42 Easy Spinach Recipes to Make for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, gluten free
• Serves: 2

One of my favorite ways to get my greens is to sauté them until meltingly tender, then toss them into a hearty bowl of pasta. Even better, this one happens to be grain-free. "It can be ready in under 30 minutes, including prep time, and it’s incredibly flavorful and satisfying," recipe developer Jodi Moreno adds.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Name a better combination than bacon and spinach—I'll wait. The crispy meat lends a smoky touch to the greens, which keep everything light and nutritious. Both the main and side would pair seamlessly with rice or quinoa.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 12 calzones

While they’d make a damn fine cocktail appetizer, I'm sure you wouldn’t object to eating these bite-size pocket pizzas for dinner (or lunch). And by shortcutting them with store-bought pizza dough, you totally can without breaking a sweat.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Anyone can cook a veggie, but Ina Garten knows the secret to making it irresistible: Smother it in cream, breadcrumbs and two types of cheese, of course. Make sure you’re getting true aged Parmesan from Italy, and grate it yourself for a flawless, smooth texture.

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Your nonna might scoff at this spinach recipe, but I think making this classic Italian-American pasta dish in a slow cooker is arguably the best thing to happen to food since sliced bread. Just throw all the ingredients into the Crockpot and return to a fully cooked, comforting pasta dinner in a few hours.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

I'll admit it: I love a retro recipe. But I'm also all about a modern makeover, which is where these cheesy, flaky squares come in. Dunk them in marinara sauce, store-bought pesto or nothing at all.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

If you’re feeling a little virtuous but still want something decadent, this dairy-free side is for you. (The secret ingredient? Coconut milk.) The spinach is cooked with red onion, garlic, ginger and a few spices, like cayenne pepper, to bring the heat.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

I've cracked the code on how to improve this classic: grilled chicken. It adds a smoky je ne sais quoi to the creamy, saucy noodles. I'm betting even the kids at your table will ask for seconds of the stuff.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

You’re familiar with the popular brunch dish, right? This variation swaps spinach in for the usual tomatoes to delicious effect, if I do say so myself. Serve it with plenty of crusty bread (or toast) for dipping in sauce and runny yolks.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Meet a new version of chicken Parmigiana, which requires absolutely zero frying or dredging. In other words, it's definitive proof that baked can be better. Recipe creator Erin McDowell's version starts with thin chicken breasts, which are stuffed with cheese-and-spinach filling, rolled up into bundles and lightly coated with breadcrumbs. 

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 4

Inspired by one of the most beloved party dips of all time, this 25-minute dinner is creamy, decadent and tangy. "The secret is tangy, creamy goat cheese, which instantly melts into the pasta and makes the most amazing sauce," recipe creator Maria Lichty claims.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 4

Get your meal prep on with this well-rounded, easy lunch idea that all your coworkers (or roommates) will be jealous of. Think a simple spinach-olive salad paired with lemon chicken, sweet potatoes and homemade tzatziki.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead
• Serves: 6

Spring does not have dibs on spinach. This fall stunner has Thanksgiving written all over it. Think tender butternut squash and spinach, layered with nutmeg-sage ricotta and mozzarella.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Homemade soup in 35 minutes? Believe it, babe. Puréeing it in the blender makes for a luxuriously creamy mouthfeel. "The croutons are easy to make and so delicious that you have to be careful not to become obsessed with them," recipe creator Alejandra Graf writes. "Feel free to substitute the spinach with kale, arugula or other greens."

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, no cook, <30 minutes
• Serves: 2

This nutritional powerhouse has just the right amount of sweetness, thanks to honey and banana. And since there's 9 grams of protein in every smoothie, you'll stay satisfied until lunchtime for sure.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Craving beef Wellington but want to skip the night-long food coma? Try this hearty vegetarian alternative that calls for leeks, spinach, mushrooms, celery and tons of fresh herbs in meat's place.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Any recipe featuring fresh garlic, butter and Parmesan cheese is one I want in my belly, stat. Throw a generous glug of white wine in the mix for this easy spinach recipe, and it's *chef's kiss*.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 12

Sourdough bread, a ton of fresh sage, fennel-laced Italian sausage—remind me again why you only make stuffing during the holidays? To prepare it ahead, make the stuffing mixture, spread it out on a sheet pan and refrigerate, tightly wrapped, for up to one day until you’re ready to bake it.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Wait, you've never tried grilled pizza? It's only the most ingenious barbecue main *ever*, since the flaming-hot grates basically guarantee an impeccably crisp crust. Bonus? This recipe calls for store-bought flatbread instead of dough for seamless assembly.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

"Fresh or frozen cheese tortellini is ubiquitous in grocery stores and more than fine when tossed with marinara sauce for a quick meal," recipe developer Sheela Prakash writes. "But, in just as little time, it can become a dinner that deserves an impromptu bottle of wine after a harried Wednesday." Don't skip the hazelnuts—they seriously amp up the toasty, nutty notes of the brown butter sauce.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, high protein
• Serves: 6

