Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms

This savory chicken with spinach and mushrooms dish is the perfect balance of tender chicken, vibrant spinach and earthy mushrooms, making a deeply satisfying and nutritious meal. While this chicken does give the impression of a dish that took both time and energy to make, it’s actually super quick to throw it all together.  Whether served over a bed of rice, added to a garlic pasta base or served with a simple side of greens, this is an excellent weeknight meal to have in your repertoire.

Ingredients for Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms

• Olive oil: Use a mild EVOO for this recipe for best results.
• Veggies: Fresh mushrooms, green onions and a few cups of fresh baby spinach all work together to create an earthy vibe to this dish.
• Chopped pecans: Coarsely chopped pecans are added with the spinach, helping to create a rich, nutty sauce-like topping to the grilled chicken.
• Chicken: We recommend using boneless skinless chicken breast halves, about four ounces each.
• Rotisserie chicken seasoning: This helps to give the entire meal a delicious boost in flavor.
• Provolone cheese: This recipe calls for reduced-fat provolone cheese; feel free to sub it out for any cheese that you prefer.

Directions

Step 1: Saute veggies

Preheat grill or broiler. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and saute mushrooms and green onions until tender. Stir in spinach and chopped pecans until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat; keep warm.

Step 2: Grill chicken

Sprinkle chicken with seasoning. Grill, covered, on an oiled grill rack over medium-high heat until a thermometer reads 165°F, or about four to five minutes per side. Top with cheese; grill until cheese is melted. To serve, top with mushroom mixture.

Test Kitchen Tip: Alternatively, you can broil the chicken four inches from the heat on a greased broiler pan. The rest of the directions stay the same.

Recipe Variations

• Marinate the chicken: For added flavor, consider marinating the chicken overnight.
• Fry the chicken: Instead of grilling, make a crispy breaded chicken recipe, but keep everything else the same.
• Swap the chicken: Sub chicken for a steak if you’d prefer a heartier protein.

How to Store Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms

Once cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. You can store it smothered in the spinach and mushroom sauce, or leave everything stored separately from the grilled chicken. If stored properly, this meal is best enjoyed within three days.

How do you reheat chicken with spinach and mushrooms?

To reheat, combine everything in a skillet on the stove; heat oil over medium heat before adding. Heat, covered, until chicken is warmed through.

Chicken with Spinach and Mushroom Tips

How do I keep chicken from drying out?

Chicken that’s dried out is chicken that has been cooked for too long. It’s a common problem – everyone is typically so scared of undercooking chicken, that it’s easily overcooked. To avoid this, cook until a thermometer reads 165°, or even slightly under as the chicken will continue cooking once removed from the heat. Avoid slicing to check for doneness until the thermometer reads 165°. Keeping the juices inside the meat is key to keeping the chicken tender,

What can I use in place of spinach?

Tender, wilted baby spinach is absolutely delicious on this grilled chicken, but if you’d prefer a different green, sub it out for kale or tender, crunchy Asian greens, such as tatsoi or bok choy.

What can I do with leftovers?

This recipe makes for yummy chicken, mushroom and spinach leftovers, but if you want to switch it up a bit, we recommend dicing the chicken up and adding it to buttery pasta. Top it with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh cherry tomatoes for a twist on the original dish that’ll have you second guessing how to make it next time.