Chicken Cordon Bleu

An easy Chicken Cordon Bleu which is quick to prepare, and baked rather than fried. All the flavour, all the crunch, a beautiful golden crumb, and it’s better for you!
This retro classic is here to stay – always!
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Chicken stuffed with ham and cheese, coated with crunchy golden breadcrumbs. You’d swear it’s fried – but it’s baked.
The classic way to make Chicken Cordon Bleu involves breast pounded until thin, layered with ham and cheese, rolled into a log, chilled, dredged in flour then egg then breadcrumbs then deep fried (and you need a lot of oil to deep fry them).
Phew! I got tired just typing that out!! And it’s certainly not something that I’m making tonight.

BUT – you can definitely make my Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu tonight. Because it’s just that – EASY.
How to make Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu

I stuff my Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu simply by cutting a pocket into chicken breast, then stuffing it with cheese rolled up inside ham (helps stop the cheese melting out, terrific reader tip!) . Secure with toothpicks – and that’s it! The stuffing is done!


Choose your own adventure: Crumbing
Next up is the breadcrumb. I’ve got 2 methods to choose from:
Method 1: Super Easy – Smear mayo and mustard on the chicken, then sprinkle over breadcrumbs. The mayo-mustard mixture acts as glue / flavouring and oil to help make the breadcrumb toasty gold; OR

Method 2: Quick Dredge – Dunk chicken in egg flour mixture (combined in same bowl), then in breadcrumbs.

After coating the chicken with breadcrumbs, just give them a quick spray and voila! Ready for baking!


Super Easy vs Quick Dredge
Here’s a comparison of the 2 methods. There’s no denying the Quick Dredge comes out better looking, and it’s the option I’d use for company. Plus, full coating of crunch.
But the Super Easy version is just so darn quick and easy, and really, the main thing is just the absence of crunch on the underside of the chicken. Small compromise for the convenience, in my humble opinion!


Secret Tip: Oven Toasting Breadcrumbs
If you’ve ever baked something crumbed and been disappointed by how it came out pale and splotchy and/or not as crunchy as you hoped, I think you’re going to love this cheeky tip.
Just spread the breadcrumbs out on a tray, spray with oil, then bake for 3 minutes. This oven toasting gives the breadcrumbs a head start on the colour / crunch factor.
Outcome: Baked crumbed / breaded chicken that is beautifully golden all over and truly crunchy, like it was deep fried! Optional extra step, but truly worth it in my view.
PS Some recipes do this in a skillet – oven is easier.


And here’s a comparison of the Chicken Cordon Bleu with and without toasting the breadcrumbs. See how splotchy it is without the toasted breadcrumbs compared to the toasted breadcrumbs??



Whichever method you choose, you’ll be greeted with the same glorious sight of molten cheese oozing out of the warm ham stuffing inside the juicy chicken breast, and all that golden crunchy crumb….

And to top it all off, that MUSTARD CREAM SAUCE!!!!

I think you need to change this weeks’ meal plan. Immediately. – Nagi x
MORE CRUNCHY CRUMBED CHICKEN
Crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders and also the Parmesan version
Oven Fried “KFC” Chicken Tenders (11 secret herbs & spices!)
Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast – LOW CARB marvel!
Shortcut Healthy Crunchy Chicken Schnitzel
AND MORE BAKED CRUNCHY CRUMBED THINGS
Baked McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
Baked Parmesan Crusted Salmon
Healthy Garlic Parmesan Crunchy Baked Fish


Chicken Cordon Bleu
Watch How To Make It
In the video, I demonstrate how to make one breast using each crumbing method: Super Easy and Quick Dredge. The recipe makes 2 chicken breasts using one of these methods.

Ingredients

BREADCRUMBS
Panko breadcrumbs - 1/2 cup for Super Easy or 1 cup for Quick Dredge
Oil spray
CHICKEN
2 small chicken breasts, around 6-7oz/180-210g each
Salt and pepper
4 slices swiss cheese (Note 1)
4 to 6 slices of ham, about 2.5oz/75g (Note 2)

METHOD 1: SUPER EASY

3 tbsp mayonnaise

1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard

METHOD 2: QUICK DREDGE

1 egg

2 tsp plain flour
DIJON CREAM SAUCE (MAKES 1 CUP)
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tbsp flour
1 1/4 cups milk (Note 3)
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp parmesan cheese, finely grated

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200C/390F (standard) or 180C/350F (fan).
Spread panko breadcrumbs on a baking tray and spray with oil. Bake for 3 minutes or until light golden. Remove and scrape into bowl straight away.
Cut a pocket into each chicken breast, as per the photo below.
Fold the cheese in half and place 2 pieces inside each pocket. Do the same with the ham. Close the pocket, seal with 2 toothpicks. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
SUPER EASY METHOD
Mix the mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl. Spread onto the top and sides of the chicken (not underside).
Sprinkle panko over the chicken, using your other hand to press the breadcrumbs onto the side of the chicken. Spray with oil.
QUICK DREDGE METHOD
Whisk egg and flour. Dip chicken into egg mixture, then into the panko breadcrumbs. Transfer to tray, spray with oil.
BAKING
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and just cooked through. Remove toothpicks, serve with the Dijon Cream Sauce.
DIJON CREAM SAUCE
Melt butter over medium heat in a small saucepan. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
Add half the milk and whisk until the flour mixture is blended in.
Add remaining milk, mustard and cheese. Cook for 3 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened. It will thicken as it cools.
Remove from heat, add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with chicken.

Recipe Notes:

1. Swiss cheese (or masdaam sold at supermarket delis in Australia) is best for this recipe because it melts but holds it's shape quite well. If you substitute with gruyere, cheddar, mozzarella or any other melting cheese, more cheese will ooze out. But if you seal with extra toothpicks, you can use any cheese you want!
2. I used small ham rounds so I needed 2 for each to cover the surface inside the chicken.
3. Preferably full fat milk but low fat is also ok.
4. Make Ahead: Use the Dredge Method and then refrigerate for up to 24 hours (probably ok longer, I just haven't tried) or freeze uncooked. Keep leftover breadcrumbs and touch up if required before baking. Thaw then cook per recipe.
5. Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu Calories per serving (180g/6oz chicken), assuming around 1/3 cup of sauce is used between the 2 servings.