Easy Leftover Chicken and Spinach Sauté

I have to admit, I absolutely love sautéed spinach with garlic. It’s simple, it’s super delicious, and honestly, its like one of those things i’ll make when i have no big inspiration for that day, with frozen spinach its a all year round always available option (kinda like canned tuna heheheh).

So this recipe is that kind of recipe, leftover roast chicken from last night! Perfect! Just gotta get that frozen from the freezer, do a quick sauté and im done, no fuss, no drama, no big thinking here, just cook and season… with LOVVVEEEEE ;D

On that sidenote, don’t sleep on frozen spinach. It’s one of those ingredients that sometimes gets unfairly judged, but it’s consistent, convenient, and holds up beautifully in a sauté. Fresh spinach works too, but you’ll need a lot more of it since it cooks down like crazy. And you’ll have to cook it/eat it before it spoils, while the frozen kind you can use whenever you feel like it, no effort, let’s check the recipe!

Easy Leftover Chicken and Spinach Sauté

Servings: 2
Time: 35mins
Difficulty: Easy
Rating: ★★★★★
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This is why i love frozen spinach it's nutritious, easy to cook and you kinda can mix and match with all kinds of leftovers for a quick and delicious meal!

Ingredients

Chicken – +/- 2 Legs with Thigh (Shredded)
Onion – 1
Garlic – 4 Cloves
Spinach – 500g (Frozen)
Olive Oil – A Drizzle
Pepper – A Pinch
Salt – A Pinch

Directions

I used frozen spinach, which helps to be more precise with the quantity; if you have fresh, I’d say you need 3 whole bunches!
I also used leftover roast chicken; if you don’t have any, you can fry 1 large chicken breast or 2 chicken breasts in a pan with garlic.

If you already have leftover chicken, then start by sautéing the chopped garlic and sliced onion in a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat.

When the onion is translucent, add the frozen spinach and cover, letting it thaw and cook in the pan.
Finally, add the shredded chicken, mix, and season with another drizzle of olive oil, pepper, and salt. Mix, taste, and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
Cook it until it has the consistency you want, and that’s it, simple as that! Enjoy!

Notes & Tips: If you’re using fresh spinach instead of frozen, you’ll want about 3 big bunches since it shrinks down dramatically when it hits the heat (unlike frozen spinach that is already pretty compressed). Don’t be alarmed, it’s normal.

No leftover chicken? Like i said above, no problem. You can cook one large chicken breast or two smaller ones right in the pan with the garlic before adding the spinach. Just slice or shred it once it’s cooked through and continue with the recipe as normal.

For a creamier version, add a small splash of heavy cream near the end of cooking. It turns the whole dish into something a little more luxurious without much extra effort, and it pairs beautifully with the garlic and spinach.

Serve it as a main with some crusty bread to soak up the garlicky juices, or as a hearty side alongside rice or roasted potatoes. Either way, it’s a winner.

This recipe for Easy Leftover Chicken and Spinach Sauté was originally created on BakeAfter.com. Esta receita de Frango Salteado com Espinafres foi publicada em português no Iguaria.com.