Sautéed Spinach and Bacon with Garlic Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-02 · Updated 2026-08-02

Tender spinach leaves cooked with crispy bacon and fragrant garlic butter make a savory, keto-friendly side dish. This American-inspired keto recipe (low carb), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs fresh spinach, bacon strips, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. 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.

Ingredients

• 8 cups fresh spinach
• 4 slices bacon strips
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Chop 4 slices of bacon into 1/2-inch pieces and cook them in a large skillet over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until crispy and browned, stirring occasionally.
2. Step 2: Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
3. Step 3: Add 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet; sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and golden, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
4. Step 4: Add 8 cups of fresh spinach to the skillet and sauté, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes until the spinach wilts and reduces in volume.
5. Step 5: Return the crispy bacon to the skillet, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and toss everything together for 1 minute to combine and heat through.