Spinach and Artichoke Chicken

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Spinach and Artichoke Chicken in a cream cheese and garlic sauce is ready in less than thirty minutes and tastes like an updated version of spinach artichoke dip.

365 CAL 9g CARBS 12g FAT 40g PROTEIN
2 Comments

This easy Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken dish with sundried tomatoes is one of those meals that feels indulgent with the garlic cream cheese sauce but is actually light, healthy, and packed with veggies. Serve it with some polenta or roasted potatoes for a restaurant style meal at home.

You know what is a totally under-used vegetable in my opinion? The artichoke! They are so good, a bit tangy, a bit nutty, a bit sweet. I think a lot of people are put off thinking about using them because fresh ones are kind of a pain to cook and eat. (Although still delicious if you have the time!)

And, as you may have noticed, I do not fear the artichoke. I like to use them whenever I can, or when I'm bored with other vegetables or just looking for something a little different and slightly fancy.

You know what goes great with artichokes? Spinach! That's why you'll often see these two ingredients together. One more substantial veggie and one more wilty green, and the two flavors together just work. Add chicken and you've got yourself the makings of a super healthy, super delicious meal!

Chicken breasts with spinach and artichoke hearts on a plate with a creamy sauce and sundried tomatoes.

How do you make Spinach and Artichoke Chicken?

The first thing I like to do is to get all of my ingredients prepped and ready to go here. That means pounding my chicken breasts, mincing the garlic, draining the artichokes, and having all the other ingredients measured or at least nearby so I can make the cooking process go as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Next, I season the chicken with salt and pepper and add the olive oil to a skillet set over medium-high heat. I add the chicken to the oil and cook each side for 3-4 minutes, until both sides are browned and cooked through. Take the chicken breasts out and set them aside.

Using the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic and cook down for about 30 seconds, or until it begins to become fragrant. Add the chicken broth to the garlic and use a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape up the burned bits of chicken and/or garlic from the bottom of the pan into the broth.

To the broth, add the cream cheese and Parmesan. Stir them all together to create a creamy sauce, then stir in the artichoke hearts, spinach, and sundried tomatoes. Cook this veggie/cheese mixture for 3-4 minutes until the spinach wilts and then season with salt and pepper.

Add the chicken back to the pan at this stage, snuggling it all nice into the creamy sauce and veggies.

Serving Ideas and Side Dishes

This chicken can be served many different ways, such as:

  • Over rice. Brown, white, cauliflower, it doesn't matter, it all tastes delicious!
  • Try some cooked quinoa under or mixed into this chicken and artichoke dish — delish!
  • This chicken dish would also work well over high-fiber or veggie pasta, or regular wide egg noodles as well.
  • Polenta! You all know I love that corny dish. This mixes in nicely with some polenta rounds as well.
  • Serve this chicken and artichoke recipe over a veggie noodle. Zucchini, yellow squash, or carrots all make great noodles!
  • Make spaghetti squash boats!

Creamy spinach artichoke chicken on a fork with sundried tomatoes.

Tips, Tricks, and Pantry swaps

  • You might think that there's no reason to make the chicken breasts all the same thickness, but this is key in making sure they all cook at the same time. Otherwise, you'll have one really overdone piece and one piece that's not quite done and it will mess up this otherwise perfect dish.
  • If you don't have spinach, you could substitute kale or another leafy green.
  • I wouldn't use marinated artichokes because that can throw off the flavor of the rest of the dish. Plain artichokes, rinsed, should be perfect. You can also use jarred artichokes.
  • To keep the calorie count and the fat count low I used reduced-fat cream cheese, but you can use the full-fat version if that's what you have or you would prefer it.
  • Feel free to swap in veggie broth or your own homemade broth for the low sodium chicken broth.
  • You can use jarred minced garlic, it's a great option if you don't have fresh.
  • This dish will keep in the refrigerator, covered for up to three days.
  • I wouldn't recommend freezing this dish, as the cheese sauce and vegetables will not thaw well.

Looking for more spinach artichoke recipes?

The Recipe
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Spinach and Artichoke Chicken

365 CAL 9g CARBS 12g FAT 40g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 10 Min
COOK TIME: 20 Min
TOTAL TIME: 30 Min
2 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1.33 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast (4 pieces, pounded thin)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup reduced fat cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 14 oz. canned artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed, chopped (or frozen)
  • 4 cups fresh spinach
  • Salt and pepper

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Instructions

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1

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.

2

Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the chicken broth, scraping up any burnt bits on the bottom of the pan.

3

Add the cream cheese and Parmesan cheese. Stir to create a creamy sauce.

4

Stir in the artichoke hearts, spinach, and sundried tomatoes. Cook for 3-4 minutes until spinach is wilted. Season with salt and pepper.

5

Add the chicken back to the pan, nestling it into the sauce.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 6 oz chicken and 1 cup vegetables and sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 365
Calories from Fat 104
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12g
17%
Saturated Fat 5g
22%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 95mg
31%
Sodium 540mg
23%
Total Carbohydrate 9g
3%
Dietary Fiber 4g
15%
Sugars 4g
Protein 40g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
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2 Comments
On Spinach and Artichoke Chicken
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Jeanne Cafferata
June 6, 2020 - 20:04
Add a Rating:
5
Made this tonight but did it on the Komodo style bbq in my cast iron pan. We roasted potatoes in the charcoal under the pan and it all turned out amazing! It was a fun way for my husband and I to cook together and when it was all finished he said it was a restaurant quality meal.
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Karen
May 20, 2020 - 16:26
Add a Rating:
5
Made this tonight. Absolutely delicious!! Even the picky eater in the family cleaned his plate. Thank you!!
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