Low Carb Chicken Spinach Mushroom Bake (Printable View)
Creamy chicken casserole with mushrooms, spinach, and melted cheese. An easy low-carb dinner ready in under an hour.
# What You'll 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 Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
02 - Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken on both sides until golden, about 3-4 minutes per side (it will finish cooking in the oven). Transfer to a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add onion and mushrooms. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and mushrooms have released their moisture.
04 - Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Mix in Parmesan, half of the mozzarella, Italian herbs, and nutmeg. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
06 - Spread the spinach-mushroom mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Nestle the seared chicken breasts on top. Spoon a little sauce over each chicken piece.
07 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella over the top.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F) and cheese is bubbly and golden.
09 - Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan before hitting the oven so cleanup stays minimal
- The creamy sauce feels indulgent but fits into low carb life without sacrifice
02 -
- Searing the chicken first creates a flavor base that deglazing with the cream sauce captures perfectly
- The nutmeg is not optional because it transforms a basic cream sauce into something rich and complex
03 -
- Pat the chicken really dry before seasoning so it develops a proper sear instead of steaming in the pan
- Room temperature cream cheese blends into the sauce much smoother than cold straight from the fridge