Cheesy Spinach Souffle

Spinach Souffle was a childhood favorite. My mom’s recipe with Velveeta is now made with sharp cheddar! A holiday tradition at our house!

This Spinach Casserole is always on our holiday menu! Add leftover Easter ham for a yummy entree or just serve as-is for a vegetarian meal.

Why You Must Make

• This super easy spinach souffle is a treasured recipe from my childhood. I almost hate to admit that my mom’s version used a processed cheese spread, AKA Velveeta, and I adored it! Fast forward a few years and I found a similar recipe in our local Junior League cookbook, Winners, but with an upgrade of cheeses to a lovely sharp cheddar.
• Surprisingly, my vegetable-avoiding daughter loves this spinach souffle. Spinach is the only veggie that Katie will eat, and it was this casserole that sold her. That tells you something right there!
• Even if you don’t like cottage cheese, you won’t even see or taste it in this recipe. It’s delicious!

Ingredient Notes

• Kitchen Staples – Butter, Flour, Salt
• Eggs – You will need six
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese -An 8-ounce block, cubed
• Cottage Cheese – Small curd or Old-Fashioned cottage cheese
• Frozen, Chopped Spinach – 2 boxes; defrost and squeeze dry.
• Optional Ingredient, Ham – After Easter, add 2 cups chopped, leftover ham, and reduce the added salt.

How to Make

Not officially a “souffle” as the eggs are added whole instead of the whites whipped, then folded in. But that’s the title of my mom’s dish from back in the ’60s or ’70s, so there you go!

1. This is such a simple recipe, just defrost two boxes of frozen chopped spinach overnight in the fridge. Set on the counter for an hour or so if the spinach is still icy the next morning.
2. Next, squeeze the spinach very dry as any excess water will make this spinach casserole watery. I like using a potato ricer, but the hubby (my dishwasher) cringes when he sees little all the little bits of spinach he has to clean!
3. You can also use your hands and squeeze out the liquid manually. This is my usual method.
4. After that, you simply mix the spinach with eggs, cottage cheese (look for “old-fashioned” which has a smaller curd and is creamier), a couple of tablespoons of flour, chunks of cheddar, some butter, and a wee bit of salt.
5. Pour into a greased casserole and bake. When I had only one oven, I slid it in with the turkey at Thanksgiving. If you’re doing this and the oven is not set at 350 degrees, just adjust the baking time.
6. My oldest loves when I make this after Easter and add chunks of ham. Just reduce the salt a bit as the ham will add more saltiness to this dish. It then can be an entree instead of a side dish. It would also make a terrific brunch casserole!

Variations on Spinach Souffle

• Sprinkle some cheese on top during the last few minutes of baking. A little gooey topping is always a bonus!
• I like using sharp cheddar cheese, but mozzarella or Monterey jack would also be good choices.
• Want some additional flavor? Feel free to add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes for some heat. Nutmeg is a classic spice added to spinach dishes, so a few grates of fresh nutmeg or a pinch or two of ground nutmeg would taste terrific. A little goes a long way, though, so don’t overdo it!
• Watching your carbs? Swap out the flour for almond flour for a low-carb side or even entree.
• As mentioned above, you can add 2 cups of chopped ham (great for Easter leftovers) and mix to combine. Since the ham is salty, don’t add any salt to the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The Recipe:

Spinach Souffle Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Yield 8 servings

An updated favorite from my childhood, this easy spinach souffle is perfect for the holidays!

Ingredients

• 6 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons butter, cubed
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cubed (I use Kraft sharp cheddar)
• 24 ounces cream style, small curd cottage cheese (or "old fashioned" cottage cheese)
• 2 10-ounce packages frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease 9 x 13 or comparable casserole dish.
2. Combine all ingredients and pour into prepared dish. Bake 30-45 minutes or till middle is set.

Notes

Adapted from Winners, Junior League cookbook from Indianapolis.
You may also add 2 cups of chopped ham. Just reduce the salt if you do.

This recipe is perfect for leftover Easter ham.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 545Total Fat: 50gSaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 280mgSodium: 653mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 18g

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