Smothered Chicken with Creamed Spinach, Bacon, and Mushrooms
Ingredients:
Chicken:
1 tablespoon butter
1.5 lb chicken breast, skinless, boneless (4 small chicken breasts or 2 large chicken breasts, halved)
Salt, to taste
¼ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
¼ teaspoon paprika
Creamed Spinach:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
10 oz fresh spinach
4 garlic cloves, minced
⅔ cup half and half
⅔ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Other Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 oz mushrooms, sliced
4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
4 slices Pepper Jack cheese or Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapenos
Directions:
Prepare the Chicken:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Butter the bottom of a baking dish (an oval casserole dish of about 13 inches x 9 inches x 4 inches deep works well).
Season the chicken breasts generously on both sides with salt, lemon pepper seasoning, and paprika.
Place the seasoned chicken breasts, flat side down, into the greased baking dish.
Bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes at 375°F.
Make the Creamed Spinach:
While the chicken is baking, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the fresh spinach and cook, covered, for 1-2 minutes until the spinach begins to wilt.
Remove from heat and add the minced garlic and half and half.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Stir constantly over high heat until the mozzarella melts and the mixture becomes smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
Season with salt to taste and remove from heat.
Cook the Mushrooms:
In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 1-2 minutes until they caramelize. Avoid salting the mushrooms, as this can prevent proper caramelization.
Assemble the Smothered Chicken:
Remove the baked chicken breasts from the oven.
Top each chicken breast with a generous portion of creamed spinach, followed by the chopped bacon, cooked mushrooms, and broken slices of Pepper Jack cheese.
Return the dish to the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.
For an extra golden finish, broil the dish for the last 2-4 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning the cheese.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 40-45 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour
Kcal: 450 kcal | Servings: 4 servings