Chicken Cordon Bleu with Dijon Cream Sauce

4.0
(2)

This chicken Cordon Bleu with creamy mustard sauce is served at every French restaurant here in the States, but is it actually French? I'm pretty sure it's, like, Swedish. Regardless, it's breaded cheese and meat — tough to go wrong. Enjoy!

Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
50 mins
Additional Time:
50 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 10 mins
Servings:
2
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 2 servings

  • 2 (6 ounce) chicken breasts

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 slice ham steak

  • 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese

  • toothpicks

  • 2 eggs

  • 3 tablespoons milk

  • 2 cups Italian-style panko bread crumbs

  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 3 tablespoons butter

Sauce:

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • teaspoon ground nutmeg, or to taste

  • 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Butterfly each chicken breast by cutting it down the center, lengthwise, leaving about 1 inch of connective tissue at the other end. Spread open like a book, and rub each chicken breast with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let rest for 30 minutes to absorb salt.

  2. Cover each chicken breast with plastic wrap and pound thin with a meat mallet until roughly doubled in surface area. Using a very sharp knife or meat slicer, cut ham steak into very thin slices.

  3. Spread 1/4 cup Gruyère cheese over each chicken breast, then divide 1/4 of the ham between them. Repeat, making 2 layers. Fold chicken over like an omelet, enclosing cheese and ham. Secure open edges with 4 to 5 toothpicks.

  4. Whisk eggs and milk together in a bowl. Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a second bowl. Carefully dredge each chicken breast in flour, coat with egg wash, then dredge in breading. Transfer to a wire rack and freeze for 20 minutes to help breading adhere to chicken.

  5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place breaded chicken breasts in a baking dish.

  6. Bake chicken in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, then brush each side down with melted butter and flip. Bake for 25 minutes more.

  7. To make the sauce: Pour milk into a saucepan set over low heat and simmer until steaming, about 10 minutes.

  8. Melt butter and stir in flour to create a roux. Let roux cook, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in hot milk, letting sauce come together before adding more milk, until everything is well incorporated. Add Parmesan cheese and nutmeg, stirring constantly until cheese is melted evenly into sauce. Stir in Dijon mustard. Simmer sauce until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Season with salt and pepper.

  9. Remove chicken from oven and transfer to plates; remove toothpicks. Ladle sauce over chicken and serve immediately.

Recipe Tip

Deli ham is not an acceptable substitute for ham steak. If push comes to shove, just dice ham steak instead of slicing it.

Editor's Note:

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of breading ingredients. The actual amount of breading consumed will vary.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

2228 Calories
106g Fat
193g Carbs
120g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Calories 2228
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 106g 136%
Saturated Fat 49g 243%
Cholesterol 521mg 174%
Sodium 5680mg 247%
Total Carbohydrate 193g 70%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 120g 240%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 1590mg 122%
Iron 9mg 52%
Potassium 1156mg 25%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.