Spinach Artichoke Chicken Bake (Printable)
Creamy chicken casserole inspired by classic dip flavors, ready in 45 minutes.
# What goes in:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
→ Spinach & Artichoke Mixture
05 - 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped (or 1 cup frozen, thawed, and squeezed dry)
06 - 1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
07 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - ½ cup sour cream
09 - ½ cup mayonnaise
10 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
14 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Topping
15 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Arrange them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a large bowl, combine spinach, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan, onion powder, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix until smooth and well combined.
04 - Evenly spread the spinach-artichoke mixture over the chicken breasts.
05 - Sprinkle the topping mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the casserole.
06 - Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F) and the top is golden and bubbly.
07 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with a side salad or steamed vegetables if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its the comfort of party dip transformed into a proper meal that feels indulgent but somehow still wholesome
- The creamy spinach mixture keeps the chicken incredibly moist even after reheating the next day
02 -
- Squeezing every drop of liquid from thawed frozen spinach is the difference between creamy and watery
- Room temperature cream cheese incorporates seamlessly while cold leaves you with annoying lumps
03 -
- Pound thicker chicken breasts to even thickness so everything finishes cooking together
- Let the cream cheese sit on the counter for an hour before you start cooking