Sauteed Spinach With Bacon Recipe

Name: Sauteed Spinach With Bacon Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 6 strips of bacon; 16 oz fresh baby spinach; ½ medium onion; Salt and black pepper to taste

47 Comments / Sides / By Barbara J.

Sauteed Spinach With Bacon Recipe

Sauteed spinach is pretty meh for many people. Sauteed spinach with bacon deserves all the glory, especially if you up the bacon quota. The resulting spinach is a perfect side dish that pairs well with nearly everything. In this post, I will show you how to make the splendid side dish with only three ingredients. I like to think of it as a combination of ingredients that like each other more than a recipe.

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Why You Should Make The Recipe

This sauteed spinach with bacon is a firm favorite in my household for various reasons, including:

Quick and easy.
Requires only three simple ingredients.
Goes remarkably well with various meals.
Irresistible flavors.
A great way to make your kids eat their veggies.

What You Need

It’s amazing how three simple ingredients can yield so much flavor:

6 strips of bacon
16 oz (400 g) fresh baby spinach
½ medium onion
Salt and black pepper to taste

Ingredients Alternatives

If you are in Nairobi, Kenya, consider swapping baby spinach for the more famous Swiss chard, which is often confused for spinach.

Ingredient Additions

I love this dish simple, but you can spruce it up with additional ingredients like:

Garlic: Mince one or two cloves of garlic and add to the onions for extra flavor. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it will make the dish bitter.
Kale: Looking to incorporate kale into your diet? Try sauteed kale and spinach with bacon.
Seasoning cubes: Add your favorite seasoning cubes for extra savoriness.
Lemon or lime juice: A squeeze of lemon juice or lime will add brightness and freshness to the dish.

Cooking Tools You Need

Get these tools for the sauteed spinach with bacon recipe:

Medium pan
Knife and cutting board
A wooden spoon or tongs
Measuring spoon
Paper towel

How To Cook Spinach With Bacon: Complete Guide

Preparation Steps

Gather all the ingredients and tools.
Wash the spinach.
Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
Peel and slice the onion.
Line a plate with a paper towel.

Note: If using Swiss chard, wash thoroughly, remove the stems, and chop into small pieces.

Cooking Steps

Heat the pan over medium heat and add the bacon pieces. Fry until crispy, remove, and place on the paper towel-lined plate.
Reduce the bacon fat in the pan to 3 tablespoons.
Add the onion slices to the bacon fat and fry until soft and light brown.
Add half of the spinach and toss with a wooden spoon or tongs. Keep tossing until the entire spinach is coated in bacon fat, and it starts to wilt.
Add the remaining spinach and toss until it all wilts.
Add the cooked bacon pieces and toss.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Quick Pro Tip

I recommend using fresh baby spinach for maximum flavors. Frozen veggies have their benefits, but we can’t deny that fresh veggies taste better than frozen veggies.

Storing Leftovers and Reheating

Refrigeration: Sauteed spinach with bacon and onions is best eaten the same day, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: The recipe does not freeze well.
Reheating: Warm the leftover spinach in a saucepan over low heat on the stovetop. You can also microwave it in 30-second increments.

Final thoughts

This is handsdown the best sauteed spinach with bacon recipe. It is fuss-free and ready in 20 minutes. It yields delicious savory flavors, and a delightful, robust, slightly crispy texture. You can serve the spinach dish alongside various low-effort meals on a weeknight or a fancy weekend dinner meal like Grilled Wagyu Tomahawk Steak. The flavor is sensational.

Give the recipe a shot and share your experience. You will likely transform the spinach hater in your household into an absolute lover.

Other Delicious Side Dish Recipes To Try

If you love my recipe for sauteed spinach with bacon, you may want to try this:

Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe

FAQs

How do you make sauteed spinach not bitter?

The most common cause of spinach bitterness is overcooking. The trick is to cook it lightly to maintain its vibrant green color and nutrients. Drizzle some citrus juice over the cooked veggies for a fresh flavor and to curb the bitterness of the spinach.

Is it better to saute or steam spinach?

Both cooking methods are okay and have different benefits. Sauteing is the best if you want the best flavor and a robust, slightly crispy texture. Nothing is quite like spinach sauteed in bacon grease. On the other hand, steaming is better for preserving a broad range of nutrients, including those sensitive to high heat, like vitamin C.

What is the best temperature for sauteing spinach?

Medium to medium-high heat is the best temperature for achieving cooked spinach that is flavorful and not overly wilted. The goal is to make lightly sauteed spinach that is flavorful, crispy, and nutritious.

Can I cook sauteed spinach using frozen spinach?

Yes, however, you won’t get the vibrant flavor and crisp texture that fresh spinach offers. Frozen spinach is better suited for a sauteed creamed spinach with bacon recipe.

Can I mix cooked spinach with bacon and vinegar?

Yes, balsamic vinegar is a great addition to cooked spinach with bacon recipes because it adds a tangy contrast to the savory richness of the bacon.

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