Deep South Spinach
Indulge in the rich and creamy comfort of Deep South Spinach, a Southern-inspired side dish that takes fresh spinach to new heights. Featuring smoky crumbled bacon, sautéed onions, and a luscious blend of heavy cream, cream cheese, and parmesan, this recipe delivers a decadent twist on classic creamed spinach. A dash of ground nutmeg and optional cayenne pepper adds a subtle, warm kick, perfectly balancing the buttery richness. Ready in just 40 minutes, Deep South Spinach pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, steak, or any hearty main course, making it an irresistible addition to your Southern comfort food repertoire.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 16 oz fresh spinach
- 4 slices thick-cut smoked bacon
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
- 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- to taste kosher salt
- to taste ground black pepper
Instructions
Wash the fresh spinach thoroughly to remove any dirt or grit. Pat it dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner to dry completely.
In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet, pat it with paper towels to remove excess grease, and crumble it into small pieces. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the skillet.
Add the butter to the same skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Heat over medium heat until melted.
Add the finely chopped onion to the skillet and sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until softened and translucent.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Gradually add the fresh spinach to the skillet, stirring frequently to wilt the leaves. This may need to be done in batches. Once all the spinach is wilted, carefully drain any excess liquid from the skillet.
Reduce the heat to low, then stir in the heavy cream, cream cheese, and grated parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until the cheeses melt and the sauce becomes creamy and well combined.
Season the mixture with ground nutmeg, cayenne pepper (if using), kosher salt, and black pepper to taste. Mix well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
Fold in the crumbled bacon pieces until well incorporated. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Remove the skillet from heat and transfer the Deep South Spinach to a serving dish. Serve warm as a side dish for roasted chicken, steak, or any Southern-inspired meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
589 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 51.7 g | 66% | |
| Saturated Fat | 29.6 g | 148% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 147 mg | 49% | |
| Sodium | 1087 mg | 47% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 8.0 g | 3% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.0 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.9 g | ||
| Protein | 19.9 g | 40% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 363 mg | 28% | |
| Iron | 3.9 mg | 22% | |
| Potassium | 165 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
