Quick Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Lemon and Pine Nuts

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Bright and tender spinach leaves quickly sautéed with garlic, toasted pine nuts, and a splash of fresh lemon juice for a simple side dish. This mediterranean-inspired vegetarian (gluten free) ready in about 12 minutes pairs packed fresh spinach, olive oil, thinly sliced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 150 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 7 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 150 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Knives & cutting boards → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup pine nuts and toast, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove pine nuts and set aside.
  2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add 3 thinly sliced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add 10 cups packed fresh spinach leaves to the skillet, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts but remains bright green.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in the toasted pine nuts, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Serve immediately.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Quick Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Lemon and Pine Nuts take to make?

Total time is about 12 minutes (5 min prep + 7 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Quick Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Lemon and Pine Nuts?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep packed fresh spinach from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Quick Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Lemon and Pine Nuts?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Quick Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Lemon and Pine Nuts for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

Is Quick Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Lemon and Pine Nuts gluten free?

Yes — this recipe is tagged gluten free based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.

Related recipes