Chicken Cordon Bleu

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 50 min
  • Active: 50 min
Chicken cordon bleu is a classic dish for the ages. It is also an accidental dish that has stood the test of time. Many believe chicken cordon bleu to be a French dish created by the famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. However, it originated in a Switzerland restaurant when two large bookings turned up and the cook did not have enough portions to serve everyone. The resourceful chef came up with the idea of making schnitzels and filling them with ham and cheese. The dish was so good, it was awarded “Le Cordon Bleu” ("the blue ribbon"), used in France to recognize an excellent cook. This dish is one of my favorites.
Advertisement

Ingredients

Chicken Cordon Bleu:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied

Kosher salt

4 thin slices deli ham

4 slices Swiss cheese

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 large eggs, whisked with 1 teaspoon of water

1 1/2 cups plain breadcrumbs

2 teaspoons picked fresh thyme leaves

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Shallot-Dijon Cream Sauce:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 shallot, finely minced

1/3 cup dry white wine

3/4 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 lemon, halved

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Directions

  1. For the chicken cordon bleu: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, pound each piece of chicken, one at a time, using either a meat mallet or wooden rolling pin, to about 1/4 inch thickness. Working with one flattened piece of chicken at a time, lay the chicken on a clean surface with a long side facing you. Season with salt. Lay a slice of ham on top and season with more salt. Top with a slice of cheese and then roll the whole thing up tightly into a long log. Secure with a toothpick and set aside. Repeat with the remaining chicken, ham and cheese. Season each log with salt.
  3. Prepare a dredging station. In a wide, shallow dish, add the flour and season with salt. In a second dish, add the egg and water mixture. In a third dish, combine the breadcrumbs with the thyme, garlic and onion powders and 1 teaspoon salt.
  4. Working with one chicken breast roll at a time, first dip into the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip into the egg and transfer to the breadcrumbs. Press the crumbs down to ensure they adhere to the chicken. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.
  5. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and let melt. Working in batches if necessary to prevent crowding, add the chicken to the pan. Cook the chicken until golden brown on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
  6. Transfer each piece of chicken to a baking sheet lined with a wire rack. Bake the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 165 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes.
  7. For the shallot-Dijon cream sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, swirling or stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and reduce for 1 minute. Add the cream and mustard and whisk to combine. Give a squeeze of lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and cook, whisking continuously, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chives. Set aside and keep warm.
  8. Working with one piece of chicken at a time, remove the toothpicks. Slice the chicken crosswise into 5 rounds and arrange in a single layer on a plate. Squeeze some lemon juice over the chicken. Spoon some sauce on top of and around the chicken. Repeat plating with the remaining chicken and sauce.

Let's Get Cooking!

Sign up for the Recipe of the Day newsletter to receive editor-picked recipes,tips and videos delivered to your inbox daily. Privacy Policy

Thanks for subscribing to the Recipe of the Day newsletter. Check out all our other great newsletters from Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos.

We're sorry, there was an error signing you up. Please try again later.

Advertisement

a.phillipstchr

I made this with some Parmesan roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli and we really liked it, but it is NOT a 50 minute recipe. I cook 2-3 meals a day and it took me about an hour and a half. Yes, that is partially because I am neurotic about keeping my kitchen free of cross contamination, but anytime you are touching the chicken 5/6 times…(season and roll with the ham and cheese, flour, egg, panko, pan, and then oven)… that just isn’t a quick recipe no matter how skilled you are. It’s delicious but I wouldn’t recommend it for a weeknight!

See All Reviews