Description
Scrumptious chicken and spinach casserole brings comfort directly from grandmother’s kitchen in rural Pennsylvania. Creamy layers of tender chicken, fresh spinach, and melted cream cheese promise a hearty meal perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 (8 oz/227 g) block cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml/113 g) sour cream
- 2 cups (56 g) fresh spinach, chopped (or 1 cup (227 g) frozen spinach, thawed and drained)
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup (56 g) shredded mozzarella cheese (plus extra for topping)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream (or milk)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Chopped parsley or fresh basil (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Thermal Preparation: Ignite the oven to 375F (190C) and delicately shield a 9-inch baking dish with a protective coating to prevent adherence.
- Flavor Fusion: Combine cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, heavy cream, garlic, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes into a velvety, homogeneous mixture, whisking until smooth and integrated.
- Ingredient Integration: Tenderly fold pre-cooked chicken and chopped spinach into the creamy foundation, ensuring comprehensive coating and harmonious distribution throughout the mixture.
- Baking Configuration: Pour the enhanced mixture into the prepared dish, leveling the surface and generously scattering additional mozzarella across the top for a golden, appetizing crust.
- Culinary Transformation: Nestle the casserole in the preheated oven, allowing 25-30 minutes of transformative heat exposure until edges bubble vigorously and cheese melts into a bronzed, appetizing landscape. After removing, pause for a 5-minute stabilization period, permitting flavors to meld and settle, optionally adorning with fresh parsley or basil for visual intrigue.
Notes
- Chicken Tenderness Tip: Ensure chicken is fully cooked but not overcooked by using pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken to maintain moisture and prevent dryness.
- Spinach Moisture Management: Thoroughly drain and pat spinach dry to prevent excess liquid from making the casserole watery and losing creamy consistency.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Allow cream cheese to soften at room temperature for smoother blending and more even distribution throughout the sauce.
- Low-Carb Adaptation: Substitute cream cheese with Greek yogurt and use cauliflower rice instead of traditional ingredients for a lighter, keto-friendly version of the casserole.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg