Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu is a delicious and healthy take on a classic chicken recipe. Layers of tender chicken, cheese, ham, and dijon sauce make this easy chicken recipe epic and a total mainstay.
4chicken breasts, skinless and boneless5-6 ounces each
4slicesBlack Forest Ham or your favoritethinly sliced
4slicesswiss or gruyere cheesethinly sliced
1teaspoonkosher salt
½teaspoonblack pepper
1teaspoonHerbes de Provenceoptional
1tablespoonDijon mustard
1½teaspoonmayonnaise
1cuppanko breadcrumbs
2eggslightly beaten
For the Dijon Cream Sauce:
2tablespoonsbuttermelted
2tablespoonsall-purpose flour
¼cupwhite winesemi-dry or dry
¾cupunsalted chicken broth
½cupheavy cream
2teaspoonsDijon mustard
2teaspoonsfresh thyme sprigs or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Chicken Cordon Bleu:
Lay a chicken breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to ¼” thickness. Be careful not to pound any holes in the chicken.
4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
Remove the top layer of plastic wrap.
Place one slice of ham and 1 slice of cheese over the pounded breast. Fold over the sides of the breast to make more of a square (it won’t be a perfect square). To roll and wrap the breast, pull up gently on the bottom sheet of the plastic wrap while rolling the breast into a tube-shape. Roll the breast tightly. Now, pick up both side ends of the plastic wrap and carefully spin the breast to tighten each end (as if making sausage links). Fold the twisted ends of the plastic wrap underneath the breast and place it is a dish with the folded plastic ends underneath. This method closes each end of the breast and holds the ham and cheese in place. Repeat with the remaining breasts. Refrigerate the breasts at least 1 hour or up to 2 days ahead.
4 slices Black Forest Ham or your favorite, 4 slices swiss or gruyere cheese
Thirty minutes before cooking, remove the breast from the fridge and heat the oven to 375°F. Set the oven rack to middle position.
Cover a sheet pan with foil and pour the panko breadcrumbs evenly over the foil. Roast the breadcrumbs 5-6 minutes or until golden brown. Shake the pan halfway through browning. Remove from the oven and pour the breadcrumbs onto a small plate to cool.
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Place a metal rack over the same foil-lined sheet pan and spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray (the chicken breast will be placed on this while the chicken cooks).
Unroll the plastic and season each with kosher salt, black pepper and Herbes de Provence.
1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard and mayonnaise, and brush a thin layer of the mixture over each breast.
Place the breadcrumbs and the eggs next to each other on the work surface next to the foil-lined sheet pan.
Roll and gently press a chicken breast in the panko breadcrumbs.
Dip and roll the breast in the beaten eggs.
Once again, roll the breast in the breadcrumbs being careful to cover any bare spots. Place the breaded breast on the rack-covered baking sheet. Repeat with all breasts.
The breasts can be cooked immediately, or they can be refrigerated (uncovered) up to an hour to allow the coating to dry out a little. I think it works best to let them dry a little in the fridge, but it isn’t necessary.
Cook the breast at 375°F for 30-40 minutes. Spin the sheet pan around after 15 minutes.
The chicken is done when golden brown and the internal temperature registers 160°F on a meat thermometer.
Serve with the Dijon Wine Cream Sauce and…
Enjoy!
For the Dijon Cream Sauce:
While the chicken cooks, make the sauce.
Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add 2 tablespoons butter and cook until melted
2 tablespoons butter
Add 2 tablespoons flour and whisk until smooth. Cook the butter/flour mixture until it becomes a little darker, 1-2 minutes.
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
While whisking, add wine and continue whisking until smooth.
¼ cup white wine
Continue whisking and add chicken broth and cream.
¾ cup unsalted chicken broth, ½ cup heavy cream
Add mustard and thyme. Whisk until smooth.
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme sprigs or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Season to taste with kosher salt & black pepper.
salt and pepper to taste
Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and cook just until sauce thickens to almost-gravy consistency. Remove from the heat and set aside. When the chicken is almost ready, reheat the sauce over low heat to serve with the chicken.
Video
Notes
Storage: Store baked chicken cordon bleu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.