Make the creamiest chicken and leeks recipe. Itโs flavorful and comforting and goes perfectly with mashed potatoes or rice. This easy chicken dish is ready in about 30 minutes.ย
Start the week with this delicious chicken with leeks recipe! Itโs the perfect meal for a cozy evening with the whole family: tender chicken pieces simmered in a creamy, comforting white sauce with leeks and a bit of mustard for extra flavor.
And all that on top of creamy mashed potatoes with garlic and Parmesan or basmati rice, for instance.ย
Try more delicious and creamy chicken dishes, such as Chicken Meatballs in Creamy Sauce, Romanian Chicken with Cream, or something a bit different, Chicken Breasts in Orange Sauce.
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Recipe ingredients
Boneless skinless chicken breasts. Alternatively, make this dish with boneless, skinless thighs or turkey breast.ย
Leeks: They come in very different sizes, so itโs best to buy them based on weight. One pound of leeks can be anything from a huge one to two to three slender ones. Use the white and light green parts and reserve the dark green leaves to make chicken stock, like in this Semolina Dumpling Soup or Turkey Bone Broth.
Ingredients for the sauce: Onion, garlic cloves, chicken broth, heavy cream, all-purpose flour, Dijon mustard or plain yellow mustard, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a little olive oil, nutmeg, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper.
- You can use white wine instead of broth and fresh thyme or dill instead of parsley; the flavor will be slightly different but delicious.ย
Check out more chicken and leek recipes: Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie or Chicken Leek Pie.ย
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to clean leeks?
Remove the first layer of the plant if itโs yellowish or slightly wilted. Cut off the roots and wilted dark green ends. Wash the leek carefully, and separate the layers at the conjunction between the white and green part; thatโs where most of the dirt collects. Wash thoroughly between the layers, then cut the leek as desired (for this recipe, cut into thin slices).
Try these amazing Roasted Leek recipe, too! Or make Creamed Leeks and German Cheese and Leek Soup.ย
How to make chicken with leeks?
Step #1:ย Clean and cut the leeks into rounds. Chop the onion and the garlic.
Step #2:ย Dry the meat with paper towels, cut it into strips, and season it.
Step #3:ย Cook the strips in a large skillet in two batches until golden, then remove them from the pan.ย
Step #4:ย Sautรฉ the leeks, onion, and garlic in the same pan.
Step 5:ย Add broth and simmer briefly, then add the heavy cream and simmer for 5 minutes (See Good to Know section).
Step #6:ย Stir in mustard, lemon juice, and seasoning. Reheat the cooked chicken pieces in the leek sauce, add fresh herbs, and serve immediately.
Good to know!
You can thicken the sauce. I donโt always do this, but sometimes I do. Whisk 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch in a small bowl with cold water. Push the chicken aside and whisk the slurry into the sauce. Give the sauce a good stir with a wooden spoon; you will notice that the sauce will thicken almost instantly.
How to store and reheat?
Refrigerate leftover chicken and leeks in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months and defrost them in the fridge.
Reheat on the stovetop or microwave. Add a small splash of broth or milk to loosen the sauce, stir well, and reheat until hot.ย
Side dish suggestions
Recipe
Creamy Chicken and Leeks
Equipment
- Large skillet or nonstick pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast 450 g, Note 1
- 1 lb leeks 450 g, Note 2
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth 230 ml, not too salty
- ยพ cup heavy cream 175 ml
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- a few gratings of nutmeg
- fine sea salt and ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons parsley
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch optional
Instructions
- Chicken breasts: Pat them dry with a kitchen towel and cut them into strips (about ยฝ inch/ 1 cm thick and 1.2 โ 1.5 inch/ 3-4 cm long). Season the strips with salt and pepper.1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast / 450 g + fine sea salt and ground black pepper
- Leeks and onions: Clean the leeks thoroughly. Remove the outer layer of the leek if itโs yellowish or wilted. Trim off the roots and any dark green, wilted ends. Wash the leek thoroughly, separating the layers where the white and green parts meet, as dirt often collects there. Rinse between the layers and slice them (about ยฝ inch/ 1 cm). Finely chop the onion and the garlic.1 lb leeks / 450 g + 1 onion + 2 garlic cloves
- Cook the chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan. Cook the chicken in two batches, stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes per batch, until golden on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan.
- Sautรฉ leeks: In the same pan, heat the oil and add the leeks, onions, and garlic. Sautรฉ for about 4 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the stock, then simmer briefly with the pot partially covered.1 tablespoon all-purpose flour + 1 cup chicken broth / 230 ml
- Add heavy cream, stir, and simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.ยพ cup heavy cream / 175 ml
- Thicken the sauce: Now, you can decide if you want to use a bit of cornstarch to thicken the sauce. If so, whisk the cornstarch with 1-2 teaspoons of cold water in a small bowl. Whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce and stir; the sauce will thicken almost instantly.1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Adjust: Add mustard and lemon juice and adjust the taste with salt and pepper. Add the chicken pieces and reheat them for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the chopped parsley and serve immediately.1 tablespoon Dijon mustard + 1 tablespoon lemon juice + a few gratings of nutmeg + fine sea salt and ground black pepper + 2 tablespoons parsley
Notes
- Chicken cut: You can also make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken thighs or with turkey breast.
- Leeks:ย Check their weight when buying them; they can come in very different sizes, and 1 pound/ 450 g can be anything from 1 huge leek to several slender ones.ย
Roxana says
I was looking for something to do with leeks, I never used them much before. This was so good! I will try more of your leek recipes .
Adina says
Hi Roxana. I am so happy to hear it; we love leeks and use them quite a lot. I hope you find more recipes you like.