Smothered Chicken with Creamed Spinach Bacon And Mushrooms

This Smothered Chicken with Creamed Spinach, Bacon, and Mushrooms recipe is a flavor-packed dish that combines tender chicken breasts with creamy spinach, savory bacon, caramelized mushrooms, and gooey melted cheese. The chicken breasts are seasoned with a blend of spices and baked to perfection before being smothered with a rich and creamy spinach sauce, crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and slices of Pepper Jack cheese. Baked until golden and bubbly, this dish is a hearty and satisfying meal that’s perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts: Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are seasoned with salt, lemon pepper seasoning, and paprika for added flavor.
• Butter: Used for greasing the baking dish to prevent sticking.
• Spinach: Fresh spinach leaves are cooked briefly with garlic and half and half to create a creamy spinach sauce.
• Garlic: Minced garlic adds aromatic flavor to the creamed spinach.
• Half and half: Adds richness and creaminess to the spinach sauce.
• Mozzarella cheese: Shredded mozzarella cheese is melted into the spinach sauce for extra creaminess.
• Mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms are caramelized in vegetable oil for added depth of flavor.
• Bacon: Cooked bacon adds a smoky and savory element to the dish.
• Pepper Jack cheese: Slices of Pepper Jack cheese are melted over the top of the chicken for a spicy kick.

How To Make Smothered Chicken with Creamed Spinach, Bacon, and Mushrooms:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a baking dish with butter.
2. Season the chicken breasts with salt, lemon pepper seasoning, and paprika, then place them in the greased baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes.
3. While the chicken is baking, prepare the creamed spinach by cooking fresh spinach with garlic and half and half until wilted. Stir in shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and smooth.
4. In a separate pan, caramelize the sliced mushrooms in vegetable oil.
5. Remove the partially cooked chicken breasts from the oven and top them with the creamed spinach, cooked bacon, caramelized mushrooms, and slices of Pepper Jack cheese.
6. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Optionally, broil the dish for the last 2-4 minutes to brown the cheese on top.
8. Serve the smothered chicken hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Tips:

• Use fresh spinach for the best texture and flavor in the creamed spinach.
• Be sure to cook the spinach just until wilted to prevent it from becoming mushy.
• Caramelize the mushrooms over high heat to achieve a deep golden color and enhance their natural sweetness.
• For extra spice, use Pepper Jack cheese with jalapenos instead of regular Pepper Jack cheese.
• Serve the dish with a side of roasted vegetables or a salad for a complete meal.