If you are searching for another easy way to cook chicken breast, look no more. This Smothered (moist and tender) Chicken with Creamed Spinach, Bacon, Mushrooms is what you are looking for! Incredibly delicious and packed with comforting and healthy ingredients all in a single dish!
Ingredients
Chicken:
1.5 pounds chicken breast skinless, boneless (4 small chicken breast or 2 large chicken breast, halved)
1 tbsp butter
¼ tsp paprika
¼ tsp lemon pepper seasoning
Salt
Creamed spinach:
4 garlic cloves minced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
10 ounces spinach fresh
⅔ c. mozzarella cheese shredded
⅔ c. half and half
Other Ingredients:
4 slices bacon cooked, chopped
4 ounces mushrooms sliced
4 slices Pepper Jack cheese or Monterrey Jack Cheese with Jalapenos
1 tbsp vegetable oil
How to make Smothered Chicken with Creamed Spinach, Bacon, Mushrooms
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 375 degrees F.
Step 2: Grease the bottom of a baking dish. For this recipe, I used a 13 x 9 x 4-inch deep oval casserole dish.
Step 3: On both sides of the chicken, sprinkle a generous amount of salt, lemon pepper seasoning, and a small amount of paprika. Onto the prepared baking dish, place the chicken breast flat-side-down.
Step 4: Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Creamed spinach:
Step 5: In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the spinach to the skillet and cook for about a minute or two, covered, until completely heated and begin to wilt. Take off the heat, then add the minced garlic and half-and-half. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the shredded mozzarella cheese, stirring constantly for about 30 seconds over high heat until the mozzarella begins to melt.
Step 6: Decrease the heat to a simmer, stirring constantly for another 30 seconds to a minute until you have a nice, smooth creamed spinach. To taste, season with salt, then take off the heat.
Mushrooms:
Step 7: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in another pan. Once hot, add the sliced mushrooms to the pan and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes over high-medium heat or until caramelized.
Smothered chicken assembly:
Step 8: By this time, the chicken breast is done. Remove them from the oven and top each with the creamed spinach, chopped cooked bacon, cooked mushrooms, and broken slices of pepper jack cheese. Return in the oven and resume baking (uncovered) for additional 15 to 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.
Step 9: If desired, broil the chicken in the last 2 to 4 minutes of cooking.