Are you a chicken lover craving something new and insanely flavorful? Look no further than this smothered chicken recipe, blanketed in a luscious creamed spinach sauce with crispy bacon and caramelized mushrooms. This gluten-free, low-carb dish is healthy comfort food at its finest!
Imagine juicy, tender chicken breasts smothered in a velvety spinach cream sauce infused with garlic. Add to that the irresistible crunch of smoky bacon bits and the rich, earthy essence of sautéed mushrooms. It’s an explosion of flavors and textures in every bite that will have you reaching for seconds!
Why This Smothered Chicken Recipe is a Must-Try:
- Creamy, low-carb goodness packed with protein and veggies
- Easy, effortless prep for a restaurant-quality meal at home
- Gluten-free and keto-friendly for any dietary need
- Kid-friendly flavors with a gourmet twist
- Perfect for meal prep – reheat beautifully!
Ingredients Needed for Smothered Chicken Bliss:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Fresh baby spinach
- Thick-cut smoky bacon
- Cremini or button mushrooms
- Minced garlic
- Creamy half and half
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Sliced pepper jack or jalapeño monterey jack cheese
- Butter or olive oil
- Salt, lemon pepper, paprika
How to Make Smothered Chicken with Creamed Spinach:
- Season chicken breasts with salt, lemon pepper, and paprika. Sear in a hot skillet to lock in juices.
- Make the luscious creamed spinach by wilting fresh spinach with garlic, then folding in half and half and mozzarella until velvety smooth.
- Sauté sliced mushrooms until browned and caramelized.
- Arrange seared chicken in a baking dish and layer with creamed spinach, crispy bacon bits, sauteed mushrooms, and pepper jack cheese slices.
- Bake until chicken is cooked through, browning the cheesy tops under the broiler for extra deliciousness.
Pro Tips for the Best Smothered Chicken:
- Use a cast iron skillet to get the perfect crust on the chicken before baking.
- Add a splash of white wine or chicken broth when making the creamed spinach for extra richness.
- Try other cheese varieties like gouda, swiss or provolone on top!
- Garnish with chopped parsley, chives or red pepper flakes for a fresh pop of flavor.
- Let chicken rest 5 minutes before serving for ultimate juiciness.
Storing and Reheating: This smothered chicken keeps beautifully! Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days and simply reheat in the oven or microwave. The creamed spinach and melty cheese will stay luxuriously saucy.
If you’ve been searching for an easy, flavor-packed chicken dinner that’s healthy yet sumptuously creamy and loaded with all the fixings, then this is THE smothered chicken recipe for you. Make it tonight for a low-carb meal your entire family will obsess over!
Smothered Chicken with Creamed Spinach, Bacon, and Mushrooms
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt lemon pepper seasoning, paprika
- Creamed Spinach:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 10 oz fresh spinach
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2/3 cup half and half
- 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella
Other:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 oz sliced mushrooms
- 4 slices cooked bacon chopped
- 4 slices pepper jack or jalapeño monterey jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a baking dish with butter.
- Season chicken all over with salt, lemon pepper and paprika. Sear chicken in a hot skillet to lock in juices, then transfer to baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Make creamed spinach: In a skillet, wilt spinach with vegetable oil for 1-2 mins. Remove from heat and stir in garlic and half and half. Bring to boil then add mozzarella, stirring constantly until sauce is creamy and smooth. Season with salt.
- Sauté mushrooms in oil over high heat for 1-2 mins until caramelized.
- Remove chicken from oven and top each breast with creamed spinach, bacon bits, sautéed mushrooms and pepper jack cheese slices.
- Return to oven for 15-20 more minutes until chicken is fully cooked. Broil for 2-4 minutes to brown the cheesy tops.
- Let rest 5 mins before serving hot. Enjoy!
With tender chicken enveloped in luscious creamed spinach, smoky bacon crunch, and buttery sauteed mushrooms all baked under a blanket of ooey-gooey cheese, this smothered chicken is an easy yet decadent dinner you’ll crave again and again.
