Marry Me Low Carb Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken baked with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a creamy, cheesy sauce for a low-carb meal.
# What You Need:
→ Protein
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
03 - ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Seasonings
08 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
09 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 - ½ teaspoon salt
11 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Arrange them in a single layer in the prepared dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together heavy cream, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes until well combined.
04 - Pour the cream mixture evenly over the seasoned chicken. Scatter sun-dried tomatoes and spinach around the chicken pieces, then top everything with shredded mozzarella.
05 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F) and the cheese is golden and bubbly.
06 - Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly. Garnish with chopped fresh basil and serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The heavy cream and melted mozzarella create the most incredibly rich sauce without any flour or thickeners needed
- Sundried tomatoes pack such intense flavor that a little goes a long way, making this feel fancy with minimal effort
02 -
- Searing the chicken for a few minutes per side before baking adds a gorgeous golden crust and extra flavor layer
- Letting it rest for those five minutes is crucial. Cutting into it immediately will cause all those wonderful juices to run out onto your baking dish instead of staying in the meat
03 -
- If your sauce looks too thick after baking, stir in a splash more cream before serving to loosen it up
- Pat the chicken really dry before seasoning it. This helps it brown better and prevents the seasoning from washing off into the sauce