Description
Creamy spinach casserole delivers comfort with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients and cheese. Herb-infused layers promise delightful flavors you’ll savor with each comforting bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (10 oz / 283 g) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 (8 oz / 227 g) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a kick of heat)
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs (optional, for added crunch)
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and thoroughly grease a ceramic baking dish with cooking spray to prevent adhesion.
- Sauté Foundation: In a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and sauté onions and garlic until softened and translucent, releasing aromatic flavors.
- Spinach Integration: Add thawed spinach to the skillet, stirring methodically to incorporate with aromatics and eliminate excess moisture, creating a cohesive vegetable base.
- Cheese Fusion: Combine cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in a large mixing bowl, whisking until achieving a smooth, homogeneous mixture.
- Blending Components: Gently fold the spinach mixture into the creamy cheese blend, ensuring complete and even distribution of ingredients.
- Baking Preparation: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, leveling the surface and optionally sprinkling breadcrumbs on top for added texture and golden crispness.
- Oven Transformation: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, watching for enthusiastic bubbling edges and a beautifully bronzed surface indicating perfect doneness.
- Final Flourish: Remove from oven and allow brief cooling. Garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finishing touch before serving.
Notes
- Prepare Ahead: Thaw spinach completely and squeeze out excess moisture to prevent watery consistency and ensure a rich, creamy texture.
- Cheese Temperature Tip: Allow cream cheese to soften at room temperature for 30 minutes, creating smoother blending and preventing lumpy mixture.
- Caramelization Secret: Cook onions and garlic slowly over medium-low heat to develop deep, sweet flavor without burning.
- Crispy Topping Trick: For extra crunch, mix breadcrumbs with melted butter before sprinkling, creating a golden, crisp surface that adds textural excitement.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 292
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 389 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 47 mg