Creamy Spinach Casserole

This Creamy Spinach Casserole is filled with ooey parmesan cheese, sliced baby bella mushrooms, cream cheese, and tender jasmine rice for a hearty side dish or meatless meal. Think of this recipe as your classic steakhouse creamed spinach, but taken up a notch.

It's no secret that I love spinach-- it is so versatile... and a vegetable that actually tastes good. That's part of the reason I love working with Josie's Organics so much. Their baby spinach is the BEST. Looking for more spinach recipes? Why not try Greek Chicken Meatballs, or this Garlic Butter Sauteed Spinach, or maybe this Homemade Spinach Pasta.

What is so special about this easy spinach casserole- mushrooms. They add a delicious heartiness to the meal without adding any meat! Although, you could certainly add chicken to it! That would be a wonderful way to make this a full meal.

Is this like a Creamed Spinach Casserole?

It's exactly like that! Take all of the regular ingredients that go in creamed spinach and add rice and mushrooms, and you have this delicious side dish!

What makes this so creamy?

Well, in short, lots of things! A dairy free dish, this is not. It has whole milk, shredded parmesan cheese, and cream cheese. But I'm sure I don't have to convince you how delicious that makes this...

Ingredients

• 1 5 oz. package fresh baby spinach roughly chopped
• 10 oz. sliced baby bellas (cremini mushrooms)
• 1 small onion diced finely
• 1 ½ cups rice dry
• 3 cups stock chicken or vegetable
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese plus ½ cup for top (optional)
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 1 cup whole milk

How do you make Creamy Spinach Casserole?

• Begin by preparing rice. For rice, you use a 2 to 1 ratio, 2 parts liquid to 1 part rice. In a medium sized saucepan, place rice and stock and bring to a boil, cover and turn heat to the lowest setting. The rice will take about 12 minutes from the time you place the lid on it.

• While the rice is cooking, begin your sauce. Add olive oil and butter to a large saucepan on medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add in diced onions and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes until translucent.

• Next, add your mushrooms and garlic and cook for another 5-7 minutes, until the mushrooms have started to cook down.

• Turn heat down to medium low, and add milk, cream cheese, salt, and shredded parmesan. Stir until cream cheese has completely melted and everything is well combined.

• Take off heat, stir in chopped spinach and cooked rice. Serve as is, or top with ½ cup of parmesan cheese and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Now, Let's bake it in the oven.

Baking this in the oven is optional. Everything is already cooked through before if goes in the oven. If you don't bake it, it will remain more creamy and saucy. I love it that way! However, baking the casserole gives it a nice bubbly crust.

What to top it with?

If you do decide to bake it, there are a few routes you could go.

• Bake, as is.
• Bake with breadcrumbs
• Bake with more cheese. (My person suggestion! I mean, who would say no to more cheese?)

What can you serve this spinach bake with?

• Chicken, super simple!
• Fish, grilled or baked white fish would be great!
• Steak, take it up a notch by serving it with steak

This is a very versatile spinach casserole!