Cheesy Spinach Squares
These Cheesy Spinach Squares are like the bar cookie of savory appetizers–tasty and easy to make. Just mix, pour, bake, cut. Then enjoy!
Lately I’m into easy appetizers. But they still have to taste great. And it’s even better if they’re (more or less) healthy.
Yes, between the holidays and football season, I can eat a lot of appetizers!
I got this recipe from a neighbor–not over the holidays, but in the summer, after a lovely dinner she hosted. We were both housing visiting artists for a local music festival and she thought we should all get together! Yum!
Why You’ll Love This!
Flavorful. How to you beat a hot, cheesy appetizer!
Easy. Just mix up a bunch of ingredients and bake—how easy is that!
Healthy. I’m always trying to get more vegetables and calcium in my diet. So I’m excited that this ticks both boxes!
Elegant or Casual. These can be elegant for New Year’s or Mother’s Day, or casual for Game Day or a simple brunch.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- Butter. This adds richness and prevents sticking.
- Cheddar. This provides the cheesy goodness. I recommend a sharp cheddar since this is the main flavor component.
- Spinach. This adds nutrition and flavor.
- Onion, Mushrooms. These add nutrition and flavor.
- Baking powder.
- White whole wheat flour. Or all purpose or regular whole wheat.
- Salt. Salt serves as a flavor enhancer and helps reduce the bitterness of the spinach.
- Skim milk. You may substitute a different dairy or non-dairy milk.
- Eggs. Eggs add nutrition and help hold everything together.
Special Tools.
- No special tools are required.
Step by Step Overview
Melt butter, then pour into 9 x 13 pan (or if using a glass pan, you can microwave the butter right in the pan). Swirl to cover bottom.
Mix grated cheddar, spinach, onion and mushrooms until evenly distributed. (I used my hands, which helped to separate the clingy spinach strands.)
Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Combine with cheddar mixture
Whisk eggs and milk, then pour over the spinach mixture and stir to combine
Dollop over butter in pan, then press lightly to cover the pan bottom .
Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees until golden. Cool slightly before cutting.
Leftovers
The last time I had leftovers, I fried up some squares in a little hot oil and they were amazing with a beautiful, browned-cheese exterior. You can also microwave leftovers. In any case, refrigerate anything left, well-sealed, and finish within a few days.
Tips & FAQs
For best results give your Spinach Squares adequate time to firm up before pulling them out of the pan. If you’re running late you can actually serve them (almost) right away, but the sides of the squares will be nicer if you let them get a little more solid.
Spinach is regularly on the EWG’s dirty dozen list of most contaminated fruits and vegetables. So go organic if you can. When I couldn’t get organic frozen spinach, I successfully used a 1 pound container of fresh spinach that I steamed to cook, then used like frozen.
Today I made these as 2-inch squares. But you can cut your Spinach Squares any size you’d like. For a more elegant affair, I recommend 1-inch squares skewered with a toothpick.
Of course, the size will impact your yield and calorie count!
Quick and Easy New Year’s Recipes
- Beetroot Hummus from Magical Ingredients
- Cocktail Weiners from That Recipe
- Jalapeno Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls from Jen Around the World
- Pear Prosciutto Polenta Bites from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Spinach Squares from Art of Natural Living
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Spinach and Cheddar Squares
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 poound grated cheddar
- 10 ounces chopped frozen spinach thawed
- 1 small onion minced
- 4 ounces mushrooms chopped
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour or flour of your choice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup skim milk or your choice
- 3 eggs
Instructions
- Melt butter, then pour into 9 x 13 pan (or if using a glass pan, you can microwave the butter right in the pan to melt). Swirl to cover bottom.
- Lightly pat the thawed spinach with a cloth or paper towel to remove some of the moisture. Mix grated cheddar, spinach, onion and mushrooms until evenly distributed. (I used my hands, which helped to separate the clingy spinach strands.)
- Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Combine with cheddar mixture.
- Whisk eggs and milk, then pour over the spinach mixture and stir to combine.
- Dollop over butter in pan, then press lightly to cover the pan bottom.
- Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool slightly before cutting.
Nutrition
Updated from the original dated Dec 5, 2019.
I love how versatile and straightforward these Cheesy Spinach Squares are! They strike that perfect balance of being indulgent yet packed with nutritious ingredients. Definitely bookmarking this one for my next appetizer spread as its quick and easy to prepare.
I would devour this! As an appetizer and double as a lunch or dinner recipe.
This is such a delicious appetizer. We love spinach and cheese dip and this will be our favorite one too.
Baked and then fried, both ways sound like they would be very good.
It was fun to do these two ways Karen!
I gather the thawed spinach is cooked frozen spinach? I like the second act with the crispy cheese.
That’s right Tandy. And I put “frozen” into the recipe in case anyone else is wondering.
These do sound absolutely wonderful! Like salads, I get into appetizer ruts. I always serve the same things over and over again. It’s time to break out and do something new! Like these!
I was very happy to break out of my rut David!