Description
This Chicken and Spinach Casserole with Cream Cheese is a comforting and flavorful dish that’s perfect for a cozy family dinner. Tender chicken breasts are smothered in a creamy spinach and cheese mixture, then baked to golden perfection. It’s a simple yet satisfying meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Spinach Mixture:
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare Chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to create four thin cutlets. Pound to even thickness. In a bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Marinate the chicken for 15-30 minutes.
- Cook Spinach: In a skillet, heat the remaining olive oil and cook spinach until wilted. Set aside.
- Prepare Spinach Mixture: Beat cream cheese in a bowl, then mix in spinach and 1/2 cup mozzarella (and Parmesan if using).
- Sear Chicken (Optional): Sear marinated chicken in a skillet for added flavor.
- Assemble Casserole: Arrange chicken in baking dish, spread spinach mixture over it, and top with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake: Bake for 20-30 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F (75°C) and cheese is melted and browned.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can customize this casserole by adding your favorite herbs or spices to the cream cheese mixture.
- Feel free to add cooked bacon or diced ham for an extra boost of flavor.
- This dish pairs well with a side of roasted vegetables or a fresh green salad.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: Chicken, Spinach, Casserole, Cream Cheese, Baked
