Cheesy Spinach Chicken Bake Recipe
A flavorful and comforting Cheesy Spinach Chicken Bake featuring tender seasoned chicken breasts topped with creamy cream cheese, sautéed spinach, and melted mozzarella cheese, baked to golden perfection. This dish is perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner with simple ingredients and easy steps.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Spinach and Cheese Topping
- 2 cups fresh spinach, rinsed
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the seasoning paste: Spray a casserole dish with oil. In a bowl, combine 1 tbsp olive oil with the minced garlic, then add Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to form a flavorful paste.
- Season the chicken: Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 4 thinner pieces. Coat each piece thoroughly with the seasoning paste and let them marinate for at least 15 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Sauté the spinach: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat, add the spinach, and cook until wilted, about 3-5 minutes. Drain any excess moisture from the spinach.
- Assemble the bake: Place the marinated chicken pieces in the oiled casserole dish. Spread softened cream cheese evenly over each chicken piece. Top the cream cheese layer with the cooked spinach, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
- Bake the dish: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through, and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown on top.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breasts with thighs or turkey cutlets, and for a vegetarian version, firm tofu works well.
- Use avocado oil or melted butter as alternatives to olive oil.
- If short on time, pre-minced garlic or garlic powder can be used instead of fresh garlic.
- The heat level can be adjusted by omitting red pepper flakes if desired.
- Try different cheeses like provolone, Gruyère, or Gouda for a unique flavor twist.
- If using frozen spinach, ensure it’s thawed and well-drained to avoid excess moisture in the bake.
Keywords: Cheesy spinach chicken bake, baked chicken recipe, creamy chicken casserole, spinach and cheese chicken, easy chicken bake
Find it online: https://tastybella.com/cheesy-spinach-chicken-bake-recipe/
