Creamy Spinach Chicken Casserole

Juicy shredded rotisserie chicken wrapped in a silky sauce with soft spinach and gooey cheese - this bake turns everyday items into comfort food heaven. The mix of spices, cream cheese, and succulent chicken builds flavor layers that'll make your family ask for this dish again and again.

I first threw this bake together when I needed to use up some spinach that was about to go bad and some chicken from the night before. My family looked doubtful about the green bits in their food, but they were squabbling over the last helping after their first taste. Now we make it every Wednesday, and my little ones jump for joy when they catch a whiff of the onions and garlic cooking.

Key Ingredients

• Rotisserie Chicken: Go for a just-cooked one that's warm and juicy. Thigh meat brings more flavor, while breast meat keeps it lighter
• Cream Cheese with Chives: Stick with full-fat since it melts way better and makes that dreamy smooth finish we want
• Fresh Spinach: Pick bunches with perky, green leaves without yellowing. Fresh wilts down nicely and feels better in your mouth than the frozen stuff
• Mozzarella: Buy whole milk blocks and shred at home - the bagged kind has stuff in it that stops it from melting right
• Heavy Cream: This makes the rich base sauce. Don't swap it for lighter options or your sauce won't get thick enough

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Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Get Everything Ready (15 minutes)

Pull chicken into small chunks, taking out skin and bones

Cut up the spinach, keeping some bigger pieces for better texture

Set cream cheese out to warm up for smoother mixing

Chop garlic and onions into tiny bits so they spread out well

Start Cooking (10 minutes)

Heat butter in a big pan on medium until it's bubbling

Toss in chopped onions and cook till they're see-through and slightly brown

Throw in the garlic and cook just till you can smell it, about half a minute

Shake in salt and pepper, and keep stirring so nothing burns

Make Your Sauce (15 minutes)

Dust flour over the onion mix, stirring non-stop for 2 minutes

Slowly pour in warm cream, stirring all the time to avoid lumps

Drop in soft cream cheese bits, whisking till it's totally smooth

Let it bubble gently till it sticks to your spoon

Mix and Arrange (10 minutes)

Mix in shredded chicken so every bit gets coated in sauce

Add spinach bit by bit, letting each bunch wilt down first

Pour it all into a greased dish, spreading it out flat

Sprinkle loads of cheese and fresh herbs on top

Cook Until Done (25 minutes)

Cover with foil and stick in a 375°F oven for 20 minutes

Take the foil off and broil 3-5 minutes till cheese is golden and bubbling

Let it sit for 10 minutes before digging in so the sauce can firm up

My clan really loves when I add fresh thyme to this meal. Last Christmas, I threw in some herbs from my backyard, and the smell of thyme mixed with the creamy sauce made such an awesome dinner that we now do it every holiday.

Wonderful Rotisserie Chicken

Besides being super handy, rotisserie chicken adds richness that's tough to copy at home. The slow cooking makes the meat so tender it pulls apart easily and soaks up the creamy sauce without getting dry or hard. I've found that buying a rotisserie chicken right before making this dish gives you the most flavorful, juicy results.

Great Side Dish Ideas

Though this dish works great by itself, I've noticed serving it with some garlic bread or crusty sourdough makes it even better. The bread helps mop up all that amazing sauce. A simple green salad with a zingy dressing balances out the rich, creamy flavors nicely.

Cook It Ahead

One thing I love about this dish is how you can fix it beforehand. I often put it together Sunday afternoon, stick it in the fridge uncooked, then pop it in the oven Monday night. The flavors actually get better overnight, making the dish taste even more amazing.

New Life For Leftovers

Turn the extra portions into totally different meals. I've stuffed it in crepes, packed it into big pasta shells, or just topped baked potatoes with it. My teenage boy loves it best as a grilled cheese sandwich with extra cheese - it's now his go-to weekend lunch.

Why Fresh Spinach Works Best

While you can use frozen spinach if you're in a rush, fresh gives you much better texture. I learned this after trying frozen several times and ending up with slightly watery sauce. Fresh spinach doesn't just keep its bright color but also gives a nice little crunch with each bite.