Air-Fried Chicken Cordon Bleu: A Healthy, Quick Treat

Chicken cordon bleu is a French dish that involves flattening chicken breasts, stuffing them with ham and cheese, rolling them up, breading them, and then frying or baking. It can also be made with chicken thighs or other types of meat such as veal, pork, or beef. An air fryer is a convenient way to cook chicken cordon bleu, resulting in a crispy golden brown crust and gooey cheese centre.

Chicken Cordon Bleu ingredients

Chicken Cordon Bleu is a French dish that involves wrapping meat around cheese and then breading and frying it. The term "Cordon Bleu" means "blue ribbon" and is used to denote the highest class of food.

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and ground black pepper for seasoning
• Dijon mustard
• Swiss cheese (or Gruyere)
• Deli ham
• Flour (all-purpose or plain)
• Eggs
• Breadcrumbs (Panko or plain)
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Non-stick cooking spray or oil

Optional ingredients for a sauce to accompany the dish:

• Butter
• Flour
• Milk
• Mustard (Dijon or honey)
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Chicken preparation

Cutting and Pounding the Chicken:

Start by placing a boneless, skinless chicken breast on a flat work surface. Using a sharp knife, cut the chicken breast in half lengthwise through the middle. You may also use a kitchen tool like a close 'n cut for this step. This will give you two thin pieces of chicken from each breast. If you prefer, you can also cut a pocket into each chicken breast instead of cutting it in half. Just make sure to cut horizontally about 3/4 of the way through without cutting all the way through.

Once you have cut the chicken, lay it between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Use a flat-sided meat mallet or meat tenderizer to gently pound the chicken until it reaches a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Be careful not to pound too hard, as you don't want to break apart the meat. The goal is to get it thin enough to roll easily without being too thick, which will make it hard to roll.

Assembling the Chicken Cordon Bleu:

Now it's time to assemble the Chicken Cordon Bleu. Lay each piece of chicken flat on your work surface. Place 1-2 slices of ham on top of the chicken, depending on the size of the slices. For the cheese, you can use Swiss cheese, Gruyere, or any other cheese of your choice. Cut the cheese slice in half and place it in the middle of the ham. You can also add a slice of tomato on top of the cheese, which is optional.

Spread a thin layer of sauce or mayonnaise and mustard mixture over the cheese. This sauce adds a great flavor and creaminess to the dish. However, you can skip this step if you prefer.

Rolling and Securing the Chicken:

Now, it's time to roll the chicken. Starting from one end, begin to roll the chicken over the filling. When you get to the end, tuck the ham over itself and bring the other end of the chicken over it, securing it with a toothpick. Tuck in the sides of the ham and secure them with additional toothpicks. Don't worry if the rolling and securing process is a bit frustrating, as it gets easier with practice.

Coating the Chicken:

Prepare three shallow bowls for dredging the chicken. In the first bowl, place some all-purpose flour. In the second bowl, whisk together some eggs and Dijon mustard to create an egg wash. In the third bowl, mix together breadcrumbs, Panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and seasonings like salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. You can also add Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.

Dredge the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the egg wash, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl. Finally, press the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, coating both sides evenly. Place the breaded chicken on a plate and spray it with nonstick spray. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the coating to set.

Your chicken is now ready to be cooked in the air fryer! Follow the remaining steps in the recipe to cook and serve your delicious Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Assembly and coating

To assemble the Chicken Cordon Bleu, start by cutting a pocket into each raw chicken breast. Place a slice of cheese on top of a slice of ham, then layer another slice of ham and cheese on top of that. Roll them up so that a slice of ham is on the outside. Repeat to create a second ham-and-cheese roll.

Place one roll inside each chicken breast pocket and secure the pocket closed with 2 toothpicks. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise and mustard sauce all over the chicken.

Next, prepare the dry coating by combining the panko and plain breadcrumbs with seasonings in a shallow dish or a plastic bag. Dredge the chicken in the egg and mustard mixture, then coat with the dry mixture. Pat the breadcrumbs into the chicken and let it sit for a minute or two.

Finally, spritz the air fryer basket or cooking surface with oil and place the chicken inside in a single layer. Spritz the top of the chicken with oil before air frying.

Air-frying instructions

Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is a great way to turn an ordinary chicken breast into a fancy meal. It is a thinly pounded chicken breast wrapped around ham and cheese, then breaded and air-fried.

Prepping the Chicken:

Firstly, you will need to cut the chicken breast in half lengthwise. Place each piece of chicken between parchment paper or plastic wrap and use a flat meat mallet to pound the chicken until it is about 1/4-inch thick.

Assembling the Chicken Cordon Bleu:

Place two pieces of ham on top of the chicken and cut the cheese in half, placing it in the middle of the ham in a single layer. Spread about a tablespoon of sauce (a combination of mayonnaise and dijon mustard) over the cheese.

Roll the chicken over the ham and cheese. When you get to the end, tuck the ham over itself and pull the end of the chicken up and over to create a roll. Secure with a toothpick. Tuck in the ends and secure with more toothpicks.

Breading the Chicken:

Coat each piece of chicken with an egg and mustard mixture, then coat in a breadcrumb mixture. Pat the breadcrumbs into the chicken and let it sit for a minute or two.

Air Frying:

Spritz the air fryer basket or cooking surface with oil and place the chicken in the basket in a single layer. Spritz the top of the chicken with oil.

Air fry at 375°F/190°C for 18-20 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.

Sauce:

While the chicken is cooking, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and continue whisking until the mixture is blended and smooth. Add mustard and Parmesan and simmer for 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serving:

Remove the toothpicks and spoon the sauce over the chicken cordon bleu to serve.

Serving suggestions

Chicken Cordon Bleu is a rich dish, so it is best to keep side dishes simple and light. Steamed vegetables, such as broccoli with a light lemon butter sauce, roasted asparagus, or a simple side salad are all good options. If you want something more substantial, mashed potatoes or a simple rice pilaf are also good choices.

If you're looking for other air-fried dishes to serve alongside your Chicken Cordon Bleu, you could try:

• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Air Fryer Fish & Chips
• Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
• Air Fryer Scotch Eggs
• Air Fryer Hush Puppies
• Air Fryer Meatballs
• Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings
• Air Fryer Southwest Turkey Burgers
• Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Breasts
• Air Fryer BBQ Cheddar-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
• Air Fryer Ranch Potatoes
• Air Fryer Garlic Bread

Frequently asked questions