Description

This Creamy Chicken Florentine Bake is a comforting weeknight dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with a luscious mixture of ricotta, cream, sautéed spinach, and garlic, finished with melted mozzarella cheese. It blends Italian-inspired flavors into a simple baked casserole that’s both hearty and satisfying, perfect for an easy yet elegant dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1 pound Chicken Breast (rotisserie chicken can be substituted to reduce prep time)

Cheeses and Dairy

1 cup Ricotta Cheese (cottage cheese can be used as a lighter alternative)
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded (dairy-free cheese can be substituted)
1/2 cup Cream (coconut cream or almond cream for dairy-free option)

Vegetables & Herbs

2 cups Spinach (fresh, or thawed frozen spinach with moisture squeezed out)
2 cloves Garlic, minced (fresh preferred or garlic powder as a substitute)
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning (fresh basil or oregano can be used for brightness)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a baking dish to assemble your casserole.
Sauté Garlic and Spinach: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, then add fresh spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Prepare Creamy Mixture: In a mixing bowl, blend the sautéed spinach and garlic with ricotta cheese, cream, and Italian seasoning until you have a creamy, well-combined mixture.
Layer Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish. Season them evenly with salt and pepper.
Add Spinach Mixture: Spread the creamy spinach mixture evenly atop the chicken breasts, ensuring full coverage.
Top With Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the top of the spinach layer.
Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
Broil for Crispiness: Switch to broil and cook for an extra 2-3 minutes to brown and crisp the cheese topping to your liking.
Rest and Serve: Let the bake rest for about 5 minutes before slicing to allow juices to settle, then serve warm.

Notes

Substitute rotisserie chicken to save prep time and add flavor.
Use frozen spinach if fresh is unavailable, making sure to thaw and drain well.
For a dairy-free version, replace cream and cheeses with plant-based alternatives.
Checking the internal temperature of chicken ensures safety and perfect doneness.
Resting the dish after baking improves texture and juiciness.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Creamy Chicken Florentine, Chicken Bake, Spinach Chicken Casserole, Comfort Food, Weeknight Dinner, Italian Chicken