No no, Almost-Healthy Spinach Squares are definitely healthy. Definitely. Sure, they have loads of succulent, crispy bacon packed into them… and it’s flavored with chicken broth for a deeply savory flavor to pair with the freshness of the spinach… plus, there’s cheddar cheese for sharpness… and parmesan cheese for nuttiness… but still! Spinach! Almost-Healthy Spinach Squares are the vegetable side dish that tastes — and maybe possibly is — a guilty pleasure!
Ingredients
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/4 pounds frozen spinach, chopped, thawed, squeezed dry
- 3 cups aged sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated, plus more, to taste, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Adjust the oven rack to the upper-middle position.
Step 2 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 3 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 4 –In a bowl, add the flour, the baking powder, the salt, the pepper, and the cayenne and whisk to combine.
Step 5 –Add the chicken broth and the eggs to the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
Step 6 –Add the spinach, the cheddar, the onion, the bacon, and the garlic to the mixture and stir until combined.
Step 7 –Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Step 8 –Sprinkle the top of the mixture with 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese.
Step 9 –Bake until the squares are browned on top and bubbling around the edges, about 40-45 minutes.
Step 10 –Transfer the baking dish from the oven and cut the spinach bake into 24 equal-sized squares.
Step 11 –Serve garnished with the extra parmesan cheese.
