Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole (Printable)
Creamy chicken, spinach and artichoke bake with mozzarella, Parmesan and a crisp breadcrumb topping.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped (or 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained)
03 - 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
04 - 1 small onion, finely diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
06 - 1 cup cream cheese, softened
07 - 1 cup sour cream
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry
10 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1/2 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs)
→ Spices
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
16 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted if using fresh, or heated through if using frozen. Remove the skillet from heat and set aside.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, chicken broth, salt, black pepper, and dried Italian herbs. Mix until smooth and well blended.
05 - Fold the shredded chicken, chopped artichoke hearts, spinach mixture, half of the mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan cheese into the cream base. Stir until everything is evenly distributed.
06 - Spread the chicken and spinach mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over the top.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It transforms leftover chicken into something nobody realizes was repurposed, and the creamy interior tastes like something you would order at a restaurant.
- The entire thing comes together in one skillet and one baking dish, which means cleanup is almost too easy for how impressive it looks coming out of the oven.
02 -
- Squeezing every drop of liquid from frozen spinach is nonnegotiable, because excess water will turn your beautifully thick casserole into a watery disappointment.
- Undercooking the casserole by even five minutes leaves the center lukewarm and the topping pale, so wait for real bubbling around the edges before you pull it.
03 -
- Letting the cream cheese fully soften before mixing eliminates the frustrating process of chasing lumps around a bowl, so plan ahead and set it out early.
- Toasting the breadcrumbs in a dry skillet for two minutes before sprinkling them on top gives the crust a deeper flavor and a crunch that holds up even after sitting.