Best Chicken And Leeks Recipes

WINE-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the black pepper. Finely grate, pass through a press or mince 2 garlic cloves. Set aside half the grated garlic for finishing the dish. Rub the rest all over the chicken pieces. Set aside the chicken while preparing the other ingredients.
• In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter. When the butter melts, add chicken in batches and cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If the pan dries out, add a little more oil as needed. Transfer browned chicken to a plate.
• Add remaining tablespoon each oil and butter to the pan. Once the butter melts, add mushrooms and cook undisturbed until well browned on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir and cook for 1 minute longer.
• Thinly slice 2 garlic cloves. Reduce heat to medium, and stir in sliced garlic, leeks and a large pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender and golden brown, 7 minutes. Add rosemary and wine to the pot and let simmer, scraping up the browned bits, until liquid reduces by half, about 1 minute.
• Nestle chicken, skin side up, into the pan and pour in any accumulated juices from the plate. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until chicken is cooked through, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Pluck the rosemary sprigs from the pot. If the sauce looks thin, turn the heat to medium-high and let simmer until it thickens slightly, 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining grated garlic, the crème fraîche, chives and lemon zest. Taste sauce and add more salt if needed. Spoon sauce over the chicken and top with parsley, more lemon zest and a dollop of crème fraîche, if you like, and serve.

CHICKEN AND LEEKS IN CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil and vinegar in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook until white on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Stir leeks into the skillet; cook for 1 minute. Pour in wine; simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add half-and-half, Parmesan cheese, salt, and garlic pepper; simmer until flavors combine, about 2 minutes.
• Return chicken to the skillet and stir until heated through and coated with sauce, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

CHICKEN WITH CREAMY MUSHROOMS, FENNEL AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Slice the leeks in half, then thinly slice them into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons. Place the leeks in a colander set over a bowl and fill the bowl with enough water to cover the leeks. Gently stir them around to help remove any excess dirt and sand. Remove the colander with the leeks from the bowl, leaving behind any dirt. Let leeks drain completely.
• Place the chicken breasts on a sheet of parchment paper. Season the chicken breasts with salt, a pinch red pepper flakes, and half the thyme leaves. Place another piece of parchment on top of the chicken. Use a meat mallet or a rolling pin to pound the chicken breasts slightly until they are an even thickness, about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Hold both pieces of parchment paper and flip the chicken over; now the parchment that was originally on the bottom should be on top. Remove the parchment, exposing the unseasoned side of chicken. Season with salt, another pinch red pepper flakes, and the remaining thyme leaves. Place the parchment back on top and pound slightly to adhere the seasoning.
• Heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add in 2 tablespoons olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add in the chicken breasts and cook, undisturbed, about 4 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown and reaches 165 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Turn the heat down to medium and add in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the fennel, mushrooms, and leeks to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Season the vegetables with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Deglaze with the white wine and cook until the wine is mostly evaporated, about 1 minute. Turn the heat down to low and add in the cream. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cream has thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Season the sauce to taste.
• To serve, spoon the creamy vegetables over the chicken. Garnish with thyme leaves.

NORMANDY-STYLE CHICKEN AND LEEKS WITH CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Season chicken all over with salt and pepper. Melt butter with the oil in a large enameled cast-iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just bubbling. Add half the chicken pieces, skin sides down; cook, turning once, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken pieces to a plate; set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces; add to plate. Remove pot from heat; let cool slightly.
• Return pot to medium-low heat, and add leeks. Cook, stirring frequently, until leeks begin to soften and are pale golden, about 3 minutes. Add hard cider and thyme. Move leeks to edges of pot, and add all the chicken pieces to pot, skin sides down. Arrange leeks over chicken. Cover, and cook 15 minutes (if liquid is bubbling rapidly, reduce heat to low). Turn chicken pieces, and cook until breasts are cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken breasts to a plate, and cover to keep warm. Adjust leeks so they are submerged in liquid. Cook, uncovered, until the remaining chicken pieces are tender and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer all of the chicken to a warm serving platter. Remove leeks from pot, and arrange them around the chicken. Cover to keep warm. Return pot to medium heat. Cook, uncovered, until liquid has reduced by about half (to a scant 2/3 cup), 8 to 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk in the creme fraiche and parsley. Ladle pan sauce over chicken and leeks. Serve immediately.

DIJON-TARRAGON CHICKEN, MASHED POTATOES WITH BRIE OR CAMEMBERT AND RAINBOW CHARD WITH BACON AND LEEKS

Steps:

• For the mashed potatoes: Peel potatoes and cube into uniform pieces, 8 per potato. Smash two cloves of garlic. Place potatoes and smashed garlic in saucepot, cover with water, cover pot and bring to boil. Season with salt and cook to tender, removing lid once potatoes boil. Return the potatoes and garlic to hot pot after draining, then add milk or stock and cheese and mash. Season with pepper of choice, then keep covered.
• For the Dijon-tarragon chicken: While potatoes are coming to a boil, remove tenders from chicken and pound the breasts (if they are large) 1/2 inch thick, then cut each into 3 pieces. Season chicken breasts and tenders with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with EVOO and melt butter into oil. When it foams, add chicken and brown on both sides, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Peel and chop shallot and chop or grate garlic.
• Remove chicken to a plate, add shallots and garlic and stir a minute or so. Add wine and reduce to 1/4 cup, then add stock and bring to boil. Add creme fraiche or heavy cream and simmer at low rolling boil 2 to 3 minutes, then add Dijon and juice of 1/2 lemon. Chop and add tarragon, slide chicken back into pan and leave on warm or cover pan.
• For the chard with bacon and leeks: While chicken is working, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 turn of the pan. Stem chard and chop stems; shred the greens. Chop and add bacon to the pan and brown to crisp, 4 minutes. Quarter leek and trim root, then chop; add chard stems and leek to bacon, stir 2 minutes, then wilt in chard greens. Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg to taste, then add juice of 1/2 lemon.
• Serve chicken alongside mashed potatoes and greens with bacon.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS, AND MELTED LEEKS

Steps:

• If you see or feel dirt in the leeks, rinse well, separating layers, then pat dry; otherwise, leave rounds intact.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high until hot but not smoking. Add leeks in a single layer; season with 1/4 tsp. salt and a pinch of pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook, turning once, until leeks are lightly golden, 16-18 minutes. Transfer leeks to a plate; reserve skillet.
• Lightly crush fennel seeds with the bottom of a heavy skillet or pot. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with fennel, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in a 5-7-qt. Dutch oven or large wide saucepan over medium-high. Cook thighs, skin side down, until well-browned, 12-14 minutes. Transfer skin side up to a plate. Pour off and discard fat.
• Add wine to pot, bring to a simmer, and cook, scraping up bits from bottom of pot, 1 minute. Add broth and return chicken skin side up to pot. Lower heat to medium-low, cover pot, and cook until chicken is cooked through, 15-18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine asparagus, peas, and 2 Tbsp. water in reserved skillet, cover, and cook over medium heat until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 tsp. lemon zest, remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, and a pinch of pepper; stir gently to just combine.
• Divide chicken, asparagus mixture, and reserved leeks among large shallow bowls. Bring broth to a simmer, add lemon juice, then ladle into bowls. Top with dill and remaining 1 Tbsp. lemon zest.

SKILLET CHICKEN WITH LEEKS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Pat chicken dry; season generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large, heavy ovenproof skillet (such as cast iron) over medium-high. Add butter and 1 tablespoon oil. When butter melts and foam subsides, add chicken, skin-sides down. Cook, undisturbed, until skin lifts easily from skillet and forms a golden-brown crust, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate, skin-sides up.
• Add leeks, carrots, bread cubes, garlic, lemon zest, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet, stirring to evenly coat; season with salt and pepper. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet, arranging breasts on top of vegetables in a single layer, skin-sides up.
• Roast until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of breasts reads 160°F, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and loosely cover to keep warm. Stir mint into skillet; return to oven. Roast until vegetables are tender and golden and bread turns crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice into vegetable mixture and sprinkle with more mint leaves. Drizzle remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice over rested chicken. Carve chicken; serve with vegetable mixture.

