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Simple preparation plus quality ingredients makes this Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu a fabulous mid-week dinner. It’s fancy enough for company, easy enough for every day!
Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, swiss cheese and ham. It’s like these seemingly unrelated foods were just made for each other!
This is such a great recipe you’ll keep around forever, and make over and over again! Anytime I make this for anyone, they beg me for the recip! I finally wrote it up and put it here for everyone to enjoy.
I LOVE this Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe for many reasons, but here’s the main one:
- It looks fancy, but it’s not difficult
- Done in under an hour (less if you prepped ahead!)
- Gooey ham and cheese. Enough said.
Why is it called Chicken Cordon Bleu? Translated from French, cordon bleu means “Blue Ribbon” – in short, something prepared to a very high standard by excellent cooks.
I was talking with some new friends recently. They told me they were too scared to invite me over to dinner because of what I do for a job.
Here’s a hot tip. I will like whatever you make, it’s a treat to have someone else cook for me, regardless of what it is.
Toast? Love it. Spaghetti? Bring it ON. Pizza? That you ordered and I didn’t? PERFECT.
I really am easy to please, and unless you serve some kind of shellfish with some mushrooms (allergies), we’re GOOD!
It got me to thinking – the things I make are not complex, but… they DO taste good. It’s not like much on this blog is terribly fancy! It’s just good food.
The real secret to great tasting food? QUALITY ingredients. It’s the little details that make your home-cooked meals special!
Kylee’s Notes & FAQs
What temperature should chicken be cooked to?
Using a thermometer – check the thickest part of your chicken, it should be 165F.
Can you use prosciutto in Chicken Cordon Bleu?
Absolutely! It’s thin, it’s salty – and it’s delicious. You may wish to use more than one slice, as it’s fairly thin, though!
What side dishes go with chicken cordon bleu?
Try this risotto recipe, for an easy (yet delicious) side. Perhaps a baked potato, mashed potato or some kind of pasta – you choose! I also like to serve this roasted asparagus.
How do I flatten chicken breasts?
Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap (or use a plastic ziploc bag). Pound out with a meat mallet.
What can I use if I don’t have a meat mallet?
Literally anything. A rollling pin, a hammer, a wine bottle (carefully), a heavy book, a can of something (full). ANYTHING!
- Don’t forget to remove the toothpicks! They don’t taste good.
- Use an egg wash or dijon mustard instead of butter if you prefer.
- Change out the seasoning for Italian seasoning, or Tuscan Seasoning and leave out the thyme & garlic.
Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Butter. I use salted butter and melt it to dip the chicken in before crumbing.
- Thyme, Salt & Pepper, Garlic Powder. Don’t skip! These are important to season the chicken and provide a depth of flavor not possible without it!
- Chicken Breast – For this recipe, you can buy chicken cut into thin cutlets and pound them out to be thinner. Otherwise just use a sharp knife and slice some chicken breasts lengthways into cutlets
- Swiss Cheese – or provolone or any mild, melty cheese
- Deli Ham – use your favorite kind, just make sure it’s fairly thinly sliced
- Panko Bread Crumbs – don’t sub regular bread crumbs here – the panko is what will give it an amazing crispy coating
How to make Chicken Cordon Bleu:
Full, printable recipe below – just scroll down to the recipe card!
Check out the SUPER easy process with these step-by-step instructions:
Get prepared
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Melt the butter and mix together the seasonings( thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder)
- Prepare a baking sheet or baking dish.
Using a meat mallet (see notes for what to use if you don’t have one!) place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap (or use a zip lock bag and a rolling pin). Pound the chicken breasts evenly until they’re about half an inch thick. Use the seasonings and season up the chicken!
Assembly
- Place a slice of ham on each chicken breast, then a slice of swiss cheese. Top with another slice of ham.
- Roll up the chicken, and dip into the melted butter.
- Dip in the panko bread crumbs.
- Place each one on the prepared baking sheet.
- Tuck in the ends and secure each chicken bundle with toothpicks.
Bake
Bake for 35-40 mins, or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
Remove from the oven
Let stand for 5 minutes (so it has time to cool!).
Serve
Either place one chicken cordon bleu on each plate, or cut into slices.
Looking for other chicken recipes?
- Lemon Chicken – Got a lemon? Some pasta? Great! We’re in business!
- This creamy chicken dinner is a family favorite!
- Spicy & Sweet Chicken Diablo
- Low Carb Chicken Provencal & Vegetables
- Honey Butter Chicken from Real Housemoms
- ALL CHICKEN RECIPES
If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on Kylee Cooks, leave a comment and rating – I truly love to hear from you!
Find me on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram for more delicious recipes!
Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients
- 4 Tbs butter
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 oz swiss cheese (sliced)
- 4 slices deli ham
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven to 350F.
- Melt the butter in a large bowl.
- Mix together the thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Using a kitchen mallet, pound the chicken breasts evenly until they’re about half an inch thick.
- Season chicken on both sides with the mixed seasonings.
- Place a slice of ham on each chicken breast, then a slice of swiss cheese, and top with another slice of ham.
- Roll up the chicken, and dip into the melted butter, then the panko.
- Place in the greased baking dish.
- Tuck in the ends and secure each chicken bundle with toothpicks.
- Bake for 35-40 mins, or until a thermometer reads 165F.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
- To serve, either place one chicken cordon bleu on each plate, or cut into slices.
- Devour.
Video
Notes
-
- Use an egg wash or dijon mustard instead of butter if you prefer.
- Change out the seasoning for Italian seasoning, or Tuscan Seasoning and leave out the thyme & garlic.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Whitney Rushing says
Absolutely delicious! My husband and I love this! I have made it once with Swiss and once with Havarti… Both delicious 😀
Kate says
I made a Parmesan cream sauce to drizzle over the top. Delish
Lisa says
Fabulous
Sherri says
Can dark meat of Chicken be used for this recipe? My husband is not a fan of white meat.
Kylee says
Sure, but chicken thighs aren’t going to be able to rolled as prettily as breasts. But they’ll taste amazing
Amanda says
Kylee, this was delicious! Served it got a dinner party of ten. So flavorful and delicious. Question: do you think I could freeze leftovers to reheat later? I have leftovers and would love to save them for the next time I’m craving cordon bleu.
Kylee says
I freeze leftovers all the time. Reheat in the oven vs microwave if you want a crispy crust.
Ann m cotroneo says
It was the best i ever made! Delish!
Leslie says
Wow I’ve never made this. Easy ingredients and photos will always be a winner recipe for me.
Made this today and it was sooooo good! All the right flavors in there! This one is going in my recipe box for sure. Thanks for sharing. Will have to take a look at your other recipes now 😉.
georgie says
This is so delicious, and so easy to make! I always thought chicken cordon bleu would be much trickier! Great recipe!
Jenni says
I made this chicken for my parents this past weekend and we loved it! It was a lot easier to make than I thought it would be, and my dad said it was just like the chicken cordon bleu that his mom used to make! We will definitely be enjoying this again!
stephanie says
I love the step by step photos! I’ve actually never made a stuffed chicken recipe, have to try yours my family would love it!
Julie Menghini says
We love Cordon Bleu and I never think to make it! My family is going to love this recipe!
Mary Ann Ramos says
Very Very Good!
Madison | A Joyfully Mad Kitchen says
We had this for dinner tonight and it was SO yummy! My toddler asked for more chicken TWICE, which is something that never happens. Thanks for this easy recipe!
Kate says
This was one of my favorite meals as a kid!