Description
This Healthy Spinach Artichoke Chicken Bake is a flavorful and nutritious meal combining tender chicken breasts with a creamy spinach and artichoke topping. Enhanced with garlic, Italian seasoning, and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, this dish offers a delicious twist on classic flavors, baked to perfection for a satisfying dinner option.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Spinach Artichoke Mixture
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Other
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Sauté garlic: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Cook spinach: Add the chopped fresh spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, approximately 2-3 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Mix topping: Stir in the chopped artichoke hearts, Greek yogurt, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, dried Italian seasoning, and season with salt and pepper to taste until fully combined, creating a creamy topping mixture.
- Prepare chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a lightly greased baking dish in a single layer.
- Top chicken: Evenly spread the spinach-artichoke mixture over each chicken breast, covering the surface well.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the juices run clear.
- Broil for finish: For a golden, bubbly top, switch the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- Rest and serve: Remove the dish from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to retain juiciness before serving.
Notes
- Ensure chicken breasts are evenly sized for uniform cooking.
- Use fresh spinach for best flavor; frozen spinach can be substituted if well-drained.
- Greek yogurt adds creaminess while keeping the dish healthy and low in fat.
- Broil only at the end to achieve a nicely browned topping without overcooking the chicken.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to guarantee doneness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
