Sautéed Spinach and Bacon with Garlic Butter
Tender spinach leaves cooked with crispy bacon and fragrant garlic butter make a savory, keto-friendly side dish. This american-inspired keto (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 cloves garlic cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- 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.
- Step 2: Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Spinach and Bacon with Garlic Butter take to make?
Total time is about 20 minutes (5 min prep + 15 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 Sautéed Spinach and Bacon with Garlic Butter?
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 fresh spinach from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sautéed Spinach and Bacon with Garlic Butter?
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 Sautéed Spinach and Bacon with Garlic Butter 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 Sautéed Spinach and Bacon with Garlic Butter keto?
Yes — this recipe is tagged keto, low carb based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
