
Spanakopita (Greek Spinach & Feta Pie)
A classic Greek savory pie filled with creamy spinach, tangy feta, fresh herbs, and eggs, all wrapped in shatteringly crisp, golden phyllo pastry. This home-cook-friendly version uses frozen spinach (no wilting required!) and store-bought phyllo dough for a reliable, crowd-pleasing result every time. Perfect as a main dish, side, or party appetizer.
8 servings · Prep 35 min · Cook 50 min · Total 85 min
Appetizer
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Filling
2 package frozen chopped spinach thawed completely
1 yellow onion finely diced
4 cloves garlic minced
3 tbsp olive oil
4 eggs lightly beaten
16 oz feta cheese crumbled (block feta preferred over pre-crumbled)
1 cup ricotta cheese
0.5 cup fresh dill roughly chopped
0.25 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped
4 stalks green onions thinly sliced
0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
0.25 tsp kosher salt taste before adding — feta is very salty
Crust
1 package phyllo dough thawed overnight in the refrigerator, #4 thickness (standard)
0.75 cup unsalted butter melted (about 1.5 sticks), or use olive oil
olive oil
Equipment
Oven
Stovetop
Baking Dish
Aluminum Foil
Mixing Bowl
Skillet
Plastic Wrap
Paper Towel
Kitchen Towel
Cheesecloth
Kitchen Shears
Pastry Brush
Spatula
Knife
Pan
Baking Dish (9 x 13)
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Instructions
- Thaw the @[Frozen Spinach] completely, then transfer it in batches to a clean #[Kitchen Shears] towel or several layers of cheesecloth. Wring it out as firmly as you can — you want it as dry as possible. This is the single most important step: excess moisture will make your pie soggy. Set aside.
- Heat the @[Olive Oil] in a #[Skillet] over ^[medium heat]. Add the diced @[Yellow Onion] and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about ~[5–6 minutes]. Add the @[Garlic] and cook for ~[1 more minute] until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large #[Mixing Bowl], combine the wrung-out @[Spinach], sautéed @[Yellow Onion] and @[Garlic], beaten @[Eggs], crumbled @[Feta Cheese], @[Ricotta Cheese], @[Dill], @[Flat-Leaf Parsley], @[Green Onions], @[Nutmeg], and @[Black Pepper]. Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly combined. Taste the mixture and add @[Kosher Salt] only if needed — @[Feta Cheese] is quite salty on its own. Set the filling aside.
- Preheat your #[Oven] to ![375°F]. Brush a 9x13-inch #[Baking Dish] generously with melted @[Butter]. Unroll the @[Phyllo Dough] and lay it flat. Immediately cover it with a sheet of #[Plastic Wrap] and then a slightly damp #[Kitchen Shears] towel — @[Phyllo Dough] dries out and cracks within minutes when exposed to air, so keep it covered whenever you're not actively working with it.
- Lay one sheet of @[Phyllo Dough] into the buttered #[Baking Dish], letting any excess drape over the sides. Brush it all over with melted @[Butter]. Repeat with 7 more sheets (8 total), brushing each one with @[Butter] before adding the next. This forms your bottom crust.
- Spread the @[Spinach] and @[Feta Cheese] filling evenly over the @[Phyllo Dough] base, smoothing it into the corners with a #[Spatula].
- Layer 8 more sheets of @[Phyllo Dough] on top of the filling, again brushing each sheet generously with @[Butter]. For the final top sheet, tuck any overhanging edges down and inward along the sides of the dish to create a neat border, and brush the top thoroughly with @[Butter].
- Using a very sharp #[Knife], score the top layers of @[Phyllo Dough] (don't cut all the way through) into the portion sizes you want — typically 8 to 12 squares or rectangles. This prevents the top from shattering uncontrollably when you cut it after baking. Sprinkle a few drops of water on top to help prevent the edges from curling.
- Bake in the preheated #[Oven] for ~[45–50 minutes], until the top is deep golden brown and the @[Phyllo Dough] is crisp and flaky. If the top is browning too fast, tent loosely with #[Aluminum Foil] after ~[30 minutes].
- Remove from the #[Oven] and let the spanakopita rest for at least ~[10–15 minutes] before cutting. This allows the filling to set so slices hold their shape. Cut along your scored lines and serve warm or at room temperature.
