A Chicken and Spinach recipe baked in a creamy, cheese sauce and the Dine & Dish weekly menu plan for the week!
You know what I have a talent for? I have great skills at taking recipes that probably should be good for you and turning them into something not so much. Take this Saucy Chicken and Spinach recipe. The first time I made it my intention was to just do a simple baked chicken with tomatoes and spinach. Then the next time I decided that it needed a sauce of some sort, and of course, a cheesy sauce was absolutely what it needed. At least I didn’t take it one step further and suggest it be served over pasta…(which would be really, really good, not that I’m recommending that or anything).
This Saucy Chicken and Spinach recipe is not the best for you, but it has some healthy elements… so don’t give up on it! It’s a tasty addition to your weekly menu plan and one of those recipes at least the grownups in your house will love. (2 out of 4 of my kids loved it…and my husband and I both love it). I think you’ll love it too!
The menu plan for this week is a little shorter than normal because we are heading to Keystone Resort at the end of the week to go skiing for the first time! As someone who much prefers the snow from the inside of a warm house versus actually out “in” the snow, I’m a little nervous. I’m really excited at the same time though because it’s doing something new and that’s always fun! And we’re going to Colorado, which is one of my favorite states. I think at the very least my kids will love it, and because of that I’ll love it too! I’ll let you know! If you have any tips for first time skiers, make sure to leave those in the comment section. Thank you!
Now, here’s our menu plan for the week – skip below to see the Saucy Chicken and Spinach Recipe! (To see past Dine & Dish weekly menu plans, click here.)
Monday: Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Red Pepper Pesto from this cookbook (One of my favorite classics!)
Tuesday: Mini Meatloaf from Shugary Sweets
Wednesday: Taco Soup from Dine & Dish
Thursday: Easy Crockpot BBQ Ribs from Your Homebased Mom
Taking these goodies on the road… Puppy Chow Cookies from Cookies and Cups and Sweet & Salty Snack Mix from Land O’ Lakes
That’s it for this week’s menu plan! Make sure to let me know what’s being served at your house. I could always use the inspiration! Have a great week!
Saucy Chicken and Spinach Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt divided
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper divided
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes drained
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 425°F
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Place spinach in a lightly sprayed 9x13" baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken tenderloins, and cook until no longer pink inside, about 8-10 minutes (turning over halfway through). Remove chicken from skillet and place over spinach.
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In a clean saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
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Stir in Italian Seasoning, cheddar cheese, remaining salt and pepper. Stir just until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Add the diced tomatoes and cook for an additional 1 minute.
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Pour the sauce over the chicken and spinach. Bake for 20 minutes, or until sauce is bubbly.
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Serve alone or over pasta or rice.
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snow in Colorado is way different than here in the midwest. When I went skiing (years ago) – we were never cold and even sun bathed at the top of the mountain! You guys will have SOOOO much fun……..just please be careful, we don’t want you coming back with any more broken bones in the family!
Everyone keeps saying that to us… like we are prone to broken bones or something 😉 hehe
Thank you! I’m excited to at least experience it… maybe it will make me love snow?
This looks really good Kristen!! Have fun skiing, I went a couple times during college/post college years in W. Virginia. It’s fun! But honestly I’m afraid of heights and was having major panic attacks on those darn ski lifts. I can’t imagine how beautiful Colorado will be!!
Well I think you’ve been on the lifts with me in Park City and may remember that I am a bit of a hyperventilator when it comes to heights. I’m scared to death to ride them with my kids!! Eeeks.
What a fun trip!
This chicken dish looks so satisfying. I love wilted spinach.
I love wilted spinach too… I’ve been on kind of a kick lately and I’m not seeing it stop anytime soon!
I need to try this! Saucy chicken is always a hit here! Loving your menu!
Thank you – I think you’d love it!
Have so much fun in Colorado!! I’ve never skied there but I love the mountains and the air.
Thank you! You know me and snow… it should be an interesting experience, to say the least. But Colorado is so beautiful, I’m sure it will be fun no matter what! Plus it’s the start of vacation, and that’s always a good thing!
It may not be healthy, but it looks delicious!
Thanks so much, Laura!
I would be in the ‘love camp’ with you, your husband and 2 of the kids. Not only would it taste good of which I am sure—–but I love the color of it. I don’t know if did this with intention, but it’s Xmas Colors.
So extra perfect.
Ha! I totally didn’t do it intentionally, but I think I may say I did now that you pointed it out. I was feeling bad for not posting many Christmas type recipes, but now I’ll just say I’m posting recipes with the colors of Christmas.
I hope you have a great trip! This dish looks amazing, so flavorful!!!
Thanks so much! I hope so too 🙂
Ooooooooo me likey.
This chicken and spinach looks fantastic, Kristen. And those puppy chow cookies? What a genius idea and, in my hands, a hot mess to eat in the car. I bet they are DELICIOUS though and totally worth the powdered sugar snow on my jeans. 😉
This looks ans sounds soooo delicious!
So good. So good. So good. The best chicken recipe ever! Thank you.