Creamy Chicken Spinach Casserole (Printable)
Tender chicken and spinach baked in a rich creamy cheese sauce with golden breadcrumb topping.
# 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
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×9-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 lightly browned on all sides but not fully cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add additional butter if needed. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes until softened, then add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 2–3 minutes.
04 - Pour in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Simmer while stirring until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in the Italian herbs and nutmeg, if using.
05 - Return the seared chicken to the skillet. Add half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese, stirring until evenly combined. Remove the skillet from heat.
06 - Transfer the chicken and spinach mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. Top with the remaining mozzarella, remaining Parmesan, and an even sprinkle of breadcrumbs.
07 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden brown. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It turns a handful of basic ingredients into something that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen.
- The creamy sauce clings to every bite of chicken and spinach, making even picky eaters forget they are eating vegetables.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step because cutting into it too early means a soupy mess instead of a beautiful slice.
- The nutmeg is optional on paper but it secretly transforms the whole dish from good to restaurant quality.
03 -
- Pat the chicken completely dry before browning because moisture is the enemy of a good sear and that golden crust is where the flavor lives.
- Grate your own cheese from a block because pre shredded cheese is coated in anti caking powder that makes it melt poorly and leaves a gritty texture in your sauce.