Are you searching for a new weeknight dinner that is incredibly fast, ridiculously easy, packed with flavor, and super healthy? This amazing, from-scratch Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms is that perfect meal. Tender, juicy, grilled chicken is “smothered” in a delicious, savory mixture of sautéed mushrooms and spinach, then topped with a blanket of gooey, melted provolone cheese. It’s a complete, satisfying, and sophisticated meal that comes together in under 30 minutes.
This isn’t just another chicken recipe; it’s your new go-to for a quick and wholesome dinner. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfectly grilled, juicy chicken breast every single time. The savory, earthy vegetable topping, with a surprising crunch from toasted pecans, makes this a truly special dish that the whole family will love. This is proof that a healthy meal can be incredibly delicious and satisfying.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Healthy & Hearty Meal
What makes this Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms so spectacularly delicious is its wonderful combination of classic, savory flavors and its simple, healthy preparation. The star of the show is a lean, boneless, skinless chicken breast, which is seasoned and then grilled or broiled to juicy perfection. It’s then topped with a simple yet elegant mixture of sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, and green onions, with a fantastic, buttery crunch from toasted pecans. Finished with a slice of melted provolone cheese, it’s a complete, low-carb friendly, and protein-packed meal that is as easy as it is elegant.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 25 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 |
The Essential Ingredients for This Healthy Skillet Meal
This recipe uses a handful of fresh, wholesome ingredients to create its signature savory and earthy flavor.
- The Chicken:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Lean, healthy, and the perfect canvas for our savory toppings. The key to ensuring they stay juicy and cook evenly is to use thin, 4-ounce chicken breasts or to pound regular chicken breasts to an even thickness.
- Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning: This is a brilliant shortcut to an incredibly flavorful chicken. This classic seasoning blend is typically a robust mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and other herbs, which is a fantastic pairing with the vegetables.
- The Savory Topping:
- Mushrooms & Spinach: A classic, healthy, and delicious combination. Earthy fresh mushrooms (like cremini or white button) and tender fresh baby spinach create a wonderful, savory base.
- Pecans: The surprising and delightful addition of chopped, toasted pecans adds a fantastic, buttery crunch and a boost of healthy fats that takes the entire dish to the next level.
- The Cheese: A slice of reduced-fat provolone cheese is a great choice for a healthier option. It has a wonderful, mild, and slightly smoky flavor, and it melts beautifully into a gooey, satisfying blanket over the hot chicken.
Pro Tutorial: The Secret to Juicy Grilled Chicken Breasts
The number one, non-negotiable secret to a juicy, perfectly cooked chicken breast is to pound it to an even thickness. Chicken breasts are naturally thicker on one end than the other. If you cook them as is, the thin end will be dry and overcooked before the thick end is cooked through.
- Prep: Place your chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper.
- Pound: Use the flat side of a meat mallet, a rolling pin, or even a heavy skillet to gently pound the thickest part of the chicken breast, working your way out, until the entire piece is an even 1/2- to 3/4-inch thickness.
- Cook: This even thickness allows the chicken to cook incredibly quickly and evenly, guaranteeing a juicy result every single time!
Step-by-Step to the Perfect Skillet Chicken
This delicious meal comes together in just a few simple stages.
Step 1: Make the Spinach and Mushroom Topping
In a large skillet, heat the 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add the 1 3/4 cups of sliced fresh mushrooms and the 3 sliced green onions. Sauté the vegetables until they are tender.
Stir in the 3 cups of fresh baby spinach and the 2 tablespoons of chopped pecans. Continue to cook and stir until the spinach has just wilted.
Remove the skillet from the heat and keep the vegetable mixture warm.
Part 2: Grill or Broil the Chicken to Perfection
Step 1: Preheat your grill to a medium heat, or preheat your oven’s broiler.
Step 2: Prepare your chicken breasts by pounding them to an even thickness, as described in the tutorial above. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the 1/2 teaspoon of rotisserie chicken seasoning.
Step 3: To grill, place the chicken on an oiled grill rack, cover the grill, and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through. To broil, place the chicken on a greased broiler pan about 4 inches from the heat and broil for 4-5 minutes per side.
Pro Tip: The only 100% foolproof way to guarantee a perfectly cooked, not dry, chicken breast is to use an instant-read thermometer. The chicken is perfectly and safely cooked when the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast registers 165°F (74°C).
Step 4: During the last minute of cooking, top each chicken breast with half a slice of the provolone cheese and let it melt until it is gooey and bubbly.
Part 3: Assemble and Serve
To serve, place one of the hot, cheesy chicken breasts on each plate. Top each breast with a generous portion of the warm spinach and mushroom mixture.
