17 Creative Ways to Use Frozen Spinach

Lentil Soup With Spinach and Spicy Sausage — The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Frozen spinach is a versatile kitchen hero. It is easy to store conveniently in your freezer so you can pull it out anytime and add extra green vegetable nutrition to every meal. Factor in its mild flavor, and you've got a versatile ingredient that pairs with so many of your favorite dishes, from breakfast scrambles and smoothies to restaurant-style grain bowls, Italian lasagnas, vegan stir-fries, and one-dish family casseroles.

Tip: When using frozen spinach, you will typically want to thaw and drain it well before cooking. You can thaw it overnight in the fridge or use the microwave. To do so, remove the vegetable from its packaging and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. Once thawed, place it between a few layers of paper towels and squeeze to thoroughly dry.

How to Properly Freeze Spinach and Other Greens

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Vegan Curried Tofu Scramble with Spinach

The Spruce

Vegans can enjoy a fluffy, protein-rich breakfast scramble with this flavorful dish that makes a healthy, cholesterol-free alternative to scrambled eggs. You need only 20 minutes to whip it up on the stovetop using crumbled extra-firm tofu, fresh or thawed frozen spinach, onion, garlic, and an Indian-inspired dry spice mixture.
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Spinach Pesto Rice Bowl

The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

Thawed, well-drained frozen spinach is a fabulous shortcut to creating a versatile spinach pesto you can add to grain bowls, pasta salads, and pizza dough. Here, it dresses up a healthy, restaurant-inspired brown rice bowl with crunchy radicchio, tangy feta cheese, creamy avocado, and a warm, soft boiled egg.
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Vegan Indian Palak Paneer

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Palak paneer is a comforting vegetarian dish found on most Indian restaurant menus. While it is typically made with spinach and cheese, our vegan-friendly version skips the dairy and uses firm tofu instead. Swap in a thawed and drained 10-ounce package of frozen spinach for the fresh greens in the recipe and you've got a soothing, creamy vegan lunch or dinner to enjoy over rice.
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Spinach and Artichoke Pull Apart Bread

The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

Pull-apart bread might be the ultimate party food. Designed for sharing, it is a dip and a warm, crusty bread all in one. This scrumptious shortcut version is super-easy to assemble. Just make a few slices in a round bakery loaf, fill with a creamy, garlicky spinach and artichoke dip and bake until melting and toasty.

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Tuna Noodle Florentine Casserole

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Take your usual tuna noodle casserole up a notch with this convenient, family-friendly bake that will please even picky eaters. You need just six inexpensive ingredients, including canned tuna, thawed chopped spinach, cooked egg noodles, and grated cheddar cheese to assemble a Florentine-style tuna casserole.
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Greek Spinach Pie (Spanakopita)

The Spruce

Spanakopita is one of Greece's most famous culinary exports. Crispy and savory with perfectly flaky layers of phyllo dough, a comforting filling of seasoned cooked spinach, and creamy feta cheese, it makes a fabulous lunch or holiday side dish. You can also cook it ahead and freeze it, either whole or in portions, for baking directly from frozen with no thawing needed.
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Lentil Soup With Spinach and Spicy Sausage

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Tummy-warming, filling, and loaded with protein, lentil and sausage soup always hits the spot on chilly days. This home-style version gets a huge flavor boost from spicy smoked sausage, fresh or frozen spinach, and a Cajun dried seasoning blend. Enjoy it for a satisfying lunch or dinner on weekdays with cornbread, biscuits, or baguette slices for dipping.
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Spinach Frittata With Bacon and Cheddar

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Impress your family and friends at brunch with this savory, custardy bacon and spinach fritatta with cheddar cheese. Essentially a crustless quiche, it starts on your stovetop and gets transferred to the oven to finish cooking. A cast-iron pan is ideal, but you could use any other sturdy oven-proof skillet.

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Perfect Spinach Lasagna

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Get ready for the best spinach lasagna you ever tasted. Creamy and cheesy, with plenty of thawed frozen spinach and three kinds of cheese layered between tender pasta noodles, it makes a fabulous meatless meal whenever you crave Italian food.
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Blueberry and Spinach Superfood Green Smoothie

The Spruce

Supercharge your morning with this eye-opening superfood green smoothie. It's a great way to start your day, with healthy protein and antioxidants from fresh or frozen spinach and blueberries and a full-bodied texture from banana. It's raw, vegan, low-fat, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
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Spinach Noodle Kugel

The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

"Kugel" is the name for a Jewish baked savory pudding of egg noodles or potatoes, cooked in a custard base. Use thin or medium-sized egg noodles for this healthful spin on the traditional noodle kugel served at holiday meals. Fresh or frozen spinach and lots of onions give it a homey feel that makes it feel right for every day.
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Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

You need just 30 minutes to whip up a big batch of baked cheesy spinach balls. They make a yummy party appetizer, or a delicious vegetarian topping for heaping plates of spaghetti. Form them easily from cooked, chopped frozen spinach, stuffing crumbs, Parmesan cheese, onion, and eggs. Serve them hot, or freeze in containers as a great last-minute meal inclusion.

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Vegetarian Chana Masala With Spinach

The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

Chana masala with chickpeas and spinach is a tasty way for vegans and vegetarians to enjoy a traditional and popular Indian food dish. You need only 30 minutes to cook it in one skillet on the stove-top, for a home-cooked, Indian-style meal with very little effort. Keep it simple by using canned chickpeas, and thawed frozen spinach, and serve with steamed basmati rice or naan bread.
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Dairy-Free Crustless Keto Spinach Quiche

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

Busy days call for easy, go-to recipes you can assemble and cook up quickly. With just a few minutes of active prep time, and about 30 minutes in the oven, this delicious, dairy-free spinach quiche may become your new favorite weekday lunch. It makes a great light dinner, too, and is suitable for those following the keto diet, and anyone avoiding carbs or dairy.
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Baked Chicken With Spinach

The Spruce

Healthy chicken breasts baked atop a bed of iron-rich spinach, scattered with tomatoes and scallions, and topped with melting mozzarella or Parmesan cheese, is a wholesome family meal. Use bagged fresh spinach, or squeezed-out, thawed chopped frozen spinach, to create the virtuous base for this tasty, one-dish chicken dinner.
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Ham, Hash Browns, and Spinach Breakfast Casserole

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

When you need a hearty breakfast or brunch dish, look no further than this hash browns, spinach, and ham casserole. It's a cinch to assemble with store-bought frozen hash browns and spinach, diced cooked ham, and an easy, indulgently cheesy sauce. Bake it up in about an hour for holiday breakfasts or casual weekend brunches.

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Spinach and Artichoke Dip

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

When it comes to game day gatherings, nothing beats a big bowl of creamy spinach and artichoke dip. Seriously cheesy and brimming with mouth-watering flavors of spinach and marinated artichoke hearts, it's a crowd-pleasing party dipper.

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