Description
This chicken and spinach casserole with cream cheese is creamy and dreamy. And the golden, bubbly cheese on top makes everything better.
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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
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Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spread the spinach and cream cheese mixture over the meat, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
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.
[the_ad id="4669"]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