Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet — Keto Friendly, Gluten Free!

This keto friendly Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet is basically a big pan of super flavorful, super easy, cast iron skillet comfort food.

Here’s a flavor explosion of a recipe for those of you looking for low carb, high protein, keto friendly dinner options! This Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet is all of the above, and a great way to make use of part of a big family pack of chicken (if you happen to find one on clearance at ALDI like I did recently…)

Keep this keto chicken dinner both simple & low carb when you serve with a side of broccoli or cauliflower rice, for a complete & filling meal.

Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet

Ingredients

2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
2 Tbsp diced yellow onion
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp)
8 oz fresh spinach
1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs of chicken)
1/2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp paprika
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
4 oz cream cheese, softened
4 oz shredded mozzarella

Directions

Take cream cheese out to soften, then chop the garlic and onion. Shred mozzarella, if not using pre-shredded.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Trim the chicken and slice it lengthwise so that you have four thinner pieces, then season on both sides with sea salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika.

Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a 12″ cast iron skillet over medium heat for about one minute, until shimmering. Add onion and saute for one minute. Stir in the spinach, garlic, and optional crushed red pepper and saute for about three minutes, stirring often, until spinach wilts. Remove spinach to a separate bowl.

Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to the skillet and swirl to coat. Add chicken and brown for three minutes per side over medium heat.

Turn off the heat under the pan. Spread each piece of chicken with cream cheese (this doesn’t have to be perfect — I cut mine into little chunks to make it easier), then top with sauteed spinach and sprinkle with mozzarella.

Move skillet into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Broil on high for one minute to brown the cheese.

Note: It’s easiest to flip chicken with tongs, and I generally season it on one side, place it in the pan seasoned side down, then season the other side while the chicken is already in the skillet — just to make things simpler.

Keto Chicken Skillet Fun

This keto friendly Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet is basically a big pan of super flavorful, super easy, cast iron skillet comfort food. I’ve been all about the comfort food lately on these chilly Chicago winter evenings, so… What’s not to like?

This cheesy chicken skillet recipe is also naturally gluten free, and the chicken stays nicely moist and juicy under its blanket of spinach and cheese.

Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet, printable recipe

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4.88 from 8 votes

Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet

This keto-friendly Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet is basically a big pan of super flavorful, super easy, cast iron skillet comfort food.

Course dinner

Keyword cast iron skillet, chicken, comfort food, gluten free, keto, low carb

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 4

Author Rachel Singer

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil divided
• 2 Tbsp diced yellow onion
• 4 cloves garlic minced (about 2 tsp)
• 8 oz fresh spinach
• 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper optional
• 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 lbs of chicken
• 1/2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika
• Sea salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• 4 oz cream cheese softened
• 4 oz shredded mozzarella

Instructions

• Take cream cheese out to soften, then chop the garlic and onion. Shred mozzarella, if not using pre-shredded.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Trim the chicken and slice it lengthwise so that you have four thinner pieces, then season on both sides with sea salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
• Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a 12″ cast iron skillet over medium heat for about one minute, until shimmering. Add onion and saute for one minute. 
• Stir in the spinach, garlic, and optional crushed red pepper and saute for about three minutes, stirring often, until spinach wilts. Remove spinach to a separate bowl.
• Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to the skillet and swirl to coat. Add chicken and brown for three minutes per side over medium heat.
• Turn off the heat under the pan. Spread each piece of chicken with cream cheese (this doesn't have to be perfect -- I cut mine into little chunks to make it easier), then top with sauteed spinach and sprinkle with mozzarella.
• Move skillet into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. 
• Broil on high for one minute to brown the cheese.

Notes

It's easiest to flip chicken with tongs, and I generally season it on one side, place it in the pan seasoned side down, then season the other side while the chicken is already in the skillet -- just to make things simpler.

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