Description
Chicken and Spinach Casserole with Cream Cheese becomes your go-to comfort dinner when creamy meets healthy in one delightful dish. Packed with tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a luxurious cream cheese sauce, this casserole delivers hearty satisfaction with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring every corner gets covered.
- Slice 2 chicken breasts horizontally, creating 4 thin cutlets. Gently pound the thicker sections with a meat mallet to make uniform thickness.
- Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Coat chicken pieces thoroughly in the marinade.
- Warm the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 2 cups fresh spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until completely wilted. Remove from heat.
- Beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese until creamy. Fold in the cooked spinach, ½ cup mozzarella, and ½ cup Parmesan cheese until well blended.
- Quickly sear the marinated chicken in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes per side, creating a golden exterior that locks in flavor.
- Arrange seared chicken in the prepared baking dish. Spread the cream cheese and spinach mixture evenly across the top, covering each piece completely.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the casserole. Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven. Serve with a crisp side salad or roasted vegetables for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Check chicken thickness carefully to ensure even cooking and prevent dry meat.
- Marinating adds flavor depth, so don’t skip the 15-30 minute resting time in the refrigerator.
- For a lower-fat version, substitute Greek yogurt for half the cream cheese and use reduced-fat mozzarella.
- Fresh spinach works best, but frozen spinach can be substituted by thoroughly draining and squeezing out excess moisture before mixing with cream cheese.
- Prep Time: 20-35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-35 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 760 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 60 g
- Saturated Fat: 28 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 55 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg