Chicken, Leek and Zucchini Pasta Gratin

Chicken, Leek and Zucchini Pasta Gratin is a easy French recipe that serves 4. 810 calories per serving. Recipe by Oum Arwa on YouTube.

Prep: 15 min | Cook: 48 min | Total: 1 hr 18 min

Cost: $9.91 total, $2.48 per serving

Ingredients

  • 40 g Butter (20 g for cooking the chicken, 20 g for the béchamel)
  • 15 ml Olive oil (A drizzle for the pan)
  • 300 g Chicken breast (Cut into cubes or strips)
  • 100 g Leek (white part) (Finely chopped)
  • 150 g Zucchini (Cut into brunoise (small dice))
  • 0.5 g Curry powder (1 to 2 pinches)
  • 0.5 g Garlic powder (1 pinch)
  • 0.5 g Ground black pepper (To taste)
  • 0.5 g Dried oregano (A small pinch)
  • 180 ml Liquid crème fraîche (15 to 20 cl, preferably liquid)
  • to taste Salt
  • 375 g Pasta (penne, fusilli or small shells) (Al dente, ideally durum wheat semolina type)
  • 15 g Wheat flour (type 45) (For the béchamel)
  • 250 ml Whole milk (Added gradually)
  • 0.5 g Nutmeg (A small pinch, grated)
  • 100 g Mozzarella (Grated or thinly sliced)
  • 50 g Emmental (Grated, adds flavor)
  • a few sprigs Fresh parsley (For garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vegetables and chicken

    Wash, finely slice the white part of the leek and cut the zucchini into brunoise. Cut the chicken into medium‑sized cubes.

    Time: PT10M

  2. Sauté the chicken

    Heat 20 g butter with a drizzle of olive oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and brown it for 2 minutes, stirring.

    Time: PT2M

  3. Add the vegetables and spices

    Stir in the leek and zucchini, season with salt, add 1‑2 pinches of curry, a pinch of garlic powder, pepper and oregano. Sauté for 4 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

    Time: PT4M

  4. Add the cream

    Pour in 180 ml liquid crème fraîche, bring to a gentle boil, then remove from heat.

    Time: PT2M

  5. Cook the pasta

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook al dente (about 8‑10 minutes).

    Time: PT10M

  6. Combine pasta and sauce

    Drain the pasta without rinsing, add it directly to the pan with the chicken sauce, and toss to coat well.

    Time: PT2M

  7. Prepare the béchamel

    Melt 20 g butter in a small saucepan, add 15 g flour and stir for 1 minute (white roux). Gradually whisk in the milk to avoid lumps. Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg. Cook for 5 minutes until thickened.

    Time: PT5M

  8. Assemble the gratin

    Grease the gratin dish with a little butter or oil. Spread the pasta‑sauce mixture on the bottom, sprinkle 100 g grated mozzarella and 50 g grated Emmental, then pour the béchamel over the entire surface.

    Time: PT3M

  9. Bake

    Place the dish in a preheated 200 °C (static heat) oven and bake for 25 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.

    Time: PT25M

    Temperature: 200°C

  10. Finishing and serving

    Remove the gratin from the oven, let rest for 2 minutes, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
810
Protein
35 g
Carbohydrates
80 g
Fat
30 g
Fiber
5 g

Dietary info: Contains meat, Contains dairy products, Not vegetarian, Not vegan, high-protein, high-fiber

Allergens: Lactose, Gluten

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Chicken, Leek and Zucchini Pasta Gratin

Recipe by Oum Arwa

A creamy pasta gratin combining chicken, leek and zucchini, topped with a velvety béchamel and melted mozzarella. Easy, quick and perfect for a convivial French-style dinner.

EasyFrenchServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
19m
Prep
46m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
1h 15m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$9.91
Total cost
$2.48
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Brown the chicken without burning it (step 2).
  • Cook the pasta al dente to prevent it becoming too soft in the oven (step 5).
  • Achieve a smooth béchamel without lumps (step 7).
  • Monitor the oven baking to avoid the cheese burning (step 9).

Safety Warnings

  • Be careful of hot oil splatters when cooking the chicken.
  • Pasta cooking water is very hot; handle with care.
  • The oven reaches 200 °C: use kitchen gloves.

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