Description
A creamy, cheesy casserole featuring tender chicken breast and nutritious spinach in a velvety sauce. This restaurant-quality Chicken Florentine Casserole is perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions
Ingredients
For this crowd-pleasing chicken florentine casserole, you’ll need:
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 medium breasts)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Florentine Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
For the Florentine Layer:
- 10 ounces fresh spinach (or 16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
Substitution Options:
- Swap chicken breasts for chicken thighs for juicier meat
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter option
- Swiss cheese works beautifully in place of mozzarella
- For a dairy-free version, try coconut cream and dairy-free cheese alternatives
- Fresh kale can replace spinach if you prefer a heartier green
The vibrant green spinach against the golden, bubbling cheese creates a dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, reminiscent of my popular chicken schnitzel recipe but with a creamy twist!
Instructions
This should be your step-by-step cooking directions, broken down into clear, numbered steps as you outlined in your blog post:
- Prepare the chicken
- Make the creamy sauce
- Create the cheese sauce
- Add the spinach layer
- Assemble and bake
- Rest and serve
Notes
For best results, don’t skip the resting period after baking. Make sure to thoroughly drain frozen spinach to prevent a watery sauce. This casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated before baking
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g (calculated from total minus saturated)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 175mg