Description
This Spinach Artichoke Chicken Bake is a creamy, cheesy, and flavorful one-dish meal combining tender chicken breasts with a luscious spinach and artichoke yogurt mixture, topped with melted mozzarella. Perfect for a healthy and comforting dinner, this recipe uses simple ingredients and takes just 40 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 (6-8 oz) chicken breasts
Spinach Artichoke Mixture
- 2 cups packed baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
- 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Topping
- 8 slices mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400ºF to ensure it's ready for baking the chicken evenly and thoroughly.
- Prepare the spinach mixture: In a large bowl, combine the roughly chopped baby spinach, plain low-fat yogurt, drained and chopped marinated artichoke hearts, garlic powder, and Dijon mustard. Mix until all the ingredients are well incorporated, creating a creamy and flavorful topping for the chicken.
- Assemble the dish: Place the chicken breasts in a single layer inside a 9x13 inch baking dish. Evenly spread the spinach and artichoke mixture on top of each chicken breast. Then, place 2 slices of mozzarella cheese over each breast, overlapping slices as needed to cover the chicken completely.
- Bake the chicken: Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF for safe consumption.
- Rest before serving: Once baked, let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute, keeping the chicken moist and tender when served.
Notes
- You can substitute plain Greek yogurt for plain low-fat yogurt for a thicker texture and added protein.
- Make sure to check the chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer to avoid undercooking or overcooking.
- Use fresh baby spinach rather than frozen for the best texture and flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
- For a gluten-free version, verify the Dijon mustard and marinated artichokes do not contain gluten ingredients.
