Ingredients:
Chicken:
1 tablespoon butter
1.5 lb chicken breast skinless, boneless (4 small chicken breast or 2 large chicken breast, halved)
salt
¼ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
¼ teaspoon paprika
Creamed spinach:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
10 oz spinach fresh
4 garlic cloves minced
⅔ cup half and half
⅔ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Other Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 oz mushrooms sliced
4 slices bacon cooked, chopped
4 slices Pepper Jack cheese or Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapenos
Instructions:
-Preheat the oven to 375 F.
-Butter the bottom of the baking dish (I used an oval casserole dish measured 13 inches x 9 inches x 4 inches deep).
-Generously season chicken breasts on both sides with salt, lemon pepper seasoning and a small amount of paprika. Place the chicken breasts, flat side down, into the greased baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 F.
How to make creamed spinach:
-In the mean time, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add spinach and cook for only 1 or 2 minutes, covered, until the spinach is thoroughly heated through and start to wilt.
-Remove from heat. Add minced garlic and half and half. Bring to boil. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and keep stirring, on high heat, until mozzarella cheese starts to melt - about 30 seconds. Reduce heat to simmer and keep stirring until you have a nice, smooth creamed spinach - about 30 seconds or 1 more minute. Season with salt to your taste. Remove from heat.
Cook mushrooms:
-In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add sliced mushrooms and cook on high-medium heat for 1-2 minutes until mushroom caramelize. Do not salt mushrooms or it will prevent the caramelization.
Smothered chicken assembly:
-Remove the chicken breasts from the oven (you baked them for 15-20 minutes). Top each chicken breast with the creamed spinach, chopped cooked bacon, cooked mushrooms and broken slices of pepper jack cheese.
-Bake in the oven, uncovered for 15-20 more minutes, until chicken is cooked through, no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.
-Broil for the last 2-4 minutes, if desired, being careful not to burn the cheese on top.