Description
Chicken Cordon Bleu I is a refined French-inspired dish featuring tender chicken breast wrapped around savory ham and melty Swiss cheese, coated in crispy breadcrumbs. Often served with a rich Dijon cream sauce, this elegant recipe is perfect for special dinners or upscale home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds chicken cutlets (pounded to 1/4 inch thick)
- 6 ounces ham
- 6 ounces Swiss cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ cups seasoned breadcrumbs (or panko for extra crunch)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Flour for dredging
- Olive oil, for frying
- For sauce (optional): 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour, 1 cup milk, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, ¼ cup grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Butterfly the chicken breasts and pound them to 1/4 inch thick between plastic wrap using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
- Place a slice of ham and cheese on each flattened chicken cutlet. Roll tightly and secure with toothpicks.
- Set up a breading station with flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan.
- Dredge the chicken rolls in flour, dip in eggs, then coat with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 5–6 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- For sauce (optional): In a saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk. Stir in Dijon mustard and Parmesan. Cook until thickened, about 7 minutes.
- Remove toothpicks, slice chicken, and serve with sauce and sides.
Notes
Serve with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or rice pilaf. Try substituting turkey or prosciutto for the ham or using Gruyère cheese for a twist. The sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 47g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: chicken cordon bleu, French dish, stuffed chicken, crispy chicken, ham and cheese, Dijon sauce