Creamy Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe

You're about to transform a classic dish into a restaurant-worthy masterpiece. Chicken Cordon Bleu isn't just another dinner—it's a culinary adventure waiting in your kitchen. With tender chicken, savory ham, melty Swiss cheese, and a luxurious cream sauce, you'll create a meal that'll have everyone asking for seconds. Are you ready to impress your dinner guests with a stunning entrée that looks complicated but comes together surprisingly easily?

Recipe Highlights

• Butterfly and pound chicken breasts to 1/4-inch thickness for even cooking and consistent texture.
• Layer high-quality Swiss cheese and ham inside the chicken, ensuring complete coverage for maximum flavor.
• Roll chicken tightly and secure edges with toothpicks to prevent filling from leaking during cooking.
• Coat chicken in melted butter and seasoned breadcrumbs to create a crispy, golden-brown exterior that enhances taste.
• Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F, guaranteeing a creamy, perfectly cooked dish.

History

Although Chicken Cordon Bleu might seem like a quintessential French dish, its origins are somewhat more complex and intriguing.

You'll find that the term "cordon bleu" originally referred to a special order of French knights wearing blue ribbons, symbolizing culinary excellence. While the dish itself isn't ancient, it emerged in the mid-20th century, likely in Switzerland or France.

Culinary historians believe restaurants first popularized this stuffed chicken variation in the 1940s and 1950s. You might be surprised to learn that the recipe isn't traditionally French, but a modern interpretation of classic European cooking techniques.

The name suggests sophistication, hinting at the dish's elegant preparation involving delicate layering of ham, cheese, and breaded chicken. Its popularity quickly spread across Europe and then to the United States, becoming a staple in fine dining and home kitchens alike.

Recipe

Chicken Cordon Bleu is a delightful culinary creation that elevates simple chicken into an elegant and satisfying meal. This French-inspired dish combines tender chicken breast, rich Swiss cheese, and savory ham into a perfectly balanced roll that's crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

The key to a successful Chicken Cordon Bleu lies in the careful preparation and precise cooking technique. By butterflying and pounding the chicken, layering it with ham and cheese, and coating it in buttery breadcrumbs, home cooks can create a restaurant-quality dish that impresses family and guests alike.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• 8 slices ham
• 2 cups breadcrumbs
• 4 tablespoons butter

Begin by preparing the chicken breasts. Butterfly each breast and gently pound them to an even thickness, creating a uniform surface for layering. Place two slices of ham and two slices of Swiss cheese on each chicken breast, then carefully roll the chicken tightly, ensuring the filling is fully enclosed. Secure the rolls with toothpicks if needed to prevent unraveling during cooking.

Melt the butter in a shallow bowl. Dip each chicken roll into the melted butter, ensuring complete coverage, then roll in breadcrumbs until the entire surface is evenly coated. Transfer the prepared rolls to a baking dish and place in a preheated oven at 375°F. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the breadcrumb coating is golden brown and crispy.

For best results, allow the Chicken Cordon Bleu to rest for 5 minutes after cooking. This brief resting period helps the cheese set and prevents immediate oozing when cut, and allows the internal temperature to stabilize.

If the breadcrumbs begin to brown too quickly, loosely cover the baking dish with foil to prevent burning while ensuring the chicken cooks thoroughly.

Cooking Steps

You'll start by carefully butterflying each chicken breast and pounding them to an even thickness.

Then layer two slices of ham and cheese inside each piece.

Next, you'll roll the chicken tightly, securing the edges with toothpicks to keep the cheesy filling intact during cooking.

Finally, you'll coat each roll in melted butter and breadcrumbs, creating a crispy golden exterior that'll transform your chicken into a restaurant-worthy dish.

Step 1. Butterfly and Pound Chicken

The first crucial step in creating perfect Chicken Cordon Bleu involves transforming your chicken breasts from thick, unwieldy cuts into thin, even canvases ready for delicious assembly.

