Description
This Creamy Spinach Chicken Casserole is a comforting and delicious baked dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with fresh spinach, a rich creamy sauce, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. Perfect for a hearty family meal, this casserole combines simple ingredients with a savory blend of flavors, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 1 lb chicken breasts (2 chicken breasts, cut in half crosswise)
- 8 oz fresh spinach
Cheese
- 8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
Creamy Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 500°F. Lightly spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside.
- Prepare the creamy sauce: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, grated parmesan cheese, ground black pepper, and garlic salt. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well blended to create a smooth sauce.
- Layer spinach: Pack the fresh spinach evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a fresh green base layer for the casserole.
- Add chicken: Place the uncooked chicken breast pieces evenly over the layer of spinach, ensuring they are well distributed to allow even cooking.
- Apply creamy sauce: Spread the prepared creamy sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts, covering them completely to lock in moisture and flavor during baking.
- Top with cheese and bake: Sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack cheese generously over the sauced chicken. Place the casserole on the bottom rack of the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the spinach has shrunk significantly and the chicken is cooked through.
Notes
- Ensure your baking dish is rated safe for high temperatures (up to 500°F), such as a heavy Dutch oven baking dish, to avoid damage or safety hazards.
- You can substitute fresh spinach with frozen spinach, but be sure to thaw and drain excess moisture before layering it in the casserole.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or paprika to the creamy sauce mixture.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow flavors to settle before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
