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Chicken Spinach Casserole Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 140 reviews

This Chicken Spinach Casserole is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts layered with a creamy spinach and cheese mixture, then baked to perfection with a golden mozzarella topping. It combines the richness of cream cheese and mozzarella with fresh spinach and aromatic Italian seasoning for a satisfying, easy-to-make meal perfect for weeknights or family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Marinade

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Spinach Mixture

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)

Topping

  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent the casserole from sticking.
  2. Prepare Chicken Cutlets: Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create four thin cutlets. Pound the thicker parts so all pieces have even thickness for uniform cooking.
  3. Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Toss the chicken cutlets in this marinade, cover, and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes to enhance flavor.
  4. Cook Spinach: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the fresh spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and set aside.
  5. Mix Cream Cheese and Spinach: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Stir in the cooked spinach along with ½ cup shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese if using, creating a creamy, cheesy spinach mixture.
  6. Optional Sear Chicken: For extra flavor, sear the marinated chicken cutlets in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes on each side until slightly browned.
  7. Assemble Casserole: Arrange the chicken cutlets evenly in the prepared baking dish. Spread the cream cheese and spinach mixture evenly over the chicken. Top with the remaining ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and the cheese is melted and lightly browned on top.
  9. Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute and flavors to settle.

Notes

  • The optional searing step adds extra flavor but can be skipped if short on time.
  • For creamier texture, you can add a splash of milk to the cream cheese mixture if desired.
  • Substitute fresh spinach with frozen spinach, but make sure to thoroughly drain excess water before mixing.
  • You can swap mozzarella with cheddar or another favorite melting cheese for variation.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: chicken casserole, spinach casserole, creamy spinach chicken, baked chicken dish, easy dinner casserole

Find it online: https://liamjayne.com/chicken-spinach-casserole-recipe/