The Best Healthy Grilled Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms
A quick and healthy one-pan (mostly) meal featuring grilled or broiled chicken breasts topped with a warm vegetable mixture. The boneless, skinless chicken is seasoned and cooked until a slice of provolone cheese is melted on top. The dish is served with a simple sauté of fresh mushrooms, green onions, and baby spinach with a sprinkle of chopped pecans, which is spooned over the cheesy chicken.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 3/4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
- 1/2 teaspoon rotisserie chicken seasoning
- 2 slices reduced-fat provolone cheese, halved
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium heat or your broiler.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the mushrooms and green onions until they are tender.
- Stir in the spinach and pecans and cook just until the spinach has wilted. Remove the skillet from the heat and keep the mixture warm.
- Sprinkle the chicken breasts with the rotisserie chicken seasoning.
- Grill the chicken on an oiled grill rack, covered, or broil it 4 inches from the heat on a greased broiler pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until a thermometer inserted into the chicken reads 165°F.
- During the last minute of cooking, top each chicken breast with a half-slice of provolone cheese and continue to cook until the cheese is melted.
- To serve, top each chicken breast with the warm mushroom and spinach mixture.
Notes
- This is a very quick meal, perfect for a weeknight dinner, that comes together in under 30 minutes.
- The recipe offers the flexibility to either grill or broil the chicken.
- The vegetable topping is cooked separately but quickly while the chicken is grilling, making for an efficient workflow.
What to Serve With Your Smothered Chicken
This beautiful skillet dinner is a fantastic, all-in-one, low-carb meal. However, if you’d like to round it out, here are a few simple suggestions:
- A Hearty Grain: Serve the chicken and vegetables over a bed of fluffy quinoa, brown rice, or a creamy parmesan orzo.
- Roasted Potatoes: Simple, roasted new potatoes or sweet potatoes are a wonderful, comforting accompaniment.
- Crusty Bread: A simple side of warm, crusty bread is a must-have for sopping up all the delicious pan juices.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive meal, you can get a head start by preparing the sautéed mushroom and spinach mixture up to 2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat, simply grill your chicken and gently reheat the vegetable mixture.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Make it a Creamy, Saucy Dish: For a more decadent, “smothered chicken” with a rich sauce, you can add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of heavy cream or a few tablespoons of cream cheese to the skillet after you have sautéed the vegetables. Let it simmer for a minute to create a luscious cream sauce.
- Use a Different Protein: This same delicious topping and cooking method is absolutely fantastic with thin-cut, boneless pork chops or even salmon fillets. You will just need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Use a Different Cheese or Nut: If you’re not a fan of provolone, this dish is also incredible with a slice of Swiss, mozzarella, or a spicy pepper jack cheese. You can also swap the pecans with some toasted, chopped walnuts or almonds.
Enjoy Your New Favorite Healthy Skillet Meal!
You’ve just created a truly special skillet dinner that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, fresh, and delicious flavors. This Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms is a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch meal to be both incredibly fast and incredibly elegant. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new staple in your weeknight dinner rotation.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and healthy meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute best way to keep my chicken breasts from being dry and tough?
The number one, game-changing secret is to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Chicken breasts are naturally thicker on one end than the other. Pounding them to a uniform thickness (about 1/2- to 3/4-inch) ensures that the entire piece of chicken cooks evenly and quickly, which prevents the thinner parts from drying out before the thicker part is cooked through. The second secret is to use an instant-read thermometer and pull the chicken from the heat the moment it reaches 165°F.
Q2: Can I make this dish entirely in one pan on the stovetop?
Yes, absolutely! If you don’t have a grill or a broiler, you can easily make this entire dish on the stovetop. Simply cook your spinach and mushroom mixture first and set it aside. Then, in the same skillet, pan-sear your pounded chicken breasts for about 4-6 minutes per side, until they are cooked through. During the last minute of cooking, top the chicken with the cheese, cover the pan, and let the cheese melt.
Q3: Can I make this dish ahead of time for meal prep?
Yes, this is a perfect meal-prep recipe! You can fully cook the chicken breasts and the vegetable mixture and store them in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can then gently reheat them in a skillet or in the microwave for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner.
Q4: Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Of course! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would be a fantastic and even juicier substitute in this recipe. Because they are typically a more even thickness, you will not need to pound them. The cooking time on the grill or under the broiler will be very similar
Q5: What other vegetables would be good in the topping?
This recipe is wonderfully versatile! You could add some thinly sliced onions or shallots to the skillet to sauté along with the mushrooms. Some chopped, jarred sun-dried tomatoes would also be a fantastic and flavorful addition.