Low carb chicken spinach mushroom (Printable Version)
Tender chicken breasts baked with mushrooms, spinach, and a rich creamy cheese sauce. Low carb, gluten-free, and perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lbs total)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Vegetables
05 - 7 oz fresh spinach, roughly chopped
06 - 9 oz 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
# Step-by-Step:
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. 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 -
- The sauce is incredibly rich and satisfying without any flour or thickeners needed
- Everything cooks in one dish, making cleanup almost nonexistent
- It reheats beautifully for lunches throughout the week
02 -
- Do not skip searing the chicken first, as that golden crust adds incredible flavor to the final bake
- Make sure your cream cheese is completely softened to avoid tiny lumps in your sauce
- The nutmeg might seem unusual, but it is the secret ingredient that makes the cream sauce taste restaurant-quality
03 -
- Pound the chicken breasts to even thickness so they all finish cooking at the same time
- Pat your mushrooms dry before cooking so they sear instead of steam in the pan