This quick and easy dinner recipe is a family favorite! I mean, how can you go wrong with smothering chicken in a block of cream cheese? It’s the most awesome way to bake chicken. If you’re looking for simple and healthy meals to make for your picky family, you’ve got to try this unique and fun way to easily bake chicken breasts in your oven.
Chicken is probably the most popular meat in my house because it’s kid-approved, easy to prepare, and can be completely customized. I’m typically a fan of grilled chicken, but this oven baked recipe is a game changer! Essentially, you could flavor the cream cheese mixture however you’d like with different seasonings and ingredients. As long as you’ve got a block of cream cheese, you’ve got a tasty dinner ready and waiting for you.
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts (or 1½ pounds)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
Step 1
Before preparing the creamy chicken topping, first cook the spinach in a pan over medium heat until wilted. This should only take a minute or two. If you’re using sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drain and pat out any excess grease.
Step 2
In a medium sized bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, wilted spinach, drained sun-dried tomatoes, shredded cheddar, and garlic powder.
Step 3
For this recipe you’ll want your chicken breasts to be thin, so you can either cut the breasts in half lengthwise (if they are fat enough), or pound them and then cut them into about 4 equal sized pieces.
Step 4
Place the chicken breasts into a greased 9×13 baking dish, season to taste with salt and black pepper, and then spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over top. Bake in a 425° F oven for 20-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
The end result is the most delicious, creamy, and flavor loaded chicken! Serve alone or with a side of white or brown rice, buttered noodles, pasta, potatoes, salad, garlic bread, or anything else you’d like. It’s already loaded with spinach mixed in with the cream cheese mixture, but you could always include another colorful side of any veggies for added nutrition.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Baked Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1½ pounds)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425° F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Cut your chicken breasts in half lengthwise or pound them thin and cut them into equal pieces (the goal here is to end up with thinly sliced breasts that cover the bottom of your dish). Place the chicken into your prepared baking dish and season to your liking with salt & black pepper.
- Cook the spinach in a sauté pan over medium heat until wilted, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- If your sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain and pat off any excess grease.
- Microwave the cream cheese for about 20 seconds or until very soft. Mix together with the wilted spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and garlic powder.
- Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the chicken and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Notes
- Every oven varies so make sure your chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F or no longer pink. Because we are using thinly cut chicken breasts, this recipe should cook quicker in your oven than normal.
- Are you looking for side dish ideas? Pasta pairs really well including buttered noodles or fettuccini Alfredo. You could also serve this yummy chicken over a bed of white or brown rice, or with a side of salad, veggies, garlic bread, or potatoes.
- I originally shared this cream cheese chicken over at one of my other blogs! Check it out for more easy and low carb baked chicken recipes just like this. 🙂
