Pesto Spinach Artichoke Chicken Bake (Print Page)

Juicy chicken layered with creamy spinach-artichoke mixture, basil pesto, and golden melted mozzarella cheese.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Mixture

05 - 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
06 - 1 cup canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
07 - ½ cup cream cheese, softened
08 - ¼ cup sour cream
09 - ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Topping

12 - ⅓ cup basil pesto
13 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Pat chicken breasts thoroughly dry with paper towels. Drizzle both sides with olive oil, then season evenly with salt and black pepper. Arrange seasoned chicken in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine thawed spinach (squeezed dry to remove excess moisture), chopped artichoke hearts, softened cream cheese, sour cream, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Mix until completely smooth and well blended.
04 - Spread the spinach-artichoke mixture evenly over the top of each chicken breast, using a spoon or spatula to create a uniform layer.
05 - Spoon basil pesto over the creamy topping on each chicken breast. Gently spread to create a thin, even layer without pushing the filling off the chicken.
06 - Distribute shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the tops of the pesto-covered chicken breasts.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until chicken is fully cooked (internal temperature reaches 165°F when measured with a meat thermometer) and cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling.
08 - Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything bakes in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
  • The creamy spinach-artichoke topping transforms ordinary chicken into something extraordinary
  • It looks impressive but comes together in under fifteen minutes of prep
02 -
  • Squeezing the frozen spinach until your hands hurt is the most important step
  • Thick chicken breasts take longer to bake so pound them to even thickness first
  • The broiler can torch the cheese in seconds so finish baking time before considering it
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together much more smoothly
  • Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking the chicken

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