Creamy Chicken Spinach Casserole (Printable Version)
Tender chicken and fresh spinach baked in a rich, creamy cheese sauce with a golden mozzarella and Parmesan crust.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
→ Vegetables
02 - 7 oz fresh spinach, roughly chopped
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce & Dairy
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
→ Pantry
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
11 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a medium casserole dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Add diced chicken to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, dried thyme, and dried basil. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink and cooked through.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in softened cream cheese, mixing continuously until fully melted and the mixture is smooth and evenly coated.
05 - Add chopped spinach to the skillet. Cook, stirring continuously, for 2–3 minutes until all the spinach is wilted and incorporated into the mixture.
06 - Pour in heavy cream. Add half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is creamy and cohesive.
07 - Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it into an even layer. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the edges are bubbly and the cheese topping is golden brown.
09 - Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps the sauce set for easier portioning.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It takes almost zero planning and uses ingredients you probably already have floating around your kitchen.
- The creamy sauce comes together in one skillet with no flour, no roux, and no stress.
- It reheats beautifully the next day, maybe even better, which makes it ideal for lazy weeknight leftovers.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting step because the casserole will be a bubbling lava pool straight from the oven.
- If your cream cheese is cold it will clump so either microwave it for 20 seconds or leave it out while you prep everything else.
03 -
- Sun dried tomatoes or sliced mushrooms added with the spinach take this from great to unforgettable with almost no extra effort.
- Broil for the last 2 minutes if your top needs more color but watch it like a hawk because cheese goes from golden to charcoal fast.