Spinach Artichoke Chicken Cottage Cheese (Printable Version)
Creamy chicken with spinach and artichokes in a protein-rich cottage cheese sauce
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Spinach & Artichoke Mixture
05 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
06 - 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - ½ cup finely chopped onion
→ Sauce
09 - 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
10 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
11 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
13 - ½ teaspoon dried Italian herbs
14 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
# Step-by-Step:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden. Remove to a plate.
04 - In the same skillet, add onion and cook for 2 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
05 - Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in chopped artichoke hearts and cook for 1 minute more.
06 - In a blender or food processor, combine cottage cheese, chicken broth, Parmesan, half the mozzarella, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes. Blend until smooth.
07 - Pour the sauce into the skillet with the spinach-artichoke mixture. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
08 - Nestle the seared chicken breasts into the sauce. Spoon some sauce over each piece. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
09 - Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F) and the sauce is bubbling.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon sauce over chicken and garnish with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs, if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- That velvety cottage cheese sauce delivers protein without the heavy cream guilt
- The whole family gets excited when they smell garlic and melting cheese wafting through the house
02 -
- Blending the cottage cheese completely eliminates the lumps, creating a texture nobody will guess
- Letting the chicken rest before serving keeps all those juices inside where they belong
03 -
- Use an oven-safe skillet to save yourself from washing another pan
- That squeeze of lemon at the end brightens everything in the most surprising way