Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu

Baked chicken cordon bleu is a healthier alternative to the classic French dish. It takes just 30 minutes to make chicken cordon bleu bake!

Based on a dish from Switzerland, it’s a classic dish in French cuisine where slices of ham and cheese are rolled inside thin pieces of chicken. Then, the chicken is breaded, pan-fried, and topped with a creamy Dijon sauce.

For a healthier alternative, my recipe is for a baked chicken dish instead of fried. Also, rather than using a dairy and fat-laden bechamel sauce, this sauce is made with maple syrup and mustard.

What’s in chicken cordon bleu bake?

Note: This is just a partial list of ingredients. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Chicken breasts – Use boneless, skinless breasts since they will need to be pounded into thin pieces for easier rolling. Veal or pork can also be used instead.

• Ham slices – Lean meat will have less fat, which means it’s less likely to be greasy or slide out of the chicken.

• Cheese – I like to use fontina or Swiss, but Gouda and Gruyere are great options as well.

• White pepper – While the overall flavor isn’t as spicy as black pepper, the main purpose for using this variety is so the flecks don’t show in the sauce. If you don’t have white pepper, feel free to use ground black pepper.

• Panko breadcrumbs – Even though the chicken isn’t fried, these still add a nice crunch to the dish. They do contain some carbs, so if you’re concerned about going over your limit, use crushed pork rinds or almond meal instead.

Video: making chicken cordon bleu bake

It may seem intimidating, but this recipe is actually quite simple to make. Just roll ham and cheese inside pounded chicken breasts, then coat with sauce and breadcrumbs and bake!

To see the process from start to finish, watch the video located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Instructions

Prep the ingredients

1. If the chicken breasts are extra large, first slice them in half horizontally. Then, place the chicken between two pieces of plastic and pound with a mallet or rolling pin until thin.
2. Next, whisk together the mustard, maple syrup, and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Use a basting brush to spread about half of the mixture over the chicken breasts.

Roll up the chicken

1. Place a slice of ham and cheese over each piece of chicken breast.
2. Roll each breast tightly over the stuffing and push 2-3 toothpicks through the top to hold everything together.
3. Brush each roll with the rest of the mustard sauce, then coat in the Panko breadcrumbs.

Bake and serve

1. Place the chicken roll ups in a greased baking dish and drizzle them with oil.
2. Add a little chicken stock or wine to the bottom of the dish. This helps to keep the chicken moist as it cooks.
3. Cover with foil and bake until cooked through. Then, serve with the pan drippings and your preferred sides.

What to serve with baked chicken cordon bleu

The rich, tangy flavors of this dish pair well with almost anything. Make some roasted mashed potatoes or wild rice pilaf, or try one of these healthy side dishes.

• Sauteed spinach
• Roasted vegetables
• Side salad
• Squash patties

Other Baked Chicken Recipes to Make

For an even healthier version of this chicken cordon bleu recipe, make my recipe for keto chicken cordon bleu,

Rather than stuffing the ingredients into the chicken breast,  they are added over the top. As a result, it tastes just like the the classic dish, but it’s deconstructed! Or, for something with a different flavor, try any of the following:

• Baked Chicken Caprese
• Chicken Mediterranean
• Oven Baked Greek Chicken
• French Onion Soup Chicken

This recipe, first published on Kevin Is Cooking Jan. 1, 2015, was last updated with new content on Sept. 27, 2021.

Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu + Video

Baked chicken cordon bleu is a healthier alternative to the classic French dish. It takes just 30 minutes to make chicken cordon bleu bake!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinners

Cuisine: Melting Pot

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 550kcal

Author: Kevin Is Cooking

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts (See Note 1)
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1/8 tsp white pepper
• 4 slices lean ham
• 4 slices fontina cheese or swiss cheese
• olive oil
• 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup chicken stock or dry white wine

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lay chicken breasts between plastic wrap or in a plastic bag and pound until thin, about 1/2″ thick. If large breasts, slice horizontally to make cutlets.
• In a bowl whisk together the mustard, maple syrup and white pepper and brush half of the mixture on each breast. Place a slice of ham and cheese on each chicken breast. Start at the narrowest end of the pounded chicken breast and then roll up. Secure with a toothpicks.
• Brush each chicken roll with remaining maple mustard sauce. Roll in Panko bread crumbs, press the crumbs on chicken to adhere.
• Transfer the chicken rolls to a greased baking dish. Drizzle some more olive oil over each chicken roll. To keep moist, add 1/4 cup of chicken stock or a dry white wine in the baking dish to cook with chicken. Cover with foil.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the middle of the oven. For a browned top I remove foil and continue to cook uncovered for another 5 minutes to brown the crumbs. Chicken is cook when internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Serve immediately with any pan drippings poured over and on a bed of sautéed spinach or other vegetables.

Notes

1. Number of chicken breasts will vary due to size and weight, but 4 were used for nutrition values.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Nutrition

Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 580mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Calcium: 198mg | Iron: 2mg

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