Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole (Printable Version)
Creamy chicken bake with spinach, artichokes, and cheese. High protein, gluten-free, ready in under an hour.
# What You Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
02 - 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
03 - 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
04 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Vegetables
05 - 7 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
06 - 14 oz canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
07 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy & Sauces
09 - 1/2 cup light cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
→ Seasonings
11 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
→ Topping
15 - 1/3 cup gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
16 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
17 - Olive oil spray
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onion 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add diced chicken to skillet. Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring, until just cooked through. Remove from heat.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix until smooth.
05 - Fold in cooked chicken, thawed spinach, and chopped artichoke hearts. Mix until evenly distributed.
06 - Spread mixture evenly into prepared casserole dish.
07 - In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp Parmesan. Sprinkle evenly over casserole. Lightly mist with olive oil spray.
08 - Bake for 30-35 minutes until casserole is bubbly and topping is golden brown.
09 - Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- Each serving packs 45 grams of protein without feeling heavy or dry
- The cottage cheese creates an incredibly creamy texture nobody suspects
02 -
- Squeezing every drop of water from the spinach takes longer than you expect but is absolutely non negotiable
- The casserole continues cooking after leaving the oven so remove it when the top is just past golden
03 -
- Room temperature cream cheese blends infinitely better than cold straight from the fridge
- Grating your own Parmesan melts more evenly than pre grated varieties