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.
44 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
6 cups chicken breast - 2
9 tablespoons olive oil - 3
6 tablespoons chilli spices - 4
10 cups fresh spinach - 5
2⁄3 cup butter - 6
5 cups bechamel sauce - 7
2⁄3 cup grated cheese - 8
salt - 9
pepper
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 45 min.
Cooking: 50 min.
All in all: 1 hour 35 min.
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: 17:55.Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 3 min.
Cut 6 cups 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 10 cups fresh spinach, but leave raw.
Stage 6
Melt 2⁄3 cup 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, Baby spinach salad, Tex-Mex chicken burger, Rice and fresh spinach salad, Fresh spinach with cream, ... See them all 10
Chicken breast
Like these other recipes: Tex-Mex chicken burger, Chicken "cantina", Baker's chicken and potato tart, Beetroot and fried chicken salad, Stuffed pumpkin gratin, ... See them all 29
Bechamel sauce
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Escalope cordon bleu, Spinach and cauliflower with sesame béchamel sauce, Thin spinach and potato tart, Spinach on toast with bechamel, New Zealand pies, ... See them all 31
Butter
Like these other recipes: Little lemon biscuits, Flaky brownie brioche, Polenta with spinach and soft-poached egg, Tatin apple diplomat tart, Choux pastry (pâte à choux), ... See them all 472
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