Greek Lemon Spinach Rice

Healthy Comfort on a Budget: Greek Lemon Spinach Rice Your Family Will Love

If you're looking for budget friendly healthy meals that still feel cozy and satisfying, this dish may quickly become your new weeknight hero. Today, I'm sharing one of the most beloved Mediterranean plates—Greek lemon and spinach rice, also known as traditional spanakorizo. But this isn’t just any recipe. It's a simple, cheap, one pot comfort meal that brings together high fiber veggies, bright fresh lemon, and the creamy texture of perfectly cooked rice.

As someone who spends a lot of time developing clean eating recipes, writing this post felt like coming home. This dish has been part of my kitchen for years, especially during the colder months when healthy comfort is exactly what I crave. While testing this recipe for the blog, I found myself making it three times in one week—partly because I needed to measure each ingredient perfectly, but mostly because my family asked for it again and again.

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What Is Spanakorizo?

Spanakorizo (pronounced spa-nah-ko-REE-zo) is a traditional Greek dish made of rice, spinach, lemon, herbs, and olive oil. At its heart, it is simple, comforting, and incredibly nourishing. Think of it as Greece’s version of risotto—but much easier, and much healthier.

This dish fits beautifully into the Mediterranean diet because it’s loaded with high fiber veggies, naturally gluten free, and uses wholesome everyday ingredients. The best part? It requires only one pot and takes minimal effort, making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that doesn't break the bank.

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Why This Dish Is Perfect for Budget Friendly Healthy Meals

Every ingredient in this recipe is inexpensive. Spinach, onion, rice, broth, lemon—these are staples you can find anytime, anywhere, and they don’t cost much at all. Many readers often ask for cheap clean eating recipes that still feel filling and satisfying. This dish checks every box.

Here's why:

• It's a one pot dish—less cleanup, less equipment.
• All ingredients are budget friendly and easy to source.
• Spinach adds fiber, minerals, and volume without adding cost.
• Rice is inexpensive yet comforting and satisfying.

If you're feeding a family on a budget, this might be the ultimate solution. Add optional protein like chickpeas or chicken, and you have a complete, clean eating meal.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Below are the exact measurements for this delicious Mediterranean recipe:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/4 cups long-grain white rice
• 4 cups fresh spinach (or 2 cups frozen spinach)
• 2 1/4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh dill)
• Optional: 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

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How to Cook Greek Lemon and Spinach Rice

Follow these simple steps for perfect results every time:

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan or deep skillet.
2. Sauté onion until translucent—about 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Stir in the rice and toast for 1–2 minutes.
5. Add broth, salt, pepper, dill, and lemon zest.
6. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook on low for 15 minutes.
7. Add spinach and lemon juice, stirring until spinach wilts.
8. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

This method ensures your rice turns out fluffy—not mushy—and the flavors balance beautifully.

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Chef-Approved Tools to Make This Dish Easier (Amazon Recommendations)

As I tested this recipe over and over again, I realized how much the right tools can make a recipe smoother and more enjoyable. Here are three Amazon products I personally love for this dish:

1. Stainless Steel 5-Quart Saucepan

A reliable one pot for cooking rice dishes is essential. This stainless steel saucepan heats evenly and helps prevent rice from sticking or burning. It’s durable, oven-safe, and perfect for all your clean eating recipes.

Upgrade your kitchen with this versatile saucepan — click here to check it out on Amazon!

2. Citrus Lemon Squeezer

Since this recipe relies heavily on fresh lemon flavor, a sturdy citrus squeezer makes the job easier. You get maximum juice with minimal effort, and it works beautifully for cooking, baking, and cocktails too.

Get fresher, brighter flavor in every recipe — click here to shop the citrus squeezer!

3. Wooden Spoon Set

A wooden spoon won’t scratch your cookware and is perfect for stirring rice dishes. This set includes spoons of different sizes, great for everyday food prep and serving your favorite Mediterranean plates.

Make cooking more enjoyable with a quality spoon set — click here to grab yours on Amazon!

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Recipe: Greek Lemon & Spinach Rice (Spanakorizo)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

This recipe is easy, cheap, and perfect for busy nights when you want something wholesome without extra effort.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/4 cups long-grain white rice
• 4 cups fresh spinach
• 2 1/4 cups broth
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• Optional: 1/2 cup crumbled feta

Instructions:

1. Warm oil in a large pot.
2. Sauté onion for 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds.
4. Add rice and stir well.
5. Pour in broth, salt, pepper, dill, and lemon zest.
6. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
7. Stir in spinach and lemon juice.
8. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

The result? A creamy, fragrant rice dish bursting with fresh lemon flavor. It's comfort food that stays light, healthy, cheap, and nourishing.

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Delicious Variations & Add-Ins

Here are easy ways to turn your spanakorizo into a complete weeknight dinner:

• Chickpeas — Add 1 cup for extra protein and fiber.
• Grilled chicken — The lemon pairs beautifully with chicken breast.
• Feta cheese — Adds creamy, salty richness.
• Fresh parsley or dill — Adds brightness and aroma.

These swaps keep the dish cheap, simple, and true to clean eating principles.

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What to Serve With Greek Lemon & Spinach Rice

As part of a wholesome Mediterranean plate, this rice pairs beautifully with:

• Roasted lemon chicken
• Grilled salmon
• Greek salad
• Yogurt garlic sauce
• Roasted vegetables

But honestly—it's so hearty and nourishing that it often becomes the star of the meal.

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Why This Dish Is Great for Clean Eating & High Fiber Diets

Spinach is loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, plus iron and gut-friendly fiber. Combined with rice, this becomes a well-balanced, nutrient-rich comfort food. Plus, lemon adds powerful antioxidants and helps brighten the flavors without extra calories.

And since there's no wheat, dairy is optional, and everything cooks in one pot—it’s naturally gluten free and perfect for clean eating.

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Meal Prep Tips for Busy Families

This dish reheats beautifully and keeps well for 3–4 days. To store:

• Refrigerate in airtight containers.
• Add a splash of broth before reheating to keep it creamy.
• Serve leftovers as a base for bowls with chicken, salmon, or roasted veggies.

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Final Thoughts

Greek lemon and spinach rice is the perfect example of how food doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated to be delicious. With just a handful of cheap, wholesome ingredients, you can create a comforting dinner that your family will genuinely love.

From my kitchen to yours, I hope this recipe becomes one of your favorite budget friendly healthy meals—especially when you need something easy, nourishing, and incredibly flavorful.