Description
Hearty Tuscan chicken casserole delivers Mediterranean flavors with creamy textures and aromatic herbs. Cheese-laden layers and rich ingredients create a comforting meal that delights palates and satisfies hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (large, bisected horizontally to yield 4 thin fillets)
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese (finely grated)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 8 oz sun-dried tomatoes (well-drained and finely chopped)
- 3/4 cup fresh spinach (coarsely chopped)
- 4 garlic cloves (finely minced)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F, preparing a baking environment for the Tuscan chicken casserole.
- Slice chicken breasts horizontally into four thin fillets, ensuring even cooking potential.
- Position chicken fillets in a single layer within a baking dish, seasoning thoroughly with salt, pepper, and half the minced garlic.
- Whisk cream cheese and heavy cream until smooth, creating a luxurious base sauce.
- Incorporate remaining garlic, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the cream mixture.
- Fold in Parmesan and half the mozzarella cheese, blending until completely integrated.
- Spread the creamy sauce evenly over the chicken fillets, ensuring complete coverage.
- Drizzle sun-dried tomato oil across the dish and distribute chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Remove foil, stir chopped spinach into the surrounding sauce, and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Return to oven uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, allowing cheese to melt and spinach to wilt.
- Let casserole rest briefly before serving to harmonize flavors and achieve optimal consistency.
Notes
- Slice chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for smoother sauce blending and better ingredient integration.
- Opt for fresh spinach instead of frozen to maintain texture and prevent excess moisture in the casserole.
- Select high-quality Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses for richer, more authentic flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 371 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg