Aunt Bee’s cheesy spinach squares are a delicious make ahead appetizer to serve at your upcoming holiday party! They are the perfect bite-size finger food, but they work equally well as a weeknight side dish. Cheesy, easy, and just 10 minutes of prep!
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If you’re looking for even more easy appetizers, be sure to try my mom’s candied pecans, these classic stuffed mushrooms, pepperoni rolls, Bisquick sausage balls, this 10-minute crab dip, and our favorite pimento cheese spread, too!
When Aunt Bee originally sent me the handwritten index card with this recipe on it, the title was called “Spinach Brownies.” I immediately envisioned some weird concoction of chocolate and leafy greens, but boy was I wrong! This is a recipe that dates back to the days when it was not en vogue to hide your veggies in dessert treats, or to lighten up a dish with “secret” ingredients like chickpeas or kale.
Instead, I suppose they were called “brownies” because you can bake them in a square pan and slice them just like you would a more traditional brownie. But the similarities stop there (fortunately!).
Instead of some odd chocolate-spinach blend, these are actually just a very simple savory recipe for spinach and cheese squares.
Why You’ll Love these Spinach Squares
- Quick and easy. These bars come together with simple ingredients in a matter of minutes.
- Affordable. You don’t need any pricey crab or fancy cheese. Just some humble, basic components come together in a delicious, budget-friendly way.
- Make-Ahead. You can bake these in advance and just reheat them when you’re ready to serve them. They’re great served warm or even at room temperature.
- Finger-friendly. These make ahead hors d’oeuvres can be sliced into very small bite-size squares, they don’t make a mess, and they don’t require any utensils. The perfect finger food for a party buffet!
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for Aunt Bee’s spinach bars. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- All-purpose flour: the base of the dough.
- Salt: to enhance the other ingredients.
- Baking powder: the leavening agent that gives the bars a little bit of “puff.”
- Milk: the liquid that binds the dough together.
- Cheddar cheese: for great flavor. Feel free to use other good melting cheeses of your choice. For instance, some crumbled feta, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Colby, Colby Jack, Parmesan cheese, or Pepper Jack cheese would all be great.
- Eggs: give the bars structure.
- Butter: for rich flavor. I prefer salted butter.
- Frozen chopped spinach: cooked (in the microwave for about 5 minutes is easiest) and squeezed very dry.
How to Make Spinach Squares
This is SO simple, y’all! It’s really just a matter of stirring together a few ingredients and baking them in the oven. That’s it! You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
- Place the spinach mixture in a greased pan.
- Bake, cool slightly, and cut into squares.
Serving Suggestions for Spinach Cheese Squares
These little cheesy spinach squares pair perfectly with a cold beverage, a glass of wine, or your favorite cocktail for snack time perfection!
They’re a nice addition to a charcuterie board when served with nuts, fresh or dried fruit (such as grapes, figs, or dried apricots), pimento cheese and crackers, deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms, or Italian pinwheels.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: Bake the spinach squares in advance. Let cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Storage: Leftover baked squares will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- How to Reheat: To reheat frozen spinach squares, place the frozen squares in a 400°F oven for about 20 minutes. If the squares are thawed at room temperature or in the refrigerator, they will only need about 10 minutes to warm in the oven.
Recipe Variations
- To serve a larger group, double all of the ingredients and bake the squares in a 9 x 13-inch dish.
- Try a variety of cheeses, such as crumbled feta cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, Parmesan cheese, or mozzarella cheese.
- Make the spinach bars spicy by adding a dash of cayenne to the mixture. For a mild pop of color and sweet flavor, you might like to stir in some diced pimentos.
- For even more flavor, add garlic powder or onion powder.
- Want to use fresh spinach instead of frozen chopped spinach? I have never prepared the recipe with fresh spinach myself, but a reader has tested it and commented below. See her note if you’d like to give it a try!
Tips for the Best Spinach Squares Recipe
- Squeeze the spinach very dry before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. To do so, I like to place the cooked spinach in a dish towel and wring it out over the sink. You’ll be amazed by how much water comes out!
- Grate the cheese by hand, rather than purchasing a package of pre-shredded cheese. This extra step is worth the effort, since the hand-grated cheese melts better (and tastes better)!
- If freezing the squares, be sure to allow them to cool completely before wrapping.
- The spinach squares are delicious served warm or at room temperature, so they’re great for setting out at a party. You don’t have to worry about keeping them warm, and they’re not messy or hard to eat.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
4-Ingredient Spinach Dip
2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Homemade Chex Mix
55 minutes mins
5-Minute Corn Dip
5 minutes mins
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Aunt Bee’s Cheesy Spinach Squares
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 (9 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, cooked and squeezed dry
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
- Stir together all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Transfer the spinach mixture to the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Loosen the edges from the sides of the pan with a knife as soon as they are removed from the oven. Cool slightly before cutting into squares. Serve warm, or freeze to use later.
Notes
- Squeeze the spinach very dry before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. To do so, I like to place the cooked spinach in a dish towel and wring it out over the sink. You’ll be amazed by how much water comes out!
- Grate the cheese by hand, rather than purchasing a package of pre-shredded cheese. This extra step is worth the effort, since the hand-grated cheese melts better (and tastes better)!
- If freezing the squares, be sure to allow them to cool completely before wrapping.
- The spinach squares are delicious served warm or at room temperature, so they’re great for setting out at a party. You don’t have to worry about keeping them warm, and they’re not messy or hard to eat.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in November, 2014. It was updated in November, 2018.
Delicious! I had to stop myself from eating the whole lot in one go! Think I’ll try adding a little spice next time.
It’s definitely hard not to eat it all at once. We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Beki!
I have similar recipe but I use 8 oz shredded cheddar and 8 oz Swiss cheese. Also add a half finely chopped onion and I don’t cook the spinach first. It’s always a big hit and everyone loves it, I make it several times a year for parties, bbq’s and Christmas parties.
Thank you for sharing, Kathy! We hope you enjoy.
This was excellent. I made these to go with a large Spaghetti lunch and they were a hit. Kids loved them!
Thank you, Sandi! We’re so glad you enjoyed it.
I used extra old cheese hoping it would give flavour. It was OK but it was still bland. Very disappointing.