To a large casserole or baking dish (about 9 x13-inch), drizzle 1 tbsp of the olive oil on the bottom. Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, and chicken sausage, then sprinkle the Italian seasoning on top and mix it all together. Create a well in the center and place the cream cheese in it.
Drizzle remaining olive oil on top and place in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes. When top of the cream cheese is lightly browned and tomatoes have blistered, remove from oven and add the spinach. Mix the spinach and cream cheese into the other ingredients until uniformly combined. Let sit 5 minutes to allow spinach to wilt.
Serve warm over pasta, with sliced bread, or a side salad for a lower carb option. Add salt/pepper to taste.
Notes
Any leftovers can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing this dish!
As mentioned, this recipe was inspired by the baked feta trend. If you'd rather give that a try, sub in your favorite light feta for the cream cheese, and follow the same procedure! Note, this won't create the creamy sauce that the cream cheese does, but once the feta is baked, it does soften up and can be broken apart and mixed with the veggies!
To increase the carbohydrates in this recipe, feel free to serve with crusty bread or pair with a whole grain or chickpea (for gluten free friends) pasta!
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Sausage Casserole with Tomatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 320Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Cholesterol 73mg24%
Sodium 931mg39%
Potassium 373mg11%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 3120IU62%
Vitamin C 15mg18%
Calcium 104mg10%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.