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Creamy Mozzarella and Spinach Baked Chicken Recipe

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4.3 from 57 reviews

  • Author: Patricia
  • Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Description

Creamy Mozzarella and Spinach Baked Chicken is a comforting and cheesy one-pot meal featuring tender chicken breasts topped with a luscious blend of sautéed spinach, garlic, shallots, cream cheese, and a generous layer of mozzarella and Parmesan. Perfect for a family dinner, this easy recipe combines rich flavors with simple preparation and quick baking.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Spinach Cream Cheese Mixture

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup shallots, chopped small
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups baby spinach

Cheese Topping

  • 1/2 cup Parmesan, shredded
  • 2 cups low moisture whole milk mozzarella, shredded

Instructions

  1. Soften Cream Cheese: Set the cream cheese out on the counter about an hour before starting the recipe to ensure it softens and mixes easily.
  2. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450ºF (232ºC) so it’s ready to bake as soon as the chicken is prepared.
  3. Sauté Shallots: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the chopped shallots for 3 minutes until they soften and become fragrant.
  4. Add Garlic and Spinach: To the skillet with shallots, add minced garlic and baby spinach. Cook until the spinach has wilted, then remove the skillet from heat. Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes.
  5. Prepare Chicken: While the spinach cools, trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts. Place them in a small casserole dish, coat evenly with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Mix Spinach and Cream Cheese: Transfer the cooled spinach mixture into a bowl and stir in the softened cream cheese until fully combined and creamy.
  7. Assemble Chicken Dish: Spread the spinach and cream cheese mixture evenly over each chicken breast in the casserole dish. Then sprinkle shredded Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses evenly on top. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
  8. Bake Chicken: Place the covered casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.
  9. Remove Foil and Continue Baking: After 15 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF (71ºC) and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  10. Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and serve the creamy mozzarella and spinach baked chicken immediately.

Notes

  • Ensure the cream cheese is softened at room temperature for easier mixing.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check chicken’s internal temperature for safe consumption.
  • Adjust seasonings to taste if you prefer more or less salt and pepper.
  • If mozzarella isn’t melting evenly, you can broil for 1-2 minutes but watch carefully to avoid burning.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://patriciarecipes.com/creamy-mozzarella-and-spinach-baked-chicken-recipe/