For those who mean business when it comes to brunch. This beauty of a spinach recipe boasts not one, not two, but three different cheeses: Havarti, sharp cheddar and Gruyère, in case you're curious.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

A veggie, starch and protein cooked on a single sheet-pan in less than an hour? That's a dinner miracle if I've ever seen one. The leftovers will keep up to four days in the fridge to boot.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

The fancy wooden board does more than just look pretty. It also makes all the salad toppings easily accessible, unlike a giant bowl that all the crunchy bits would sink in. Your guests will thank you, promise.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pan
• Serves: 8

This single-skillet star is the definition of comfort food. And it's a breeze to make, too—think of stuffed shells like a shortcut to homemade ravioli. The secret to the sauce's sweet-yet-punchy flavor is all thanks to roasted red peppers and spicy Italian sausage.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, gluten free
• Serves: 4

Risotto doesn't need to contain a million calories (not that I don't love when it does). This wholesome take only uses EVOO, vegetable broth and modest amounts of butter, white wine and Parm to reach arborio heaven. Use kale instead of spinach if that's what you have on hand.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, make ahead
• Serves: 1

Isn't it the best when a single meal takes care of your veggie count for the whole day? This stunner boasts asparagus, spinach, avocado, broccoli slaw and a generous glug of green goddess dressing, in case the fresh produce wasn't enough to sway you.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

This better-for-you spin on a dinnertime classic calls for a whopping eight cups of mixed greens (kale! arugula! spinach!), as well as part-skim ricotta and mozz. Feel free to dress it with store-bought pesto to make it even more verdant.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1

Every morning is a good one with this 15-minute breakfast on the table. It's made with maca powder, an energy booster made from Peruvian maca root. Green tea lovers: I encourage you to go wild with the matcha powder, too.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Or summer in a pot, as I like to call it. This easy spinach recipe calls for five ears of fresh corn, which is a no-brainer in the summertime, but feel free to substitute about four cups of canned or frozen kernels instead in the off-season.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, gluten free
• Serves: 2

Ever had polenta that wasn't drowning in a pool of butter and cheese? Didn't think so. Here, it's topped with crispy mushrooms, thin-sliced spinach, diced tomatoes and a dollop of basil pesto instead.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Life is about balance. That's why this cozy, two-cheese mac is loaded with baby spinach and broccolini. Good thinking, Jamie Oliver. "Swap spinach out for any kind of exciting fresh or frozen greens," he writes. "I also sometimes add bread crumbs to the top for bonus crunch."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Radishes, peas, mushrooms, oh my! Spinach has plenty of company in this farmers market dream. Cut or add whatever vegetables you have on hand—it'll still taste delicious, thanks to all that butter, white wine and Parm. Risotto is flexible like that.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

The key to fluffing up a mini frittata is cooking one side on the stovetop, then broiling the other side in the oven until it's puffy and cooked through. Plate it with egg, crispy prosciutto and toast.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

It's your pantry's time to shine. Once you have the pasta, sausage and greens on hand, the rest is as simple as simmering tomato sauce, chicken stock and a few other essentials to savory perfection. Sound easy enough?

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, gluten free
• Serves: 4

For nights when you're craving something filling but still healthy, try this 30-minute, dairy-free dish that doesn't skimp on decadence. (Don't forget the rice for serving—you won't want to waste a drop of the curry.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

If you’ve never tried spanakopita (which translates to “spinach pie”), you’re in for a treat. It’s buttery, cheesy and all-around irresistible. Good luck having just one slice. P.S.: Your dinner guests will definitely snap a photo of this masterpiece.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, gluten free
• Serves: 4

Leave it to recipe developer Phoebe Lapine to come up with a lightning-fast hash that I want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (It's also Paleo, Whole30 and gluten-free—no big deal.)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2

Meet the savory breakfast of your dreams: It looks and tastes semi-fancy, but starts with a modest can of chickpeas and comes together in just 15 minutes. The fiber and plant-based protein in the chickpeas will surely keep you full 'til lunchtime.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 2

Would you believe that there are five cups of iron-rich spinach on this pizza, courtesy of recipe developer Gaby Dalkin? It’s practically a salad, if you ask me. In case you need more convincing, wild mushrooms are at peak deliciousness in the spring.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Recipe creator Monique Volz knows that not all salads have to have kale or lettuce to be delicious. Spinach is just as good for you and pairs beautifully with all kinds of toppings, like warm-spiced sweet potatoes, tender-crisp pears and tangy goat cheese, for starters.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 2 to 3

In just 20 minutes, you could have a satisfying, healthy lunch. Alternatively, you could spend $20 at the salad bar. The choice is yours, friend. (I'd pick garlicky croutons, spicy shrimp and homemade dressing, though.)

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, one pan
• Serves: 6

A frittata is a carb-free blank slate for just about any protein, cheese or vegetable imaginable. Slice it up like a pie and boom: You're ready to brunch. I'll bring the mimosas.