Chicken and Spinach Casserole with Cream Cheese
This Chicken and Spinach Casserole with Cream Cheese is a creamy, comforting main course perfect for family dinners. Tender chicken breasts are marinated with garlic and Italian seasoning, paired with wilted spinach blended into cream cheese, and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan for a golden, bubbly finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low-Carb
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
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 and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray and set aside.
- Prepare Chicken Cutlets: Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to create four cutlets. Pound the thicker ends to make all pieces an even thickness for uniform cooking.
- Marinate Chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add cut chicken pieces and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Cook Spinach: Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the fresh spinach and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Make Cream Cheese Spinach Mixture: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the wilted spinach, 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese if using, until combined smoothly.
- Sear Chicken (Optional): Remove chicken from marinade and let excess drip off. For added flavor and texture, sear each piece in the skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly browned. This step is optional but recommended.
- Assemble Casserole: Arrange the chicken cutlets in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Spread the cream cheese and spinach mixture evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and the cheese on top is melted and lightly browned.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing it from the oven to let the flavors settle. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy chicken and spinach casserole!
Notes
- Use pre-cut chicken cutlets for quicker preparation and even cooking.
- If using frozen spinach, thaw completely and squeeze out the excess moisture to prevent a watery casserole.