Whether you're looking for a cozy family dinner idea, a make-ahead meal, or a dish to impress at holiday gatherings, this cheesy spinach casserole ticks all the boxes. It's a favorite side with something simple, like chicken thighs in the air fryer. But it could also be a vegetarian main dish (I love the leftovers for lunch).
The perfect fusion of comfort food and nutritious eating, this spinach casserole full of cheesy goodness will be a versatile favorite for any occasion.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
First of all, Popeye had it right: spinach is PACKED with nutrition. And this recipe will make a spinach lover out of anyone.
The creamy cheesy goodness will make your family forget they are eating anything healthy, and you will absolutely LOVE the ease of preparation. Win-win-win!
Ingredients Needed
How to Make This Cheesy Spinach Casserole
First, microwave the spinach for a couple minutes to thaw it. I do this right in the bag, its so convenient. Then drain it and squeeze the extra water out. I use a fine mesh (wire) strainer and press with the back of a spoon to squeeze as much water out as I can.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs well. Microwave the butter for about 15 seconds to melt.
Add the cottage cheese to the eggs in the bowl, then add the cubed Cheddar cheese and flour. Stir to combine.
Add the spinach and melted butter.
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Transfer the mixture to a greased casserole dish.
Bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes at 350℉. The edges will be bubbly and the chunks of cheese will be melted and slightly browned on top.
Serving Suggestions
Once you try this, you'll realize how versatile it is. I've been serving it as a side with grilled chicken or pork and even with some air fried sausages. It always fits right in. I plan to double the batch for holiday meals, because this is a crowd pleaser for sure!
Substitutions and Variations
If you need to lower the carbs or be gluten free, you can just eliminate the flour. You might see a little unabsorbed liquid in the bottom of your dish when you start serving, but it doesn't affect the taste or texture of the cheesy spinach bake.
You can use fresh spinach, but you do need to cook it down first to release all the excess water. I find frozen spinach so much easier in this situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely, you can swap in fresh spinach for frozen in this cheesy spinach casserole recipe. Just make sure to sauté it down first and squeeze to remove excess water.
You can substitute any gluten-free flour, if you wish. But I often skip the flour altogether for a low carb option, which also makes it gluten free.
Yes, just omit the flour. When you scoop the casserole out to serve it you might notice a little unabsorbed liquid in the bottom of the casserole dish but the taste and texture of the cheesy spinach is unaffected.
📖 Recipe
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Cheesy Spinach Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 ounce package frozen chopped spinach
- 3 eggs
- 1½ cup cottage cheese small curd, 4% milkfat
- 4 ounces cheese cubed, sharp Cheddar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Microwave the spinach for 2 to 3 minutes to thaw, then place in a strainer and squeeze the water out. Set aside. Microwave the butter for about 15 seconds to melt. Grease a small casserole dish (1½ to 2 quart) with cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Then add the cottage cheese, cubed cheese, and flour. Stir to combine.
- Add the melted butter and spinach and stir well to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes. The middle will be set and the edges will be bubbly, and some of the cheese will be lightly browned on top.
- Remove from the oven. The casserole is ready to serve right away.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Amy
This is an amazing recipe! Thank you for sharing. We love it.
Sula
Wonderful! Thank you for the kind review! 😁