Healthy Spinach Artichoke Chicken Bake Recipe
This Healthy Spinach Artichoke Chicken Bake is a nutritious and flavorful dish that combines tender chicken breasts with a creamy mixture of spinach, artichokes, and yogurt, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. It’s an easy baked meal perfect for a wholesome dinner that’s packed with protein and vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
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 Oven: Set your oven to 400ºF (200ºC) to prepare for baking the chicken. This ensures the oven is hot enough for even cooking.
- Prepare Spinach Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the chopped baby spinach, plain low-fat yogurt, drained and chopped artichoke hearts, garlic powder, and Dijon mustard. Mix well to create a creamy, flavorful topping for the chicken.
- Arrange Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in a 9×13 inch baking dish to allow even cooking. Spread the spinach and artichoke mixture evenly over each chicken breast.
- Add Cheese: Top each chicken breast with 2 slices of mozzarella cheese. It’s okay if the cheese slices overlap slightly; they will melt down over the chicken and vegetables.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes. Cooking times may vary depending on the chicken breast size; ensure the internal temperature reaches 165ºF (75ºC) for safety.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 3-5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the chicken moist and tender.
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen spinach (thawed and drained) if baby spinach is unavailable.
- Make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer for food safety.
- Marinated artichoke hearts add extra flavor, but you can substitute with plain canned artichokes if needed.
- For a dairy-free version, swap mozzarella cheese with a vegan cheese alternative and use a dairy-free yogurt.
Keywords: Healthy chicken bake, spinach artichoke chicken, baked chicken recipe, low-fat chicken dinner, easy chicken bake
