Place spinach in a large bowl. Soak a paper towel with water and place on top of the spinach. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, until the spinach is wilted and becomes a bright green color. Remove from the bowl and place onto a cutting board.
Roughly chop, the squeeze the spinach to remove any excess moisture.Drizzle olive oil into a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat.
Saute onion for about 5 minutes, until slightly browned and translucent. Add garlic and continue to cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to ensure that the garlic doesn't burn. Add garlic powder, onion, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine, then add butter. Once the butter is melted, add the flour and continue to stir. Continue to cook for 3-5 minutes, until the flour is fully absorbed.
Slowly begin to pour in the heavy cream and whole milk, stirring constantly. Add in the cream cheese, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg. Once the cream cheese has melted into the sauce, reduce the heat to low, and cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about 3-5 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup of parmesan, lemon juice, and chopped spinach. Remove from heat and stir until the spinach is fully incorporated into the sauce. Place creamed spinach into an oven safe serving dish/or keep in the pan if that's how you're serving it.
Sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese on top and broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes, until the top is golden brown and slightly crisp.
Notes
Make Ahead Tips: Prepare up to a day ahead and reheat gently on the stove over low heat. If reheating, add a splash of cream or milk to loosen the consistency.Gradually Add Liquid: Slowly whisk in whole milk and heavy cream. This prevents lumps in the sauce.Don’t skip draining the spinach: Excess water dilutes the sauce.