Description
This Chicken and Spinach Casserole with Cream Cheese is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting dish perfect for a hearty family dinner. Tender chicken cutlets are marinated with garlic and Italian seasoning, layered with sautéed spinach and cream cheese, then baked to golden perfection with melted mozzarella cheese on top.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Spinach 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 prepare for baking.
- Prepare Chicken Cutlets: Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to make four thin cutlets. Pound the thicker parts to ensure even thickness for uniform cooking.
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Toss the chicken cutlets in the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes to infuse flavors.
- Sauté Spinach: Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the fresh spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Mix Cream Cheese Filling: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Stir in the sautéed spinach and ½ cup mozzarella cheese, adding Parmesan if using, to create a creamy filling.
- Sear Chicken (Optional): For added flavor, sear the marinated chicken in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly browned. This step can be skipped if preferred.
- Assemble Casserole: Arrange the chicken cutlets evenly in the greased baking dish. Spread the cream cheese and spinach mixture over the chicken evenly, then sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow the flavors to set. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy, cheesy chicken and spinach casserole.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinade.
- Using fresh spinach is recommended, but frozen spinach (thawed and drained) can be substituted.
- If you skip searing the chicken, the casserole will still be flavorful and moist.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for 2-3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- You can add chopped mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes to the cream cheese mixture for variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
