Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach and Bacon Chicken Recipe
This Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach and Bacon Chicken recipe delivers a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort. The combination of savory bacon, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach creates a rich, flavorful sauce that perfectly coats tender chicken. It’s a one-pan wonder ideal for a busy weeknight or a special dinner. For another delicious chicken dish, try the Mediterranean Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe.
PrintSun-Dried Tomato, Spinach, and Bacon Chicken
Chicken breasts are smothered with creamed spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and bacon, and then baked in the oven. Tender, moist, flavorful chicken. No more boring chicken breasts![1]
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 1x
- Method: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken (4 small chicken breasts or 2 large chicken breasts sliced horizontally in half)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 0.5 oz Italian Dressing mix packet (half the packet)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 6 oz baby spinach fresh
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ⅔ cup half and half
- ⅔ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 6 oz sun-dried tomatoes from the jar (drained from oil and chopped into smaller bites)
- 4 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 4 pepper jack cheese slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease the bottom of the baking pan (same pan that will be used for baking chicken) with butter. Add chicken breasts to the pan. Sprinkle Italian Dressing Mix over chicken breasts.
- Bake chicken breasts uncovered for 15-20 minutes in the oven. While chicken is baking, make the creamed spinach. In a medium skillet, heat up 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add fresh spinach. Cook for 1 minute until spinach is slightly wilted. Add minced garlic, stir and cook for 30 seconds. Add half and half, ⅔ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, ⅛ teaspoon of salt. Cook spinach for 1-2 minutes until half and half thickens and turns into a creamy sauce. Remove from heat.
- Remove the baking pan with chicken breasts from the oven (you baked them for 15-20 minutes). Top each chicken breast with creamed spinach, sun-dried tomatoes (drained from oil and chopped into smaller bites), chopped cooked bacon, and broken slices of pepper jack cheese. Bake in the oven, uncovered for 15-20 more minutes, until the smothered chicken is completely cooked through, no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.[1]
Notes
Cook the bacon ahead of time and chop it for topping. Drain sun-dried tomatoes well before chopping to avoid excess oil. Use pepper jack cheese for a mild spicy kick, or substitute with mozzarella if preferred.[1]
Nutrition
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 50g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prepare this Chicken Bake ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the entire Chicken Bake with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Creamed Spinach, and Bacon Chicken a day in advance. Cover it tightly and refrigerate, then add a few extra minutes to the baking time when ready to cook.
What can I use instead of sun-dried tomatoes?
If you don’t have sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers make a good substitute for a similar sweet, concentrated flavor. The dish will still be delicious, though the distinct tang of the sun-dried tomatoes will be missed.
How can I make this recipe lighter?
For a lighter version, use turkey bacon, a low-fat cream cheese for the spinach, and reduce the cheese topping. The Chicken Bake will still be flavorful and satisfying with these adjustments.
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