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.
34 K 3.7/5 (3 reviews)
1 hour 35 min.
Easy
18 people
9 IngredientsLast modified on: May 23th 2021
For 18 people, you will need:
- 1
1 kg 200 g chicken breast - 2
9 tablespoons olive oil - 3
6 tablespoons chilli spices - 4
2 kgs 400 g fresh spinach - 5
150 g butter - 6
1 kg 200 g Bechamel sauce - 7
150 g grated cheese - 8
salt - 9
pepper - Total weight: 5,325 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 1 kg 200 g chicken breast into medium-sized chunks.
Stage 2 - 7 min.
Pour 9 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 6 tablespoons chilli spices and mix well to coat the chicken evenly with the spices.
Stage 5 - 30 min.
Prepare 2 kgs 400 g fresh spinach, but leave raw.
Stage 6
Melt 150 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 | 490 RDI=190 % | 590 RDI=60 % | 810 RDI=120 % | 7,450 RDI=370 % | 31,190 RDI: 370 % |
| 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 18 people : 36.25 €
- 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: How to prepare spinach, Late Winter Soup with Fresh Spinach, Rice and fresh spinach salad, Fresh spinach with cream, Baby spinach salad, ... See them all 9
Chicken breast
Like these other recipes: Vol-au-vent, Sautéed turmeric chicken with mushrooms, Beetroot and fried chicken salad, Chinese style chicken, Paella, ... See them all 29
Bechamel sauce
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Endives , Grilled ham and bechamel sandwiches, Harvest Gratin, Ham "friand" pie, Montlebon toast, ... See them all 29
Grated cheese
Like these other recipes: Cauliflower and chickpea purée, Moussaka, Salmon and Spinach Gratin, Aperitif rolls, Stuffed cabbage leaves, ... See them all 71
Other recipes you may also like
Smooth mixed vegetable soup
Any vegetables you have, cut into small pieces, mixed with a shallot cooked in butter, cooked together then blended. Even better when it's cold outside.January 3rd 2014341 K4.4 2 hours 3 min.
Pecan fruit rolls
These pecan nut and dried fruit rolls, wrapped in golden caramelized puff pastry, are really delicious.September 11th 2018106 K4.9 1 hour 25 min.
Creamy Winter Vegetable Soup
This is a very simple recipe: lots of winter vegetables cooked in chicken stock, then blended. The soup's special finishing touch comes from cream and a spoonful of mustard.January 14th 201578 K5 1 hour 25 min.
Pork chops in the oven
To cook a pork chop well, without it drying out, one of the best methods is to cook it in two stages: start by pan-frying, then finish in the oven. This recipe adds flavour with mustard and thyme, with the cooking juices deglazed and reduced before serving.August 16th 2015289 K3.5 25 min.
Crispy smoked salmon and herb rolls
This recipe is for rolls of brik or filo pastry with a filling of smoked salmon, eggs, herbs and mustard. These are cut into sections before being cooked in the oven.February 26th 201566 K4.1 50 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2024-11-24)
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.