Description
A creamy and flavorful Chicken and Spinach Casserole featuring tender chicken breasts marinated with Italian seasoning and garlic, layered with a rich cream cheese and spinach mixture, topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, then baked to perfection. This satisfying dish combines protein and greens in a comforting casserole perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for marinade)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking spinach)
Spinach and Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to create four thin cutlets. Pound the thicker parts lightly to ensure even thickness for uniform cooking.
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine 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 infuse flavor.
- Cook Spinach: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add fresh spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Make Cheese Mixture: Beat the softened cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the cooked spinach, 1/2 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese if using, until well combined.
- Optional Sear: For extra flavor, sear the marinated chicken cutlets in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly browned but not fully cooked.
- Assemble Casserole: Arrange the chicken cutlets evenly in the prepared baking dish. Spread the cream cheese and spinach mixture evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C), and the cheese on top is melted and lightly browned.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and juices to redistribute.
Notes
- Feel free to add mushrooms or other vegetables to the spinach mixture for extra flavor and nutrition.
- If you do not have fresh spinach, frozen spinach can be used; make sure to thaw and thoroughly drain it before cooking.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before baking, especially if using salted cheeses.
- The optional searing step adds flavor but can be skipped to save time.
- If avoiding Parmesan cheese, the recipe still works well with just mozzarella and cream cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
