Low Carb Chicken Spinach Mushroom Bake (Printable Version)
Tender chicken in a creamy sauce with spinach and mushrooms, baked until golden and bubbly. A satisfying low-carb dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 pounds total)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Vegetables
05 - 7 ounces fresh spinach, roughly chopped
06 - 9 ounces cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
→ Sauce
09 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
10 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
11 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
13 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
→ Optional Garnish
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to plate and set aside.
03 - In same skillet, add onion and mushrooms. Cook 4-5 minutes until softened and mushrooms release moisture.
04 - Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute. Add spinach and cook 1-2 minutes until just wilted.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring until smooth and combined. Mix in Parmesan, half the mozzarella, Italian herbs, and nutmeg. Season to taste. Remove from heat.
06 - Spread spinach-mushroom mixture in bottom of prepared baking dish. Arrange seared chicken on top. Spoon some sauce over each chicken breast.
07 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella evenly over the top of chicken and vegetables.
08 - Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches internal temperature 165°F and cheese is bubbly and golden.
09 - Let dish rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy sauce feels luxurious but keeps things light enough for weeknight meals
- Everything cooks in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
- Leftovers reheat beautifully and actually taste better the next day
02 -
- Dont crowd the pan when searing chicken or it will steam instead of getting that beautiful crust
- Let the finished dish rest for 5 minutes so the sauce sets up slightly instead of running all over the plate
03 -
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning for the best sear
- Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre-grated for way better melting