Description
Creamy, savory, and heartwarming — this Chicken Leek Butternut Squash Bake is pure cozy comfort in a dish. Tender chicken, sweet roasted squash, and fragrant leeks are baked together in a creamy sauce and topped with golden cheese for the ultimate fall favorite.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb chicken breast or thighs, diced
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 leeks, trimmed and sliced
3 cups cubed butternut squash
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
1 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella or Gruyère cheese
1 tbsp butter (for greasing the dish)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a medium baking dish with butter.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and cook the chicken until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper, then remove and set aside.
3. In the same pan, sauté leeks for 3–4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
4. Add butternut squash, chicken broth, cream, and thyme. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to blend.
5. Return chicken to the pan and stir in half the cheese.
6. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish, top with remaining cheese, and bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
7. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving — creamy, cheesy perfection!
Notes
🥘 Cozy Comfort Tips:
1. **Use pre-cubed squash** – saves time and roasts beautifully.
2. **Leeks add magic** – their mild sweetness balances the savory sauce.
3. **Mix cheeses** – Gruyère and Parmesan create an irresistible crust.
4. **Add greens** – stir in spinach or kale before baking for a nutrition boost.
5. **Make it ahead** – assemble, refrigerate, then bake when ready for a stress-free dinner.
💡 Perfect with crusty bread or a crisp green salad on the side!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dinner, Casserole, Comfort Food
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American, Fall-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: chicken leek butternut squash bake, cozy casserole, creamy chicken bake, fall comfort food, easy weeknight dinner