Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie): A Taste of Greece at Your Table
Spanakopita is a flaky Greek spinach pie filled with a savory mixture of spinach, feta, eggs, and fresh herbs, all encased in golden phyllo dough. Whether served as a snack, side dish, or main course, it’s a versatile and crowd-pleasing dish with bold Mediterranean flavors.
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Greek
Servings 8
Calories 300 kcal
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons for sautéing onions
- Onion: 1 cup finely chopped
- Spinach: 2 lbs fresh or 15 oz frozen squeeze out excess water if using frozen
- Dill: ¼ cup chopped fresh
- Eggs: 4 large to bind the filling
- Feta cheese: 8 oz crumbled
- Parmesan cheese: 2 tablespoons grated
- Kosher salt: ¾ teaspoon
- Unsalted butter: 8 tablespoons melted (plus extra for greasing the pan)
- Phyllo dough: 1 lb thawed and softened
Prepare the Phyllo Dough: Thaw phyllo dough according to the package instructions. Once thawed, set it at room temperature for about an hour.
Sauté the Onion: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Remove from heat.
Prepare the Spinach Filling: For fresh spinach, wash and chop it, then sauté in a dry skillet to remove excess moisture. If using frozen spinach, squeeze out all the water. Combine spinach, sautéed onions, dill, eggs, feta, Parmesan, and salt in a mixing bowl. Stir until fully combined.
Grease the Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with melted butter.
Layer the Phyllo Dough: Unroll the phyllo dough and cover it with a damp towel to prevent drying. Lay one sheet in the baking dish and brush with melted butter. Repeat this process with 7 more sheets.
Add the Filling: Spread the spinach and feta mixture evenly over the phyllo layers.
Top with More Phyllo Layers: Add another 8 sheets of phyllo dough on top, brushing each with butter. Tuck the edges in for a neat finish.
Score the Pastry: Use a sharp knife to lightly score the top layers of phyllo into squares or triangles for easy slicing after baking.
Bake the Spanakopita: Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the phyllo is golden brown and crispy.
Cool and Serve: Allow the pie to cool slightly, then slice along the scored lines. Serve warm or at room temperature with tzatziki or a fresh Greek salad.
Keyword feta and spinach pie