Low Carb Chicken Spinach Mushroom Bake (Printable Version)
Juicy chicken, mushrooms, and spinach baked in a creamy cheese sauce for a quick, healthy dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
→ Vegetables
02 - 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
03 - 4 cups fresh baby spinach
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
→ Pantry
07 - 2 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
# Step-by-Step:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with oil or cooking spray.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add sliced mushrooms. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add minced garlic to the mushrooms and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add fresh spinach and cook for 1 minute until just wilted. Remove from heat.
06 - Arrange seared chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the mushroom-spinach mixture.
07 - Pour heavy cream evenly over the chicken and vegetables. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese across the top.
08 - Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and cheese is golden and bubbly.
09 - Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This comes together in about 15 minutes of active work and then the oven does the rest
- The cream sauce keeps everything incredibly juicy while staying completely low carb
02 -
- Searing the chicken first makes a huge difference in flavor, do not skip this step even though it adds a few minutes
- The sauce will look thin when you pour it but it thickens beautifully as it bakes
03 -
- Pound thicker chicken breasts to an even thickness so everything finishes cooking at the same time
- Check chicken temperature with a meat thermometer rather than cutting into it to keep juices inside