Smothered Chicken Creamed Spinach and Bacon
A rich and comforting dish featuring tender chicken topped with creamy spinach and crispy bacon, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 pieces boneless chicken breasts or thighs Chicken thighs can be used for more flavor.
- 4 slices cooked bacon, chopped
- 250 grams fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 120 grams fresh spinach leaves Substitute with frozen spinach if fresh is not available.
- 30 millilitres unsalted butter or neutral oil
- 240 millilitres milk or cream For a lighter version, consider half Greek yogurt.
- 60 grams shredded cheese (optional)
- 120 millilitres chicken broth
- 5 millilitres garlic powder
- 2.5 millilitres onion powder
- 2.5 millilitres paprika Add cayenne or red pepper flakes for spice.
- to taste Salt
- to taste Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Pat chicken dry and season evenly with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Cooking Chicken
- Heat butter or oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Arrange chicken in a single layer and cook for 5–7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove from skillet and keep warm.
Cooking Vegetables
- In the same skillet, add sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3–4 minutes until tender and lightly browned.
- Add spinach leaves to the mushrooms and stir until just wilted, about 1 minute.
Making the Sauce
- Pour in milk (or cream) and chicken broth, stirring to combine, and allow the mixture to simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until it begins to thicken slightly.
- Return browned chicken pieces to the skillet, sprinkle chopped bacon and shredded cheese (if using) over the top.
- Cook for an additional 2–3 minutes, letting flavors meld and sauce become creamy.
Serving
- Transfer chicken and creamy spinach-mushroom mixture to plates.
- Serve hot, accompanied by rice, potatoes, pasta, or crusty bread as desired.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave until hot.