A simple chicken and leek recipe made with a flavorsome broth is perfect as it is for an easy Sunday dinner idea or as a tasty base for chicken leek pie or leek and chicken pasta recipes! Easy chicken recipes are perfect for the busy family.
This incredibly easy chicken and leeks recipe is already winging its way to the top of my list of favorites, and with good reason. It’s creamy, but not unhealthy, filling but not heavy, and fragrant but not overpowering. It’s great when you are looking for perfect chicken dinner ideas.
The basis of this classic recipe is a creamy chicken and leek broth infused with sweet tarragon and spicy mustard seeds. I could eat it all day just as it is, but the joy of this recipe is that it can also be used as the starting point for many other chicken leek recipes. Recipes with chicken are so versatile but there is something special about this delicious sauce.
What do I need to make this leeks and chicken recipe?
Ingredients for Chicken and Leek Recipe:
- Oil
- Chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon juice
- Leeks*
- Garlic
- Plain flour
- Chicken stock
- Milk
- Wholegrain mustard
- Creme fraiche*
- Fresh tarragon
TIP: Leeks are a delicious vegetable full of wonderful flavor, but they are grown in the ground in sandy soil. They need a good cleaning before you use them for cooking. If you’re not sure how to clean leeks, it’s easy—give them a good rinse under cold water to remove dirt or sand.
TIP-Creme Fraiche: You may substitute sour cream or plain yogurt for creme fraiche if you are unable to find it.
You could also use ramps to put a spin on your chicken and leek recipes by making this a ramps recipe. What are ramps: ramps are essentially wild leeks with a strong, delicious flavor similar to onions that’s stronger than leeks.
What herbs go with chicken?
Chicken goes well with so many herbs; in particular, rosemary, garlic, thyme, oregano, and coriander. It also works really well with tarragon, which is what is used in this chicken and leeks recipe.
The sweet aniseed flavor of tarragon also works really well with the creamy, mustard flavored chicken and leek broth.
How to Cook Leeks with Chicken
- First prepare the chicken: Place cling film under and over the chicken breasts and the bash with a rolling pin to flatten the meat to around half a cm in thickness.
- Drizzle oil over the chicken and then season with salt, pepper and lemon juice
- Place a large frying pan on the heat and then add the chicken breasts. Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Then remove from the pan and set to one side.
- Next prepare the chicken and leek broth: Using the same pan, add a little more oil and then gently fry the chopped leeks.
- While the leeks are cooking, add some finely chopped garlic and stir in well.
- Once the leeks have softened, stir in 2 Tbsp. flour and then gradually add the stock and milk.
- When the broth starts to simmer, return the chicken to the pan and cook with the lid on for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes remove the lid and stir 1 tsp. of wholegrain mustard and 3 Tbsp. of creme fraiche into the chicken and leek broth.
- Finish by stirring in some fresh tarragon leaves before serving with your choice of veg or potatoes.
Other Easy Leek Recipes
Chicken and Leeks Recipes can be used as the starting point to create a variety of new creations. This includes chicken and leek pie, chicken and leek soup, and chicken and leek pasta.
For the chicken leek pie and chicken leek soup, the cooked chicken will need to be removed and shredded, and the remaining ingredients should be reduced down for the pie or blended (smooth or chunky) for the soup. The chicken can also be shredded for chicken leek pasta, but also works with the whole breast served on top of the pasta.
Side Dishes for Chicken Breast
Recipes with leeks and chicken work really well with a simple vegetable accompaniment such as green vegetable salad, green bean almondine, or honey glazed carrots and parsnips. Chicken with leeks also goes amazingly well with any type of potato. Try it with baked crispy potato wedges, marquis potatoes, foil pack potatoes, or even Irish mashed potatoes.
Chicken breasts recipes for dinner are so versatile and a perfect solution when you are looking for easy dinner ideas for the family. Try this simple chicken with leeks recipe at home for your next cozy night in – you won’t be disappointed.
📌 Pin this Chicken and Leek Recipe to save for later!
What would you use this chicken leek recipe to make? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Chicken and leeks recipe
Equipment
- chopping board
- cling film
- rolling pin
- large pan
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. Oil
- 4 Chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper
- Juice from half a lemon
- 2 Leeks quartered length ways and then roughly chopped
- 1 clove Garlic finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp. Plain flour
- 2 cups Chicken stock
- ½ cup 2% Milk
- 1 tsp Wholegrain mustard
- 3 tbsp Creme fraiche substitute plain yogurt or sour cream if you can't find creme fraiche
- 1 Handful fresh tarragon leaves
Instructions
First prepare the chicken:
- Place cling film under and over the chicken breasts and the bash with a rolling pin to flatten the meat to around half a cm in thickness.
- Drizzle oil over one side of the chicken and then season with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Flip the chicken over and repeat.
- Place a large frying pan on the heat and then add the chicken breasts. Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Then remove from the pan and set to one side.
Next prepare the chicken and leek broth:
- Using the same pan, add a little more oil and then gently fry the chopped leeks.
- Whilst the leeks are cooking add some finely chopped garlic and stir in well.
- Once the leeks have softened, stir in 2 tbsp flour and then gradually add the stock and milk.
- When the broth starts to simmer return the chicken to the pan and cook with the lid on for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes remove the lid and stir 1 tsp of wholegrain mustard and 3 tbsp of creme fraiche into the chicken and leek broth.
- Finish by stirring in some fresh tarragon leaves before serving with your choice of veg or potatoes.
Video
Notes
- TIP—RECIPE BASE: You can use this chicken leek recipe as a base for other recipes, such as chicken and leek pie, chicken leek soup, or chicken and leek pasta.
- TIP—HOW TO CLEAN LEEKS: Leeks are a delicious vegetable full of wonderful flavor, but they are grown in the ground in sandy soil. They need a good cleaning before you use them for cooking. If you’re not sure how to clean leeks, it’s easy—give them a good rinse under cold water to remove dirt or sand.
- TIP—USE RAMPS: You could also use ramps to put a spin on chicken and leeks by making this a ramps recipe. What are ramps: ramps are essentially wild leeks with a strong, delicious flavor similar to onions that’s stronger than leeks.
Nutrition
This post was updated on June 28, 2019.
I love the look of the cover, and this recipe. I have leeks, so I may just try it this weekend.
The chicken and leeks appeal to me
I am all for making that chicken and leeks first!
Chicken and leeks work beautifully together. Can’t wait to try this recipe….hopefully from my brand new book!
I can’t wait to try this! The book looks gorgeous too!
I love leeks and chicken. This soups looks so comforting and delicious. Definitely going to try it Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! It’s the best of both worlds, comforting and delicious! Let us know how you enjoy it.
What a mouthwatering recipe! I love the tarragon and whole grain mustard along with the creme fraiche. Reminds me of my French grandmother’s cooking.
I hardly ever make leeks, but this Chicken and Leeks dish looks so creamy and delicious!
You should give it a try, Shanika! This is one of our favorite recipes recently. It’s just so creamy and tasty. Thank you for your comment!
This looks so comforting and satisfying. Love the addition of the leeks and mustard. Such a flavorful broth!
Thank you so much, Jamie! Leeks and mustard are a delicious combination.