Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole (Printer-friendly)
Creamy chicken baked with spinach, artichokes, and melted cheese for a comforting family dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 cups fresh spinach (or 1 cup frozen, thawed and drained)
03 - 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
06 - 1 cup sour cream
07 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1/2 cup milk
→ Pantry
11 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
15 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
16 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir fresh spinach into the skillet and cook until completely wilted. Remove from heat and let the vegetable mixture cool slightly.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, grated Parmesan, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella. Stir until smooth and well blended.
05 - Fold the sautéed vegetable mixture, shredded chicken, chopped artichoke hearts, salt, black pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes into the creamy base. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
06 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese uniformly over the surface.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the cheese topping is golden brown.
08 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional Parmesan or freshly chopped parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It turns basic pantry staples and leftover chicken into something that tastes like you spent all day cooking.
- The creamy interior with that golden cheese crown is pure comfort without requiring any fancy technique.
02 -
- Squeezing every bit of liquid from frozen spinach and drained artichokes is the difference between a creamy casserole and a watery mess I learned this the soggy way.
- Do not skip the five minute rest because cutting into it too early means the filling runs everywhere and you lose that luscious texture.
03 -
- Taste the filling before you put it in the baking dish because once it bakes fixing the seasoning is too late and you want it just slightly over salted since the chicken is bland on its own.
- Browning the cheese under the broiler for the last two minutes gives you those irresistible crispy cheese spots that everyone fights over.