CHICKEN WITH LEEKS AND CREAM

Steps:

• Tear up the chicken meat into bite sized pieces.
• Cut the leeks into 2-inch pieces up to the point where the leek begins to turn green. Slice the piece once lengthwise, and divide the leaves. Rinse if dirty.
• Saute the leek stems and garlic in the oil. Then, add leek leaves, if desired. Do not allow the leaves to discolor; you simply want to cook them until they are barely tender.
• Add the chicken to the pan, and cook it until hot. Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Mix well, and add the cream. Heat, and serve. Decorate with parsley.

FETTUCCINE WITH CHICKEN, LEEKS, AND GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook fettuccine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside and keep warm.
• Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and leeks; cook and stir until leeks are tender and chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth; continue cooking 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour in heavy cream. Reduce heat; let simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts into the skillet with the chicken; continue to simmer until cheese has melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with cooked pasta. Top with parsley.

PAN ROASTED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH MUSHROOMS AND LEEKS FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add mushrooms and leeks; stir and cook for 4 minutes or until tender.
• Remove from heat; sprinkle with half the thyme, salt, and pepper.
• Cut a small pocket in the top edge of the side of each chicken breast, but don't cut all the way through the breast.
• Fill pocket with 2-3 tablespoons of the mushroom mixture.
• Season chicken with the remaining thyme, salt, and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
• Brown chicken on both sides.
• Transfer skillet to the oven and roast for 10 minutes or until cooked through.
• Serve with the remaining mushroom-leek mixture.

SKILLET CHICKEN AND FARRO WITH CARAMELIZED LEEKS

Steps:

• Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt and pepper, and set aside while preparing the leeks.
• Trim roots from leeks, then cut away any wilted, yellowing or browned parts from the greens. Slice leeks in half lengthwise. Wash well under cold running water to remove any soil, then shake dry. Thinly slice the leeks (including the greens) into half-moons. You should have about 6 cups. Measure out about 2 tablespoons of sliced leek whites and set them aside for garnish.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. When the oil thins and coats the bottom of the pan, add half the chicken and cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and repeat with remaining chicken.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and stir in the leeks and a pinch of salt. Sauté until tender and golden brown, 10 to 13 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in spices, thyme and tomato paste, and cook until tomato paste darkens and caramelizes, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour in chicken stock and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Stir in farro and 1 teaspoon salt. When the liquid comes to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low and nestle in the browned chicken, skin-side up; pour in any juices from the plate. Cover pan and let cook until the farro is tender and the chicken is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss together the reserved leek whites, chopped tomatoes and parsley. Season to taste with salt, pepper and an acid like lemon or lime juice or vinegar. The mixture should taste tangy and bright.
• Discard the thyme sprigs, and serve chicken and farro topped with some of the tomato mixture.

CHICKEN AND RICE WITH LEEKS AND SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks and half of lemon zest, season with salt and pepper, and mix to coat leeks in butter. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are somewhat tender, about 5 minutes. Remove lid, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and just starting to take on color, about 3 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes, then add broth, scraping up any browned bits. Tuck short sides of each chicken thigh underneath so they are touching and nestle seam side down into rice mixture. Bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Cut remaining 1 Tbsp. butter into small pieces and scatter over mixture. Re-cover and let sit 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pulse anchovy, garlic, capers, a few pinches of red pepper flakes, and remaining lemon zest in a food processor until finely chopped. Add herbs; process until a paste forms. With motor running, gradually stream in oil until loosened to a thick sauce. Add half of lemon juice; season salsa verde with salt.
• Drizzle remaining lemon juice over chicken and rice. Serve with salsa verde.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH APPLES, LEEKS, AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cut leeks in half crosswise and place in a large roasting pan. Add apples, olive oil, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Season chicken with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and nestle, skin-side up, among vegetables.
• Roast in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, and apples and leeks are tender, 40 to 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