Start by placing each breast between two sheets of plastic wrap, using a meat mallet or heavy skillet to gently pound them to a consistent 1/4-inch thickness.

Work from the center outward, creating an even surface without tearing the meat. You'll want to aim for a uniform rectangle about 6-8 inches long, which provides ideal rolling dimensions.

Pay close attention to maintaining an equal thickness across the entire breast, ensuring even cooking and preventing any thick, undercooked sections.

Gentle, consistent pressure is key to achieving the perfect butterflied and pounded chicken.

Step 2. Layer Ham and Cheese

After carefully butterflying your chicken breasts, it's time to layer the star ingredients that'll transform your dish from simple to spectacular.

Start by placing two slices of ham flat on each chicken breast, ensuring complete coverage across the meat's surface.

Next, carefully position two slices of Swiss cheese directly over the ham, which will melt beautifully during cooking and create that signature creamy interior.

• Layer ham first
• Add cheese on top
• Ensure complete coverage
• Position ingredients evenly

Be strategic about placement: center the ham and cheese to prevent spillage during rolling.

Press the ingredients gently to help them adhere to the chicken, creating a compact, uniform filling that'll guarantee a perfect bite every time.

Step 3. Coat in Melted Butter

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, transforming it into a golden, silky liquid that'll serve as the crucial binding agent for your breadcrumb coating.

You'll want to ensure the butter is completely liquefied, creating a smooth surface for coating your chicken rolls. Carefully dip each chicken roll into the melted butter, allowing excess to drip off, which prevents soggy breading.

Roll the buttered chicken directly into a plate of breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure complete, even coverage. Use one hand for butter dipping and another for breadcrumb coating to keep your process clean and efficient.

Rotate the chicken roll to guarantee breadcrumbs adhere uniformly, creating a crispy, golden exterior that'll provide delightful texture and crunch when baked.

Step 4. Roll Tightly and Secure

Carefully butterfly each chicken breast, creating a wide, flat canvas that'll become your Cordon Bleu masterpiece.

Lay the breast open, then use a sharp knife to slice horizontally, stopping just short of cutting completely through. Gently press the chicken flat with your palm, creating an even surface that'll hold your ham and cheese perfectly.

Next, layer two slices of ham and two slices of Swiss cheese across the butterflied chicken.

Start at one end and roll the chicken tightly, ensuring the filling stays compact and centered. If needed, secure the roll with toothpicks placed strategically along the seam to prevent unraveling during cooking.

Aim for a neat, compact roll that'll cook evenly and look impressive when sliced.

Step 5. Bake in Preheated Oven

With your chicken rolls neatly secured and ready to go, position the baking dish in a preheated oven set precisely to 375°F.

You'll want to place the rolls with some space between them, ensuring even heat circulation and optimal browning. Bake for 30-35 minutes, keeping a watchful eye to prevent over-browning. The goal is achieving a golden, crispy exterior while maintaining the chicken's internal temperature at 165°F.

• Check doneness with a meat thermometer
• Look for uniform golden-brown coloration
• Listen for a sizzling sound indicating proper cooking

If the breadcrumbs start darkening too quickly, loosely tent the dish with aluminum foil. This technique prevents burning while allowing the chicken to cook thoroughly, preserving the delicate cheese and ham interior.

Final Thoughts

Though Chicken Cordon Bleu might seem intimidating, you'll discover it's actually quite achievable with practice and attention to detail. The key is mastering the technique of rolling and securing the chicken, ensuring a perfect cheese-to-meat ratio in every bite.

You'll want to focus on even pounding, careful rolling, and golden breadcrumb coating.

• Practice makes perfect
• Watch for internal temperature
• Let the chicken rest before serving

Don't get discouraged if your first attempt isn't picture-perfect. Each time you make this dish, you'll improve your skills.

The combination of crispy exterior, tender chicken, melted cheese, and smoky ham is worth the effort. Remember to use a meat thermometer for precise doneness, and you'll soon be creating restaurant-quality Chicken Cordon Bleu right in your own kitchen.