Chilli chicken and spinach gratin
A classic combination of chicken and spinach is pepped up with chilli spices and balanced with a velvety bechamel sauce, topped with cheese and browned in the oven.
40 K 3.7/5 (3 reviews)
1 hour 35 min.
Easy
6 people
9 IngredientsLast modified on: May 23th 2021
For 6 people, you will need:
- 1
400 g chicken breast - 2
3 tablespoons olive oil - 3
2 tablespoons chilli spices - 4
800 g fresh spinach - 5
50 g butter - 6
400 g bechamel sauce - 7
50 g grated cheese - 8
salt - 9
pepper - Total weight: 1,775 grams
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 45 min.
Cooking: 50 min.
All in all: 1 hour 35 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 3 min.
Cut 400 g chicken breast into medium-sized chunks.
Stage 2 - 7 min.
Pour 3 tablespoons olive oil into a large frying pan on high heat. When good and hot, add the chicken, salt and pepper.
Fry until lightly browned all over.
Fry until lightly browned all over.
Stage 3 - 1 min.
Turn off the heat, then add 2 tablespoons chilli spices and mix well to coat the chicken evenly with the spices.
Stage 5 - 30 min.
Prepare 800 g fresh spinach, but leave raw.
Stage 6
Melt 50 g butter in a large frying pan on high heat.
When good and hot add enough fresh spinach all at once to fill the pan.
Be careful: the water left on the leaves will spit at first, so take care not to get scalded.
When good and hot add enough fresh spinach all at once to fill the pan.
Be careful: the water left on the leaves will spit at first, so take care not to get scalded.
Stage 7 - 3 min.
Stir with a spatula until the spinach has shrunk down. as shown in the photo.
You have just "wilted" the spinach in butter – another cooking method.
Wilt all the spinach like this in batches, transferring it to a plate when done.
You have just "wilted" the spinach in butter – another cooking method.
Wilt all the spinach like this in batches, transferring it to a plate when done.
Stage 8 - 2 min.
Preheat the oven to 410°F (210°C).
Butter a gratin dish and spread half the spinach in the bottom.
Salt and pepper.
Butter a gratin dish and spread half the spinach in the bottom.
Salt and pepper.
Stage 9 - 1 min.
Add the chicken pieces.
Stage 10 - 3 min.
Spread half the bechamel sauce on top.
Stage 11 - 1 min.
Add the rest of the spinach; salt and pepper again.
Stage 12 - 3 min.
Finish with the remaining sauce and scatter grated cheese over the top.
Stage 13 - 40 min.
Bake for about 40 minutes until the top is nicely browned.
Your gratin is ready.
Your gratin is ready.
Remarks
You can replace the béchamel sauce with a Mornay sauce.
If you're using cooked spinach rather than fresh, omit steps 5 to 7.
If you're using cooked spinach rather than fresh, omit steps 5 to 7.
Keeping: 1 or 2 days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 160 RDI=60 % | 200 RDI=20 % | 270 RDI=40 % | 2,480 RDI=120 % | 10,400 RDI: 120 % |
| Per 100 g | 9 RDI=4 % | 10 RDI=1 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 140 RDI=7 % | 590 RDI: 7 % |
| Per person | 30 RDI=10 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 50 RDI=7 % | 410 RDI=20 % | 1,730 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 6 people : 12.10 €
- Per person : 2.05 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Fresh spinach
Like these other recipes: Late Winter Soup with Fresh Spinach, Baby spinach salad, Rice and fresh spinach salad, Mixed vegetable curry, Koulibiak in pie dish, ... See them all 9
Chicken breast
Like these other recipes: Chicken breasts with tarragon, Paella, Lille style chicken, Chicken breasts in a potato crust, Chicken and avocado bagels, ... See them all 29
Bechamel sauce
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Gratin slices with spinach, Bolognaise lasagne, Croque-monsieur potatoes, Spinach Croque-monsieur , Endives , ... See them all 29
Butter
Like these other recipes: Lime (or lemon) curd, Fillet of salmon meunière, Fish in white wine, Puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée), Quick Strawberry Millefeuille, ... See them all 464
Other recipes you may also like
Epiphany galette
Here is the recipe for the very classic but delicious "galette des rois" (Epiphany galette) in puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée) with almond cream or frangipane . You will also see some professional tips to easily handle the dough, and obtain a nice and regular galette.January 1st 2025293 K 24.5 3 hours 8 min.
Bechamel sauce
Bechamel sauce is a classic, made from a cooked butter-flour mix called "roux", where milk is added and slowly cooked. We get a thick sauce, used in many recipes.June 13th 2024432 K4.3 20 min.
Raw green asparagus salad
Full of spring flavour, this salad partners raw green asparagus with sliced radishes, herbs and slivers of Cheddar.May 11th 202221 K 20 min.
Rice with spring greens
This combination of spring cabbage and leeks, cooked separately then mixed with rice, is a simple recipe and everything can be prepared in advance.June 6th 202224 K 45 min.
Like MaronSui's
Perhaps you've heard of "MaronSui's", those chestnut mousses you find in shops? Here's a much better homemade version, easy enough to make.May 26th 202414 K 2 2 hours 30 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-05-04)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.