The hosts, who started the day a point above the Primera Division's bottom three, picked up their fourth straight draw in the league to dent Malaga's slim hopes of UEFA Europa League qualification.
The point left the visitors seven points off the top six, having now played a game more.
And the draw will have certainly been a more welcome result for Granada, who extended their unbeaten run at home, which stretches back to February.
Malaga, unbeaten since 2 March, had the better chances in a match woefully short on quality, but in truth neither side did enough to earn the win.
Ignacio Camacho, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, headed wide from a Recio cross as the away side threatened after only two minutes, while Duje Cop saw his header saved low to his left by Granada goalkeeper Andres Fernandez shortly after.
At the other end Youssef El-Arabi fired wide of the right post from just outside the area.
Malaga applied some late pressure in a bid to find a winner, but Recio's shot was blocked and his cross was then headed over the top from Camacho.
But the hosts almost snatched it at the death when Ricardo Costa got a shot away from inside the area, but his effort flew just too high.
