Pesto Spinach Artichoke Chicken Bake (Printable)
Juicy chicken layered with creamy spinach, artichokes, pesto, and bubbly cheese for an effortless Italian-inspired meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Mixture
05 - 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
06 - 1 cup canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
07 - ½ cup cream cheese, softened
08 - ¼ cup sour cream
09 - ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
→ Topping
12 - ⅓ cup basil pesto
13 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Drizzle both sides with olive oil and season evenly with salt and pepper. Arrange seasoned chicken in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine spinach, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well blended and smooth.
04 - Divide the spinach-artichoke mixture evenly among the chicken breasts, spreading it in a thick layer over the top of each piece.
05 - Spoon basil pesto over the creamy spinach-artichoke topping on each chicken breast, spreading gently to create an even layer.
06 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the tops of all chicken breasts, covering the pesto layer completely.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F and cheese is melted and golden brown.
08 - Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The spinach-artichoke mixture tastes just like the dip you cannot stop eating, but now it is dinner
- Everything bakes in one pan while you pour yourself a glass of wine and relax
02 -
- Squeezing every drop of water from the spinach is the step most people skip, but it makes the difference between a creamy topping and a watery mess
- Letting the baked dish rest for 5 minutes before serving helps the toppings set and makes serving much cleaner
03 -
- Using kitchen shears to trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts prevents curling during baking
- Tent the dish with foil if the cheese browns too quickly before the chicken is fully cooked