NORMANDY-STYLE CHICKEN AND LEEKS WITH CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt butter with the oil in a large enameled cast-iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just bubbling. Add half the chicken pieces, skin sides down; cook, turning once, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken pieces to a plate; set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces; add to plate. Remove pot from heat; let cool slightly.
• Return pot to medium-low heat, and add leeks. Cook, stirring frequently, until leeks begin to soften and are pale golden, about 3 minutes. Add hard cider and thyme. Move leeks to edges of pot, and add all the chicken pieces to pot, skin sides down. Arrange leeks over chicken. Cover, and cook 15 minutes (if liquid is bubbling rapidly, reduce heat to low). Turn chicken pieces, and cook until breasts are cooked through, about 5 minutes more.
• Transfer chicken breasts to a plate, and cover to keep warm. Adjust leeks so they are submerged in liquid. Cook, uncovered, until the remaining chicken pieces are tender and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer all of the chicken to a warm serving platter. Remove leeks from pot, and arrange the leeks around chicken. Cover with foil, and set aside. Return pot to medium heat. Cook, uncovered, until liquid has reduced by about half (to a scant 2/3 cup), 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk in the crème fraîche and parsley. Ladle pan sauce over chicken and leeks. Serve immediately.
• Crème Fraîche
• Stir together cream and buttermilk in a medium bowl. Let stand at room temperature, partially covered, until thick, about 12 hours. Stir; cover, and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 2 weeks.

CROCK POT CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND LEEKS (LOW CARB)

Steps:

• In a glass jar, mix together the sour cream and heavy cream until well blended, then put lid on jar and let sit at room temperature until ready to serve chicken.
• Grease the crock pot with the butter and leave any extra in the bottom.
• Put all ingredients in the crock pot, except for the chicken and the crème fraîche, and mix well.
• Add the chicken and mix again.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
• Remove chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
• Remove 1/4 cup cooking juices and discard.
• Mix the crème fraîche into the vegetable mixture, then return the chicken to the crock pot and stir to coat the chicken.

GRILLED LEMON-GARLIC CHICKEN WITH LEEKS AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Zest 2 tsp. lemon zest off lemon and transfer to a large bowl. Cut off ends, then squeeze 1 Tbsp. lemon juice into bowl with zest. Slice remaining lemon into thin rounds.
• Whisk garlic, salt, paprika, and 3 Tbsp. oil into lemon juice and zest. Add lemon slices, chicken, leeks, bell pepper, and potatoes and toss to coat.
• Brush wires of grill basket with oil, then add chicken mixture. Arrange in an even layer and close basket. Place grill basket on grill, cover, and cook, turning once halfway through, until chicken is fully cooked through and vegetables are lightly charred, 20-25 minutes.
• Transfer chicken mixture to a large bowl, add parsley, and toss to combine.

CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add leeks, onion, and garlic. Saute until fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Add chicken bouillon to hot water to dissolve. Add to the onion-leek mixture. Add rice and poultry seasoning. Stir well, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes.
• Add chicken, carrots, and bell pepper to the soup. Cover and continue simmering until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Uncover and add heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with thyme.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH LEEKS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl stir together the flour, the paprika, and salt and pepper to taste and dredge the chicken breasts in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. In a heavy (preferably cast-iron) skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it sauté the chicken, turning it once, until it is golden brown. Reduce the heat to moderately low and stir in the leeks, the mushrooms, the wine, the broth, and the thyme. Cook the mixture, covered partially, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, and transfer the chicken to a platter. To the skillet add the olives, the capers, and the lemon juice and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Serve the chicken topped with the leek mixture.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH LEEKS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Combine the stock and leeks, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 20 minutes. Add the rice or bulgur, and continue to simmer until the grain is cooked through, 15 to 30 minutes. Taste and adjust salt.
• Beat together the eggs and lemon juice until frothy in a medium bowl.
• Just before serving, making sure that the broth isn't boiling, gradually add 2 cups to the egg and lemon mixture while beating vigorously with a whisk to prevent the eggs from curdling. Turn off the heat under the soup, pour the egg-lemon mixture into the soup, stir well and serve, adding a bit of pepper to each bowl and garnishing with chopped fresh parsley or dill.

LINGUINE WITH CHICKEN, LEEKS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add to skillet and sauté until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Cool slightly. Thinly slice chicken crosswise and set aside.
• Melt butter in same skillet over medium-low heat. Add leeks and garlic and sauté until leeks are very tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, vermouth and chicken. Cook until mixture is just heated through, about 2 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Combine chicken mixture, linguine and 1/2 cup Parmesan in large bowl; toss well. Sprinkle with basil if desired. Serve, passing remaining Parmesan.