Quick & Easy Spanakopita Recipe

Name: Quick & Easy Spanakopita Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1/2 a 16 oz package of frozen phyllo dough; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1/2 cup diced onion; 1 10 oz package frozen spinach thawed and drained; 1 clove garlic; 4 oz crumbled feta cheese; 1/2 cup cottage cheese; 1 teaspoon greek seasoning; 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon salt.; 1/4 cup butter, melted

September 22, 2021 by Tanya Schroeder · 58 Comments · Last updated: May 4, 2022

appetizer

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Spanakopita recipe, made the modern way! This version still has the buttery, flaky phyllo dough crust that surrounds a cheese and *spinach filling. This popular Greek dish takes only minutes to prepare!

Spanakopita is made much easier and faster with these simple adaptions. Using store-bought phyllo dough, spinach and feta we get a wonderfully buttery crust filled with rich flavors that are truly comforting. This dish can be served up at any meal and truly delight everyone with the first bite.

This recipe is so easy to make that it can be prepared specifically for when you have guests that you want to impress. Serve it up with a nice Mango Mimosa Drink and it’d be an incredible brunch.

What Is a Spanakopita Recipe?

Spanakopita’s English translation is “spinach pie”. Spanakopita (spana-ko-peeta) recipe is made with phyllo dough (a specialty, paper-thin dough that is typically found in the freezer section of your supermarket.

A traditional Greek spanakopita has homemade phyllo dough heavily brushed with butter and layered with spinach, cottage cheese, and feta cheese mixture. It is labor-intensive and quite time-consuming.

This recipe is none of those. This is my quick and easy version of the Greek classic! Making spanakopita with puff pastry is practically life-changing.

~~$Spanakopita recipe, made the modern way! This version still has the buttery, flaky filo with a cheese and spinach filling, but it takes a fraction of the time to prepare.$~~

Spanakopita Ingredients:

Phyllo dough
Olive oil
Onion
Frozen spinach
Garlic
Feta cheese
Greek seasoning
Nutmeg
Salt
Melted butter

See the recipe card below for the specific amounts needed.

How To Make This Quick Easy Spanakopita Recipe

As mentioned above, this recipe uses and starts with phyllo dough. Phyllo dough is vellum and tends to tear easily. It requires a light touch, but when it is buttered and baked, it yields the flakiest pastries ever (both sweet and savory).

To start the spanakopita, you should first prepare the filling as it requires a little bit of cooling time.

I like to use frozen spinach for this recipe. If using frozen spinach, make sure that you drain out all excess liquid from your spinach or else you will end up with a soggy bottom.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Cook the spinach and onion until heated through. Allow the mixture to cool then combine the vegetables with garlic, cottage cheese, crumbled feta cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper stirring to combine.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. As mentioned above, phyllo dough can tear very easily. Once I open the package, I unfold the dough layers and cover the exposed dough with plastic wrap AND a damp paper towel. This will prevent the sheets of phyllo dough from drying out and cracking.

You will use two sheets of dough at a time and butter them excessively. Butter will not only yield a crisp, buttery dough, but it will keep the dough soft and moist.

Rotate each pair of phyllo dough in a clockwise manner until all sheets of dough have been used up.

When all the sheets of dough have been used, place the spinach mixture in the center of the dough.

Fold the sides up and over part of the spinach. The center of the pie should be exposed.

Once again, grab the melted butter and now brush the butter on the newly exposed, folded phyllo dough. You really want the dough to shine with butter (I never said this was a light recipe).

Bake the savory pie in a 400-degree oven for about 25 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.

To serve, cut the pie into a triangle (like a pizza) using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter.

Substitutions

Fresh spinach. For the filling, I use frozen spinach but fresh, finely chopped spinach (this is a great way to use up fresh spinach!) can be used as long as it has been cooked down and wilted. If using frozen, be sure to drain it completely, or else you will end up with a soggy pie.
Cheeses. Ricotta cheese can be used in place of cottage cheese in this recipe. While spinach and feta are a perfect combination, feel free to use goat cheese instead of feta. Any of these cheeses pair wonderfully with the flavors in this dish so customize it to your own tastes and preferences.

Variations

Tasty additions. Feel free to mix in green onions, shallots, or fresh herbs like parsley and dill into the filling. Cooked leeks can also be used with the spinach to give you a nice and tasty combination of flavors in every bite.

~~$Spanakopita recipe, made the modern way! This version still has the buttery, flaky filo with a cheese and spinach filling, but it takes a fraction of the time to prepare.$~~

Recipe Tips

Prevent phyllo from drying out. I know I already mentioned this, but it bears repeating. Phyllo dough dries out really quickly. Once it dries and cracks it is unusable. I like to keep my phyllo dough on a silicon mat next to me while I work. I loosely cover it with plastic wrap and a damp towel. This keeps the dough from drying out. When working with phyllo, make sure you aren’t distracted, you will need to work quickly with this dough.
How to store. If you can’t eat your spanakopita in one sitting, then you can store the leftovers in the fridge. They will last for about one week in there so make sure that it stays well covered so that the layers do not dry out.
Reheating. The best way to reheat the spinach pie is in the oven. The phyllo dough will turn limp if microwaved. So place your spanakopita on a parchment-lined baking sheet and put it in the oven at 350 degrees F for a few minutes until warmed through. then enjoy!

$Spanakopita recipe, made the modern way! This version still has the buttery, flaky filo with a cheese and spinach filling, but it takes a fraction of the time to prepare.$

FAQs

What To Serve With Spanakopita?

Serve warm as an appetizer, side dish, or AS the meal itself. Spinach pie pairs wonderfully with Avgolemono Soup or this Greek Chicken Souvlaki Salad! This is a great recipe for entertaining, holidays special occasions, or just because you are in the mood for a little Greek food!

Can This Spankaopita Be Made In Advance?

Yes! I will often prepare the recipe as directed, cover, and store the spanakopita in the fridge. When I need it, I will bring it to room temperature while the oven preheats. Brush more melted butter on top just before baking.

Alternatively, you can prepare the recipe as directed and place the spinach pie on a cookie sheet to freeze.

Can Spanakopita Be Frozen?

Yes, it can. Once the pie has cooled completely, cover it with plastic wrap and foil and place it in the freezer. Spanakopita can be frozen for 1-2 months.

You can also freeze spanakopita BEFORE baking. Assemble the as directed up to the baking. Wrap the pie completely and securely before freezing.

When it is time to bake the pie, place the frozen pie on a baking tray and bake as directed.

If you like this recipe, then you will also love these easy Spanakopita Hand Pies this Spanakopita Spinach Dip, and Spanakopita Mac and Cheese!

Yield: 12