Description
A creamy and flavorful Crunchy Spinach Casserole featuring tender spinach cooked with celery and onion in a rich mushroom soup base, topped with golden, buttery bread cubes baked to perfection for a delightful crispy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Spinach Mixture
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
Topping
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cups cubed bread (1/2 inch)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Vegetables: In a large skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped celery and onion. Cook and stir these until they become tender, about 4-5 minutes, to release their flavors and soften the vegetables.
- Combine Spinach and Soup: Stir the thawed and well-drained chopped spinach into the skillet with the cooked celery and onion. Then, add the undiluted can of condensed cream of mushroom soup. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly, creating a creamy spinach mixture.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the spinach and soup mixture into a 1-1/2 quart round baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Prepare Topping: In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the 2 cups of 1/2-inch bread cubes, coating them well with the butter to ensure a crispy topping once baked.
- Top and Bake: Sprinkle the buttered bread cubes evenly over the spinach mixture in the baking dish. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake until the casserole is bubbly and the bread cubes are golden brown and crunchy, about 35-40 minutes.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve the casserole warm as a savory side dish or a delicious vegetarian main course.
Notes
- Make sure to thoroughly squeeze out excess water from the thawed spinach to prevent the casserole from becoming watery.
- You can substitute the bread cubes with crushed crackers or breadcrumbs for a different topping texture.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving for convenience.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Spinach casserole, creamy spinach bake, crunchy spinach side dish, mushroom soup casserole, baked spinach recipe
