Easy Baked Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Introduction

This Easy Baked Tuscan Chicken is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with a creamy spinach and cheese mixture. Sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasonings bring a deliciously savory twist that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
• 4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1/3 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 8 oz jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped, reserve 1 tbsp oil from the jar
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with oil. Slice the chicken breasts horizontally lengthwise to create thinner pieces. Place them in the casserole dish and season with salt, black pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Rub the garlic into the chicken for flavor.
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, heavy cream, and chopped spinach.
3. Step 3: Add the remaining 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder, and chili powder to the bowl. Stir until well blended.
4. Step 4: Add ½ cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese and the grated Parmesan cheese. Mix all ingredients together.
5. Step 5: Spread the cheese and spinach mixture evenly over the chicken breasts, covering them thoroughly.
6. Step 6: Top the chicken with the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the reserved oil from the sun-dried tomato jar.
7. Step 7: Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover the baking dish with foil.
8. Step 8: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes covered.
9. Step 9: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Try substituting chicken breasts with cod, chicken thighs, tofu, or eggplant for different protein options.
• Use low-fat cream cheese to reduce calories, or mascarpone for a richer flavor.
• Swap heavy cream with coconut cream or half-and-half as preferred.
• Mix in kale, arugula, or Swiss chard instead of spinach for added variety.
• Replace smoked paprika with cayenne pepper or chipotle powder for a different spice profile.
• Use Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast in place of Parmesan for alternative tastes or vegan options.
• Experiment with Fontina or Gruyere cheeses instead of mozzarella to find your favorite combination.
• If sun-dried tomatoes are unavailable, oven-roasted cherry tomatoes make a great substitute.

Storage

Store leftover Tuscan chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave until warmed through, being careful not to overcook the chicken to keep it tender.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe?

It’s best to use thawed chicken breasts to ensure even cooking and proper seasoning. If using frozen, thaw completely before preparing.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes! Substitute the cream cheese with a dairy-free alternative, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream, and replace cheeses with nutritional yeast or dairy-free cheese options.

Easy Baked Tuscan Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 91 reviews

This Easy Baked Tuscan Chicken is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with a rich blend of cream cheese, heavy cream, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and melty mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Infused with Italian seasoning and smoked paprika, it bakes to perfection in the oven for a comforting, restaurant-quality meal you can easily make at home.

• Author: Maya
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian
• Diet: Low Fat

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken

• 2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced, divided

Cheese Mixture

• 1/3 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided from 3/4 cup total)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Toppings

• 8 oz sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped (reserve 1 tbsp oil from jar)
• Remaining 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomato jar
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Chicken: Preheat your oven to 400°F and lightly spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with oil. Slice the chicken breasts horizontally lengthwise to create thinner pieces. Place the chicken in the dish and season with salt, black pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves, rubbing the garlic into the meat to infuse flavor.
2. Make Cheese and Spinach Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, heavy cream, and chopped spinach.
3. Season the Mixture: Add the remaining 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder, and chili powder to the bowl. Stir well until all ingredients are fully blended.
4. Add Cheese: Incorporate 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and the grated Parmesan cheese into the mixture, stirring to combine evenly.
5. Mix Thoroughly: Ensure all ingredients are completely mixed to form a creamy, uniform topping mixture.
6. Spread Over Chicken: Using a spoon, evenly spread the cheese and spinach mixture over each chicken breast, covering the surface thoroughly.
7. Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Scatter the chopped sun-dried tomatoes on top of the cheese-covered chicken breasts. Drizzle the reserved 1 tablespoon of oil from the sun-dried tomato jar over the tomatoes for extra flavor.
8. Top with Mozzarella and Cover: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the chicken breasts. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes.
9. Finish Baking Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking the chicken uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, allowing the top to brown slightly. Once done, garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

• For a lower calorie version, substitute cream cheese with low-fat cream cheese, which may alter the carb content slightly.
• Alternative proteins like chicken thighs, cod, tofu, or eggplant can be used instead of chicken breasts.
• You can substitute heavy cream with coconut cream (full-fat) or half-and-half depending on preference.
• If fresh garlic is unavailable, garlic powder or flakes can be used as a substitute.
• Try different greens such as kale, arugula, or Swiss chard instead of spinach for variation.
• Different cheese combinations (Fontina, Gruyere, or Pecorino Romano) can be used to tweak the flavor.
• Oven-roasted cherry tomatoes can replace sun-dried tomatoes if preferred.

Keywords: Tuscan chicken, baked chicken, creamy chicken, spinach chicken, sun-dried tomato chicken, Italian chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner