Chicken with Cordon Bleu Sauce

Name: Chicken with Cordon Bleu Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive or grapeseed oil; 1 ¼ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced or pounded thin (Note 1)); onion powder (for seasoning chicken); garlic powder (for seasoning chicken); salt and black pepper (for seasoning chicken); 1 ½ cups heavy cream; ⅔ cup shredded Swiss or Gruyere cheese; 6 slices Canadian bacon ((or ⅖ cup diced ham))

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Chicken with Cordon Bleu Sauce is an easy twist on the classic. Cut out the fussy preparation and whip up this easy version in 20 minutes. This chicken is a comfort food win!

close up of chicken on a plate with mashed potatoes.

Table of Contents show

Why this recipe is so good

Chicken Cordon Bleu has always been a favorite comfort food of mine. Anything stuffed with cheese wins in my book!

But traditional cordon bleu can be a little fussy to make. So we're going to simplify the preparation and put ease into dinner time.

Minimal prep and ready in 20 minutes. Delicious and satisfying meals don't need to be complicated.
Skip the pounding, rolling, breading process. Instead, we'll sear the chicken and then simmer it in a scrumptious sauce filled with the flavors of cordon bleu.
A cheesy white sauce gives this dish comfort food vibes. Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or bread to soak up all of this deliciousness.

Ingredients

Cheese - Swiss cheese is most popular in cordon bleu. Gruyere adds a nuttiness that works great too!
Ham - This is a great way to use up leftover ham. Canadian bacon or deli-style ham can also be used.

Step-by-step instructions

See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with onion and garlic powder, salt and pepper on both sides. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until golden brown on both sides. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside. The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked at this point - it will finish cooking in the sauce.

Add the heavy cream to the skillet and let is reduce for 2-3 minutes.
Add the cheese and whisk until melted.
Add the chicken back to the skillet and top with the ham.

skillet of sauce and adding chicken and ham to the sauce.

Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Serve, spooning the sauce over mashed potatoes or rice - to soak up every drop!

Tips

Use thin-cut chicken breasts for quick cooking. For larger chicken breasts, cut the chicken in half horizontally to create two thin pieces. Alternatively, pound the chicken to ¼ to ½ inch thickness.
If you need to substitute whole milk for the heavy cream in the sauce, add a little bit of flour to the fat in the pan after removing the chicken. This creates a roux which will help to thicken the milk into a sauce consistency.

top down shot of chicken cordon bleu on a plate with mashed potatoes

Faq

What goes with chicken cordon bleu?

Chicken cordon bleu pairs wonderfully with comforting side dishes such as mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, rice, or bread.

Vegetable sides like green beans, carrots, and broccoli and salads such as a simple garden salad round out the meal perfectly.

Equipment

Shallow casserole or skillet | Grater | Liquid measuring cup

side view of chicken on a plate with mashed potatoes.

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