Classic Chicken Cordon Bleu

By
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin is a lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.
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Updated on 07/8/21
chicken cordon bleu

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Baked chicken cordon bleu is a classic dish that is so well-loved for a reason. Ham and Swiss cheese are wrapped up in a chicken cutlet, coated in breadcrumbs and baked to perfection. It’s crunchy, it’s creamy, it’s cheesy, what more could you want? It’s also pretty easy to make and this lower fat version is baked in the oven instead of pan-fried. We toasted the breadcrumbs first for color and flavor without extra oil. 

It’s origins come from Switzerland, but it came into its own in America in the 60s when roulades were all the rage.

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Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

  • 2 chicken breasts

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 slices Swiss cheese

  • 8 slices baked ham

  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise

  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

For the Sauce:

  • 6 tablespoons butter

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced

  • 4 ounces cream cheese

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    chicken cordon bleu ingredients

  2. Preheat the oven to 400F.
    Toss the bread crumbs with the butter, garlic powder, and thyme. Spread them on a parchment lined baking sheet.

    breadcrumbs on a sheet pan

  3. Bake the breadcrumbs for 5 minutes, shaking the pan every minute until the breadcrumbs are browned.

    toasted Panko bread crumbs on a sheet pan

  4. Butterfly each chicken breast. You will now have four pieces. 

    butterflied chicken breast

  5. Pound each piece of chicken into a thin sheet.

    pounded chicken breasts

  6. Season the chicken with the salt and pepper. Take one piece and lay it flat. Add a slice of swiss cheese and two slices of ham.

    chicken layered with ham and cheese

  7. Roll the chicken into a log or simply fold in half. Try to tuck the ham and cheese into the chicken as much as you can.

    chicken cordon bleu roulade

  8. Whisk together the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. Slather it over the chicken, coating it on all sides.

    chicken cordon bleu roulades coate din mayonnaise and mustard

  9. Press the toasted bread crumbs onto the chicken to completely coat.

    chicken coated in toasted breadcrumbs

  10. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet or a buttered casserole dish and bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.

    While the chicken is baking, prepare the sauce.

    chicken in a buttered casserole dish

Prepare the sauce.

  1. Gather your ingredients.

    ingredients for chicken cordon bleu sauce

  2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once its melted whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes on low heat.

    melted butter and flour in a pan

  3. Add the garlic and cream cheese. Cook until the cream cheese has melted. Add in the chicken bouillon, water, and cream and cook, stirring frequently until the sauce is hot and has thickened. Whisk in the Dijon mustard, pepper, and the parmesan cheese.

    sauce for chicken cordon blue in a saucepan

  4. Remove the chicken from the oven once it is golden brown, cheese is oozing and the internal temperature is 165F.

    baked chicken cordon bleu

  5. Spoon the sauce over the cooked chicken and serve immediately.

    chicken cordon bleu
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

What sides can you serve with chicken cordon bleu?

  • There’s tons of great sides for chicken cordon bleu!
    Serve the dish over pasta, with lots of extra creamy sauce of course. 
  • Rice pilaf
  • Baked potatoes
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Salad
  • Sauteed broccoli or asparagus
  • Risotto

What kind of wine pairs best with chicken cordon bleu?

  • Chardonnay pairs best with chicken cordon bleu. The oakiness compliments the Swiss cheese nicely and won’t overpower the richness of the creamy white sauce. 
  • A dry sauvignon blanc will also work nicely. 
  • If you are a red wine drinker, choose a dry pinot noir.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1110 Calories
81g Fat
31g Carbs
67g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 1110
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 81g 103%
Saturated Fat 42g 209%
Cholesterol 323mg 108%
Sodium 3187mg 139%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 67g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 457mg 35%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 855mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)