Description
This chicken and spinach casserole with cream cheese is creamy and dreamy. And the golden, bubbly cheese on top makes everything better.
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1⁄2 cup Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
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Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create four cutlets. Pound the thicker ends with a rolling pin so they’re all of even thickness.
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In a large bowl, whisk 1 tablespoon of olive oil with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Add the chicken, toss to coat, then cover and chill in the fridge for 15-30 minutes.
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Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
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In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the wilted spinach, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and Parmesan (if using). Mix until smooth.
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Take the chicken out of the marinade and let the excess drip off. If desired, sear the chicken in the skillet for 1-2 minutes per side. Then, arrange the meat in a single layer in the baking dish.
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Spread the spinach and cream cheese mixture over the meat, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
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Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked and the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Use chicken cutlets. They’re pre-cut and usually of even thickness. It’ll save you a step in the prep.
Drain frozen spinach. If using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze out excess liquid to prevent a watery casserole.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 528 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg