Spinach can be used in so many ways. You can cook it, keep it raw, let it be a full recipe, use it as a garnish, feed it to Popeye to save the day, etc. Find some great ways to use it in our list of Budget-Friendly Spinach Recipes.
For more ideas of what to make, check out all of our recipes.
When I was a kid, I thought spinach was only for Popeye, not for me. So I wouldn’t eat it. I also don’t remember my mom ever making it, so I didn’t really have to decide to eat it or not. But now, I make it all the time.
I like eating raw spinach in salad or tacos instead of lettuce. And cooked spinach is really good if you know how to cook it. If you don’t season it right, it’s not great. But luckily for you, we put together this great list of Budget-Friendly Spinach Recipes. Make one or some, fall in love with spinach, and make Popeye proud.
Cooking at home is such a good way to stretch your budget. The Ultimate Guide To Saving Money By Cooking At Home will help you do just that.
10+ Budget-Friendly Spinach Recipes
Some of these spinach recipe use it in the full recipe, and some use it as a topping or garnish. So if you want a lot or a little spinach, you’ll find something on this list for you.
These are our best spinach recipes. As we add more of them to the blog, we’ll update this post. So be sure to save it (pin it, bookmark it, etc.) and come back to it from time to time to see what we’ve added.
Spanakopita Dip
Spinach dip is a popular way to use spinach. But, you can elevate that by making Spanakopita Dip. It’s feta and parmesan cheese with mayo and seasoning. And of course, spinach.
This version is actually really easy because it’s completely made in a single, large skillet. And who doesn’t love a one-pot meal?
Spanakopita Puff Pastry Bites
If you’re looking for a great way to use a lot of spinach, these Spanakopita Puff Pastry Bites are the way to go. It’s basically spanakopita filling (spinach, cheese, seasoning) stuffed into puff pastry pieces. What’s not to love?
You could serve these mini spinach pies as a party appetizer. Or, they make a delicious side dish for dinner.
Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)
Spanakopita is a Greek dinner pie that’s made with thin, crumby layers of phyllo dough and stuffed with spinach and feta cheese (and a few other tasty ingredients).
This version is actually really easy because it’s completely made in a skillet. And who doesn’t love a one-pot meal?
Alton Brown’s Spinach & Artichoke Dip
We swear by Alton Brown’s Spinach and Artichoke Dip. I made a few minor tweaks to it to make it my own, like skipping red pepper flakes, but for the most part, I follow his recipe.
What’s really great is this recipe is made in the microwave, so it comes together in a handful of minutes.
Sauteed Spinach With Bacon
If you’re not sure how to feel about cooked spinach, add a little bacon. Bacon makes everything better. Especially as this Sauteed Spinach with Bacon recipe.
Crispy bacon tops wilted spinach and onions in this easy side dish. You’ll love it so much, you’ll be making it all the time.
Lasagna Cups
Lasagna Cups are such a fun one-bite appetizer recipe. They’re also a really good weeknight dinner recipe for when you want lasagna but don’t want all the work of making one.
Our original recipe is filled with spinach, to add a little bit of healthiness to this recipe. You don’t have to use spinach though. You can fill your lasagna cups with pretty much anything you like.
Turkey And Egg Cups
Breakfast doesn’t have to be rushed or boring. Take your time and enjoy these Turkey & Egg Cups. These are a Greek omelet version, with spinach and feta. You can make them ahead of time, then heat them up when you’re ready for breakfast.
We use turkey slices in this recipe. But, if you prefer ham slices, you could use those instead.
Chickpea And Spinach Vegan Burger
Even if you’re not vegan, you’ll love these vegan chickpea and spinach burgers. They’re a really good bean burger and hold together a lot better than traditional bean burgers do. Plus, they’re a great way to use up tons of spinach, if you have some in the fridge that needs to go.
Top them with lettuce, tomato, and your favorite condiment for a delicious dinner idea.
Bacon Spinach and Tomato Sandwich
Ditch the traditional BLT and make this BST — Bacon, Spinach, and Tomato — sandwich instead.
What’s really great about this recipe is that it uses a “bacon weave” for the bacon, so the bacon is the perfect size to fit on a slice of bread.
Pull Apart Pizza
Pull Apart Pizza is a really fun dinner idea. But, it might not feel that balanced.
It will if you add cooked spinach on top. Sautee it in olive oil with a little bit of garlic and add it to store-bought breadsticks to make this a really easy weeknight meal.
Lentil And Cauliflower Vegan Tacos
Spinach tops this tasty vegan taco recipe. If you’re not vegan, don’t let that deter you from these. Lentil And Cauliflower Vegan Tacos are one of our favorite recipes, and we’re not even vegan.
It’s a good recipe for Ash Wednesday too, if you’re Catholic and you need to find something meatless for your main meal that day.
Loaded Beef Nachos
These beef nachos are loaded with a ton of delicious toppings — including raw spinach.
It’s a great way to get a green leafy vegetable into your game day menu. You can top your nachos with as little or as much spinach as you want.
2 Ingredient Dough Pizza
Spinach is just a topping in this 2 Ingredient Dough Pizza recipe, but it is a delicious topping. Sure, you can make this pizza for dinner without spinach, but why would you?
The dough itself is made from two simple ingredients, but you need to add a couple more to make a complete pizza.
Tuscan Bean Soup
This Tuscan Bean Soup is one of Pete’s mom’s recipes. It’s a good meal for a winter dinner.
Two cans of beans, onion, carrots, and baby spinach combine to make a really warm and filling dinner.
Egg In A Hole with mushrooms and spinach
This Egg In A Hole breakfast, also known as Egg In A Basket, is so easy to make. But it looks like a breakfast you picked up at a local restaurant.
It’s basically just three main ingredients too, including spinach, and some spices.
Spinach: Frequently Asked Questions
Spinach is a superfood. It’s a leafy green, and leafy greens are considered superfoods because they’re low calorie and have a ton of nutrients. So definitely add some spinach when you can.
Some of these recipes require fresh spinach, like when it’s used on top of the Lentil & Cauliflower tacos. But other recipes, like the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, can use either.
Frozen spinach is usually cheaper (in my grocery stores anyway) than fresh spinach and it lasts longer. So, if you’re thinking about your budget, frozen spinach is a great option.
If you’re using frozen spinach in a recipe that calls for fresh spinach, know that one 10 ounce package of frozen spinach is approximately 1.5 cups of fresh spinach.
This is one of my secret tricks. I love when I see fresh spinach on clearance. ALDI will usually have it for about 80 cents a bag.
I’ll buy a bunch and then throw the bags directly into the freezer.
When I’m ready to use the spinach, I’ll pull it out from the freezer and squeeze the bag to crush the spinach leaves into smaller pieces, then add the spinach straight to a pan.
I don’t defrost it ahead of time. You can defrost it, but you don’t need to. Each leaf freezes individually, so you don’t end up with a huge block of spinach like you do when you buy it frozen.
Fresh frozen spinach works in recipes where the spinach needs to be cooked anyway, like our Chickpea and Spinach burgers. It won’t work in a recipe like a spinach salad.
Which of these spinach recipes is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
Rosie
Wednesday 2nd of March 2016
So many nice recipes here, I'm trying to eat more spinach - I love the Spanikopita (Spinach Pie)!!
Tiffany C (@sweetmatcha)
Saturday 11th of July 2015
Oh I have to try Alton Brown’s Spinach & Artichoke Dip, he's one of my favorites, and that dip sounds so yummy! Thanks for sharing all these spinach ideas!
Ashlee
Friday 10th of July 2015
I love spinach! what a great round up, I can't wait to try a few of these. Thx for including my frittata!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens
Friday 10th of July 2015
Love this post! Spinach is such a wonderfully healthy food, and so easy to work into all sorts of recipes (as this list clearly shows!). So much great inspiration here! Pinning for sure! And thanks for including our Italian Wedding Soup - we're so thrilled to be included! :D