Creamy Chicken Spinach Casserole (Printable)
Tender chicken and fresh spinach baked in a rich, golden cream sauce with melted mozzarella and Parmesan.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lb), diced
→ Vegetables
02 - 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened
09 - 2 tbsp butter
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
11 - ½ tsp salt, or to taste
12 - ¼ tsp black pepper
13 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
→ Other
14 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
15 - ½ cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
16 - Olive oil, for greasing the baking dish
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with olive oil or butter.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook until just browned but not fully cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add additional butter if needed. Sauté onion for 3 minutes until softened, then add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Simmer while stirring until smooth and thickened. Mix in Italian herbs and nutmeg, if using.
05 - Return the browned chicken to the pan. Add half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese. Stir until evenly combined. Remove from heat.
06 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top.
07 - Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one skillet before it goes into the oven, so cleanup is almost effortless.
- The cream sauce thickens beautifully without needing flour, which keeps it naturally low carb.
- It reheats like a dream the next day, maybe even better than the first night.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step because the sauce needs those 5 minutes to thicken back up and hold its shape when served.
- Undercooking the chicken slightly in the skillet is intentional because it finishes cooking in the oven and stays juicy instead of drying out.
03 -
- Grate your own Parmesan from a block because the pre grated version contains anti caking agents that make the sauce grainy instead of smooth.
- A tiny pinch of nutmeg transforms the spinach flavor from ordinary to restaurant quality, so try it even if you are skeptical.