockingly easy to prepare (ready in just 20 minutes!) and packed with tons of flavor from only 6 ingredients.
You can pair it with all your favorite main dishes…as long as you don’t eat it straight out of the pan first. Trust me—it’s THAT good. 😋
Maximum Flavor, Minimal Effort
3 foolproof secrets to low-fuss, flavor-packed dinners, learned from years working in restaurants.
Fresh Spinach, Zero Fuss!
Most creamed spinach recipes call for frozen spinach, but I prefer using fresh greens. Doing so eliminates the need for thawing, draining, and squeezing out moisture—a somewhat fussy process that I honestly don’t always have the patience for.
Fresh spinach, on the other hand, only requires a quick wilting to be creamed spinach-ready. You can do this in a skillet on the stovetop, but I prefer the microwave—it takes just seconds and cuts down on dishes. Win-win! 🙌🏼
To prepare fresh spinach for creamed spinach, place the greens in a microwave-safe bowl with a damp paper towel on top. The paper towel adds just enough moisture so the greens don’t dry out. Microwave for 1-2 minutes until the spinach softens, then give it a rough chop.
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Buy Now → How to Make Creamed Spinach with Boursin Cheese
Boursin cheese is the game-changing ingredient in this creamed spinach! This garlicky, herb-studded cheese is an easy find at the grocery store and the ultimate shortcut for big flavor. Plus, with creamy Boursin, there’s no need for cream cheese or loads of heavy cream—just a splash will do!
You’ll build the Boursin creamed spinach on the stovetop and finish it under the broiler for a golden, bubbly top. An oven-safe skillet allows you to easily transfer the creamed spinach from the stovetop to the oven. It’s ready in less than 20 minutes!
Serving Suggestions
On its own, creamed spinach is pretty simple—but pair it with a stunning main course, and suddenly, dinner starts to feel extra fancy. 💁🏻♀️
My favorite way to enjoy creamed spinach is with an at-home steakhouse dinner. Serve it with a Herb Butter Basted Cast Iron Steak during the winter or a Perfect Grilled Steak during the warmer months.
Boursin creamed spinach also makes the perfect side for holiday dinners, like my Garlic and Herb Prime Rib or Herb Butter Roast Spatchcock Turkey.
Feeling extra fancy? Pair it with a flaky Salmon en Croute or Individual Beef Wellington for a memorable special occasion meal. 🤵🏻♀️🤵🏻♂️ The only thing missing is a glass of wine!
I can’t wait for you to try this Absolutely Unreal Creamed Spinach with Boursin! If you do, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!
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Absolutely Unreal Creamed Spinach with Boursin (20 Minutes)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 4-6 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Drop the cream cheese! Hold back on the heavy cream! Garlicky and herbaceous store-bought Boursin cheese is the secret ingredient for Absolutely Unreal Creamed Spinach.
Plus, I make this quick and easy creamed spinach recipe with fresh spinach (not frozen!), so there’s no need to thaw anything—just quickly simmer in a hot skillet for a homemade side dish ready in 20 minutes or less.
Serve it with everything from pan-seared chicken to cast iron steak for a steakhouse-quality meal!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 5.2 ounces Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs gournay cheese
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- optional: ⅓ cup grated parmesan
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Wilt and chop the spinach: Place half of the spinach in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp paper towel and microwave until softened and vibrantly green, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer the wilted greens to a cutting board, then repeat with the remaining fresh spinach. (Alternatively, if you do not have a microwave, you can wilt the spinach in batches in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes.) Roughly chop the wilted greens and set aside.
- Soften the shallot: Meanwhile, add the butter to a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the shallot and season with a good pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the shallot is softened and fragrant, 3-4 minutes.
- Prepare the Boursin cream sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Add the Boursin cheese to the skillet, breaking it up into large crumbles as you go. As soon as the cheese begins to melt, add the cream to the skillet. Cook, stirring often to combine the cheese and cream, 1-2 minutes longer.
- Creamed spinach assembly: Add the chopped wilted spinach to the skillet and stir to combine well. It’s helpful to use a spoon or a couple of forks to break up the wilted spinach, ensuring it all gets coated in the creamy sauce. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a bubble, then remove from the heat. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Optional: Finish under the broiler: Place an oven rack directly under the broiler and preheat to its highest setting. If desired, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the creamed spinach, then place the skillet under the broiler. Broil 3-4 minutes, rotating the skillet halfway through, until the creamed spinach is golden brown and bubbling—be sure to keep a close eye on it to prevent burning!
- Serve immediately alongside your favorite main dishes. Enjoy!
Notes
- Easy Recipe Variations for Dietary Restrictions: This creamed spinach is naturally gluten-free and meatless. To ensure a vegetarian result, be sure to use your favorite rennet-free parmesan cheese.
- Storage and Reheating: While this cheesy creamed spinach is best served fresh, leftovers will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
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I’ve had my eye on this ever since you published the recipe.
I am thinking about bringing this to a Christmas potluck dinner where we’ll have no oven access and eating a few hours after arrival. Any opinion on keeping this in a crockpot on low, bringing warm but serving at room temperature, or bringing cold? I’ve never made creamed spinach before!
If you have other recommendations for recipes that would suit my potluck better (I have signed up for “vegetable side”) I’m open to suggestions too!
I guess mostly concerned about whether you think it’ll hold up to crockpot or if you think crockpot will not serve it well.
Hi Mara, we’ve never tried keeping this spinach warm using a crockpot, but you’re welcome to try! We would reheat it for about 2 hours on low. You may need some additional cream to add in case the spinach thickens up a bit too much. If you’d like to bring a different veggie side, our Roasted Carrots would be a great option! Or for no-heat recipes, we’d recommend our Christmas Salad or Butternut Squash Hummus. Make sure to let us know what you decide! 🙂
Reporting back after serving it via crockpot. Short story: It’s a win!
I spent most of the day icing cookings and running around delivering cookies and doing holiday visiting. Got back home with very little time before needing to leave for my party. This came together SO QUICKLY and I didn’t have to stress about it.
I had bought Boursin months ago at Costco in a 3-pack when it was on sale “who knows what I’ll use this for but will be perfect at Christmas!”… and it was.
Threw this together at 3pm, left the house at 3:30, and the creamed spinach was kept on low in a crockpot from 4pm-6pm when dinner was served. I added Parmesan at the last minute and stirred it in.
Definitely measured with my heart (and erred on the heavy side) on both the heavy cream and the parm.
Huge hit, held up fine in the crock pot.m. Got tons of positive comments. Will definitely make again.
This was a hit! My husband doesn’t usually like creamed spinach, but he loved this one. It was elevated but very straightforward to make. Will definitely make again!
We love how easy this one is to make too, Julianne! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! 🙂
This was a winner with all my kids, which never happens! Two of them even went back for seconds! It was so easy and delicious it is now a staple in our meal routine. Paired it with a pork tenderloin and roasted red potatoes. I did transfer to a smaller dish to broil the parm cheese on top instead of using the cooking pan but other than that no changes/mods.
A veggie side being a hit with the kids is a definite win, Gretchen!! So happy you loved this spinach, it’s a good one! 🙂